Decided upon by a panel including a previous recipient of the Whittingham award, saxophonist/MC Soweto Kinch, joined by acclaimed jazz singer Norma Winstone MBE, pianist Gwilym Simcock, and the 606 club boss flautist Steve Rubie, saxophonist Phil Meadows, who distinguished himself at Trinity Laban from where he graduated last year and who has also led the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in addition to his own group, has been named the recipient of the 2013 Peter Whittingham jazz award.

The prize worth £4,000, open to those studying full time on a recognised jazz course or in the first two years of entering a professional career, Meadows plans to direct into a recording project with his group next year following on from Engines of Creation released in July. Meadows says on his website: “The award is going to allow me to work on an ambitious project involving 25 of my favourite musicians with the Phil Meadows Group at the heart of it all. We’re going to try to break down stylistic boundaries and combine audiences through a host of original music on an industrial scale. There’s the commission of a new ensemble, a compositional and recording project, performance platform and educational programme set to unfold and I’ll be releasing more information over the coming months in what promises to be the most exciting year yet for my music.” The Elliot Galvin trio were, in addition, to Meadows’ award, offered a Musicians Benevolent Fund development award.
Phil Meadows pictured