What are the Parliamentary Jazz Awards?
The Parliamentary Jazz Awards have been running since 2005. The Parliamentary Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, talent and breadth of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom.
The categories for the Awards reflect the ever-increasing scope of talent from within the UK’s jazz scene and include:
• Jazz Album of the Year (released in the previous year by a UK band or musicians)
• Jazz Vocalist of the Year (UK-based vocalist who impressed in the previous year )
• Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (UK-based musician who impressed in the previous year )
• Jazz Ensemble of the Year (UK-based group who impressed in the previous year)
• Jazz Venue of the Year (including jazz clubs, venues, festivals and promoters)
• Jazz Media Award (including broadcasters, journalists, magazines, blogs, listings and books)
• Jazz Education Award (to an educator or project for raising the standard of jazz education in the UK)
• Jazz Newcomer of the Year (UK-based artist, musician or group with a debut album released in the previous year )
• Services to Jazz Award (to a living person for their outstanding contribution to jazz in the UK).
The Parliamentary Jazz Awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group. The Awards were sponsored by PPL from 2005 to 2016. The Parliamentary Awards for 2017 -2020 are supported by PizzaExpress Live
What is APPJAG?
The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) currently has over 116 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. Their aim 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. The Group’s officers as at the inaugural meeting on 26th February are Co-Chairs, John Spellar MP and Lord Mann, Secretary, Sir Greg Knight MP, Vice Chairs, Alison Thewless MP and Chi Onwurah MP, the Treasurer is Ian Paisley MP. Officers are: Lord Colwyn, Baroness Howe.
The Secretariat is Chris Hodgkins with the assistance of Louis Flood. The contact address is: appjag1@gmail.com the web address is: https://appjag.wordpress.com/
Who has received the Awards in the past?
The recipients of the Parliamentary Jazz Awards from previous years are as follows:
Parliamentary Awards 2020
- Jazz Vocalist of the Year: Cherise Adams-Burnett
- Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Sarah Tandy
- Jazz Album of the Year: ‘Finding Home’ – Kate Williams Four Plus Three meets Georgia Mancio
- Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Nikki Iles Big Band
- Jazz Newcomer of the Year: Luca Manning
- Jazz Venue of the Year: PizzaExpress Jazz Club
- Jazz Media Award: Corey Mwamba “Freeness” BBC Radio 3
- Jazz Education Award: Jon Eno BEM
- Services to Jazz Award: Blow The Fuse
- Special APPJAG Award: Jazzwise
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2019
- Jazz Vocalist of the Year: Zoe Gilby
- Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Josephine Davies
- Jazz Album of the Year: Fergus McCreadie – “Turas”
- Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Ezra Collective
- Jazz Newcomer of the Year: Xhosa Cole
- Jazz Venue of the Year: Watermill Jazz Club, Dorking
- Jazz Media Award: Ian Mann – Jazzmann
- Jazz Education Award: Nikki Iles
- Services to Jazz Award: Dame Cleo Laine
- Special APPJAG Award: Henry Lowther
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2018
- Jazz Vocalist of the Year: Ian Shaw
- Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Arun Ghosh
- Jazz Album of the Year: Denys Baptiste – “The Late Trane”
- Jazz Ensemble of the Year: ARQ – Alison Rayner Quintet
- Jazz Newcomer of the Year: Shirley Tetteh
- Jazz Venue of the Year: Jazz At The Lescar in Sheffield
- Jazz Media Award: Lance Liddle – Bebop Spoken Here
- Jazz Education Award: Jean Toussaint
- Services to Jazz Award: Jill Rodger
- Special APPJAG Award: Gary Crosby OBE
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2017
- Jazz Vocalist of the Year:Cleveland Watkiss
- Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Shabaka Hutchings
- Jazz Album of the Year: Dinosaur “Together As One”
- Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Phronesis
- Jazz Newcomer of the Year: Nerija
- Jazz Venue of the Year: Scarborough Jazz Festival.
