Held, for the second year, at Shoreditch Town Hall, the Jazz FM Awards 2018 offered a glittering celebration of a music genre that has been written off for years but which is continuing to evolve and flourish in the 21st century. It was a star-studded event with Tito Jackson, Corinne Bailey Rae, Omar, and Nitin Sawhney there to present awards to victorious recipients on the night.
Those honoured ranged from newcomers like rising British sax star, Nubya Garcia (Breakthrough Act Of The Year), and Ezra Collective (who picked up the gong for UK Jazz Act Of The Year) to veterans such as Pat Metheny (PRS For Music Gold Award), George Benson (Impact Award), and Dame Cleo Laine (PPL Lifetime Achievement Award).
Other winners included female singers, Zara McFarlane (Vocalist Of The Year) and Cecile McLorin Salvant (International Jazz Artist Of The Year), while bassist/composer/singer Esperanza Spalding picked up the Digital Initiative Of The Year award for her album, ‘Exposure.’
There were also some stunning live performances on the night. British pianist, Ashley Henry, led a house band, which accompanied Nubya Garcia and Esperanza Spalding. Cecile McLorin Salvant brought along her own pianist, Aaron Diehl, for a stunning rendition of Jimmy Rowles’ ‘The Peacocks.’ The most poignant performance of the evening came from Dame Cleo Laine singing ‘I’ve Got A Crush On You.’ She showed that even at 90, her voice still possesses a luminous beauty.
Here’s the full list of winners:
Breakthrough Act of the Year
Nubya Garcia
International Soul Artist of the Year
Moonchild
UK Jazz Act of the Year (Public Vote)
Ezra Collective
Digital Initiative of the Year
Esperanza Spalding: Exposure
Instrumentalist of the Year
Evan Parker
International Blues Artist of the Year
Robert Cray
Jazz Innovation of the Year
Shabaka Hutchings: Multiple projects
Vocalist of the Year
Zara McFarlane
International Jazz Artist of the Year
Cécile McLorin Salvant
Album of the Year (Public Vote)
Thundercat – Drunk
Live Experience of the Year (Public Vote)
Ronnie Scott’s presents Ezra Collective – EFG London Jazz Festival at Islington Assembly Hall
PPL Lifetime Achievement Award
Recipient: Dame Cleo Laine
Impact Award
Recipient: George Benson
PRS for Music Gold Award
Recipient: Pat Metheny
