Hosted by the Fast Show’s John Thomson the Jazz FM Awards returned last night after a break in 2014, not quite all singing-and-dancing but pretty close, certainly decked out with enough dazzle and glitz to flatter and accommodate the senses.
Held at Vinopolis in the new look London Bridge quarter, the House Gospel choir, X Factor singer Rebecca Ferguson, Jarrod Lawson, and Hugh Masekela, picking up a Lifetime Achievement Award, were among the performers on the night.
Cerys Matthews, Denis Lawson, Ian Shaw and legendary Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow were among the presenters of awards. The winners were Album of the Year: (public vote): Dianne Reeves for Beautiful Life; Live Experience of the Year, again a public vote: Loose Tubes at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival; UK Jazz Act of the Year: GoGo Penguin; Instrumentalist of the Year: Shabaka Hutchings; Breakthrough Act: Bill Laurance; Vocalist of the Year: Zara McFarlane; Jazz Innovation of the Year: Jason Moran; International Jazz Artist of the Year: Gregory Porter; Blues Artist of the Year: Dr John; Soul Artist of the Year: Jarrod Lawson; and Lifetime Achievement: Hugh Masekela.
The event was produced by Serious and sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management, Audemus Spirits, CityJet, Conrad London St. James, Denbies Wine Estate, Mishcon De Reya, PPL, Taylor’s Port, Vinopolis, Voss, 7digital and Yamaha Music.
Ross Stanley, above, at Vinopolis on piano accompanying Rebecca Ferguson at the Jazz FM Awards