- Jazz Media Award: Chris Philips
- Jazz Education Award: Tomorrow’s Warriors
- Services to Jazz Award: Tony Dudley-Evans
- Special APPJAG Award: Jim Mullen
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2016
- Jazz Vocalist of the Year: Emilia Martensson
- Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Alex Hawkins
- Jazz Album of the Year: Julian Argüelles ‘Let It Be Told’
- Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Empirical
- Jazz Newcomer of the Year: Binker and Moses
- Jazz Venue of the Year: Seven Jazz Leeds
- Jazz Media Award: Jez Nelson/BBC Jazz on 3
- Jazz Education Award: Dr Tommy Smith
- Services to Jazz Award: Mary Greig
- Special APPJAG Award: Evan Parker
- Special APPJAG Award: Michael Connarty
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2015
- Jazz Album of the Year: Partisans ‘Swamp’
- Jazz Vocalist of the Year: Norma Winstone MBE
- Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Laura Jurd
- Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Engines Orchestra
- Jazz Venue of the Year (inc. clubs, venues, festivals and promoters): St Ives Jazz Club
- Jazz Media Award (inc. broadcasters, journalists, magazines, blogs, listings and books):London Jazz News
- Jazz Education Award: NYJO
- Jazz Newcomer Award: Peter Edwards
- Services to Jazz Award: Chris Hodgkins
- Special APR JAG Award: Peter Ind
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2014
- Jazz Album of the Year: Troykestra, Live At Cheltenham 13 Jazz Festival
- Jazz Vocalist of the Year: Christine Tobin
- Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Arun Ghosh
- Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Beats & Pieces Big Band
- Jazz Venue of the Year (inc. clubs, venues, festivals and promoters): EFG London Jazz Festival Jazz Media Award (inc. broadcasters, journalists, magazines, blogs, listings and books): Jamie Cullum
- Jazz Education Award: Issie Barratt, National Youth Jazz Collective
- Jazz Newcomer Award: Phil Meadows
- Services to Jazz Award: David Redfern
- Special APPJAG Award: Chris Barber
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2013
- Jazz Musician of the Year: Guy Barker
- Jazz Album of the Year: John Surman ‘Saltash Bells’ (ECM)
- Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Impossible Gentlemen
- Live Jazz Award of the Year: The Vortex, London
- Jazz Journalist of the Year: Rob Adams Jazz Broadcaster of the Year: Mike Chadwick
- Jazz Publication of the Year: Catherine Tackley – Benny Goodman’s Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert
- Jazz Education Award: Nick Smart
- Services to Jazz Award: Stan Tracey CBE
- APPJAG Special Award: Elaine Delmar
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2012
- Jazz Musician of the Year: Bobby Wellins
- Jazz Album of the Year: Liane Carroll ‘Up and Down’
- Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
- Live Jazz Award of the Year: The Spin, Oxford
- Jazz Journalist of the Year: Jon Newey
- Jazz Broadcaster of the Year: Jamie Cullum
- Jazz Publication of the Year: Jazz UK
- Jazz Education Award: Gary Crosby OBE
- Services to Jazz Award: John Cumming
- APPJAG Special Award: Acker Billk
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2011
- Musician: Brian Kellock Ensemble: Brass Jaw Album: Midas – John Turville Broadcaster: Paul Barnes Educator: Dr Ian Darrington MBE
- Publication: Goin’ Home: The Uncompromising Life and Music of Ken Colyer by Mike Pointon, Ray
- Smith, Martin Colyer
- Journalist: John Fordham
- Venue: Hideaway, London
- Services to Jazz: Coleridge Goode
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2010
- Musician: Mark Lockheart
- Ensemble: Nigel Price’s Organ Trio
- Album: No Messin’ – Gareth Lockrane
- Broadcaster: Alyn Shipton
- Educator: Kathy Dyson
- Publication: Jazzwise Journalist: Mike Flynn Venue
- Jazz Bar, Edinburgh
- Services to Jazz: Brian Blain
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2009
- Musician: Phil Robson
- Ensemble: Ryan Quigley Sextet
- Album; Howeird – Sam Crockatt Quartet
- Broadcaster: Sarah Ward
- Educator: Richard Michael
- Publication: jazzreloaded.com
- Journalist: Kevin LeGendre
- Venue; Fleece Jazz
- Services to Jazz: Val Wilmer
- Special Award: Ronnie Scott’s Club
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2008
- Musician: Liane Carroll
- Ensemble: Empirical
- Album: The Amadeus Project – Guy Barker
- Broadcaster: Helen Mayhew
- Educator: Dennis Rollins
