Jazz breaking news: Jason Yarde Wins Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Saxophonist, composer, producer and musical director Jason Yarde is among the musicians to receive a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award alongside classical/electronica exponent Anna Meredith and the London Sinfonietta-affiliated composer David Fennessy.
The awards are the most generous arts prize in the UK with each recipient awarded £45,000 over three years (paid in three installments of £15,000) the money is intended to help further the development of each of these talented musicians.
Yarde has a wide range of experience as a performer in his own right but increasingly he’s worked behind the scenes as record producer for artists such as Gwilym Simcock, Soweto Kinch, Robert Mitchell and Jazz Jamaica as well as working on songs for Terri Walker, Ty, Julie Dexter and arranging for Hugh Masekela and Gregory Isaacs among others. As if that weren’t enough he has composed and produced music for theatre productions and TV programmes for the BBC and Channel 4. His inclusion in the awards sees him join illustrious past recipients that also includes sax luminaries Iain Ballamy and Evan Parker as well as musicians Luke Bedford, Tansy Davies and Janek Schaefer.
Jason Yarde said this about winning the prize: “It is difficult to put into words just how ‘big’ it is in every way to be nominated and then to receive a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Arts Award. Ultimately, it is something that can translate into real action. It certainly means some of the big ideas (and some important small ones) that have since settled in the back of my mind have a real chance to fly out into the real world, going beyond the front of mind where they would often just manifest themselves as headaches and daydreams! I’m overjoyed and most grateful to receive this award and I greatly look forward to delving into the possibilities it will open up.”
– Mike Flynn