Emilia Mårtensson picked up jazz vocalist of the year at this year's Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Instrumentalist of the year was Alexander Hawkins and the services to jazz award went to Mary Greig.

Now in their twelfth year, the PPL-sponsored awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group of MPs and peers, co-chaired by Tory MP Jason McCartney, member for Colne Valley and new to the position, and by hereditary Tory peer Lord Colwyn, and took place in their customary venue of the terrace pavilion of the House of Commons.The aim of the group who vote on the winners after an online poll and panel deliberations “is to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz, to increase Parliamentarians’ understanding of the jazz industry and issues surrounding it, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside Parliament.” Eighty of the some 1470 combined total of parliamentarians in both houses belong. 

The evening was compèred by Jazzwise editor-in-chief Jon Newey. Guests were entertained by James Pearson, musical director of Ronnie Scott's, who led the Ronnie Scott’s All-Stars (Freddie Gavita, t, Alex Garnett, ts, Sam Burgess, b, and Chris Higginbottom, d) from his seat at the electric piano. 

The winners were:

Jazz vocalist of the Year: Emilia Mårtensson  

Jazz instrumentalist of the year: Alexander Hawkins

Jazz album of the year: Julian Argüelles for Let It Be Told

Jazz ensemble of the Year: Empirical

Jazz newcomer of the year: Binker & Moses

Jazz venue of the year: Seven Jazz

Jazz media award: Jez Nelson

Jazz education award: Dr Tommy Smith

Services to jazz award: Mary Greig

Special awards: iconic saxophonist Evan Parker; and Michael Connarty, former MP for Linlithgow and Falkirk East, and champion of jazz at Parliament for many years.

Freddie Gavita and Alex Garnett performing at the awards, above