- Publication: Jazz UK
- Journalist: John Fordham
- Venue: Tithe Barn, Needham, Norfolk
- Services to Jazz: Paul Pace
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2007
- Musician: Gwilym Simcock
- Ensemble: Killer Shrimp
- Album: Angel Of The Presence – John Taylor
- Broadcaster: Jez Nelson
- Educator: Pete Churchill
- Publication: Jazzwise
- Journalist: Stuart Nicholson
- Venue: Pizza Express, London
- Services to Jazz: Kenny Wheeler
- Special Award: Bill Ashton MBE
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2006
- Musician: Tim Garland
- Ensemble: Jazz Jamaica
- Album: Melting Pot – Zoe Rahman
- Broadcaster: Julian Joseph
- Educator: Simon Purcell
- Publication: Jazz UK
- Website: Audio-B
- Journalist: Jon Newey
- Venue: 606 Club
- Services to Jazz: Ian Carr
Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2005
- Musician: Kenny Wheeler
- Ensemble: Tony Kofi Quartet
- Album: The Last Time I Saw You – Stan Tracey, Peter King
- Broadcaster: Helen Mayhew
- Educator: Eddie Harvey
- Website: Jazz Services
- Journalist: John Fordham
- Venue: Wakefield Jazz
- Services to Jazz: Kathy Stobart
How do the Awards work?
The first round is by public nomination for the categories. The 2017 Awards received 3250 nominations.
The second round is the short listing process by a panel made up from the jazz constituency. The panel includes, promoters, musicians, journalists, the media, people from jazz education and managers
Voting procedure
- Each panel member selects three nominations from the total nominations (in 2017 3,250) from each category; they cannot select themselves if nominated or close friends and colleagues
- The panel looks at the list of nominations voted for by the judging panel (for all 9 award categories,) selected from the full list of entries received on the PizzaExpress Live website from the general public within the eligible time period. All categories relate to the calendar year 2016. The lists of the nominations being considered are those nominations by the panel that have multiple votes
- The panel discusses each nomination in each award category
- The first time round voting is by a show of hands for each entry. The votes for each nomination are counted and noted. Each judging panel member can only vote a maximum of 3 times within a category.
- If a judging panel member is shortlisted or is in involved with a nominee in any capacity such business dealings, friendship, band member in any a category they retire from the room until the vote for that category is completed.
- The top three scorers in each award category go through to the third round, to be approved as the official nominees, by the members of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG), who will select the recipients of each award category.
- If there should be a tie between3 and 4 then 4 will go to APPJAG.
Other considerations
- Previous year’s winner in that category is excluded from being nominated the following year.
- The awards are celebrating the best of British jazz and our nominees should truly reflect the diversity and gender of the UK jazz scene.
- Albums & publications are only eligible if released (in any format) or published in the preceding year in the UK.
- All nominees must be living not deceased.
- Previous year’s winner in that category is excluded from being nominated the following year.
- The Panel are looking for a broad range for APPJAG members to select the winners from including where possible a popular/mainstream option.
- The Panel should have due regard for entries from outside of London and the south east of England — these are UK wide awards.
What’s New?
Since 2005 details of the Awards Panel have remained confidential to avoid Panel members being lobbied or abused by email, online or personally. For the Parliamentary Jazz Awards for 2018 a list of the Panel members will be published on the APPJAG website after the Awards have been completed. The Parliamentary Awards trust that Panel members will be treated with courtesy.
Panel Member 2020
Chris Hodgkins Chair – non voting
Gary Crosby
Kevin Le Gendre
Deirdre Cartwright
Jon Newey
Camilla George
Martin Hummel
Paul Pace
Charles Alexander
Danielle White
Keith Ames
Steve Crocker
Kathryn Shackleton
Elaine Crouch
Jumoké Fashola
John Fordham
Tina Edwards
Joe Paice
Jill Rodger
Rob Adams
Lynne Gornall
Catherine Tackley
Anne Rigg
Gill Wilde
Wendy Kirkland
Sue Edwards
Phil Webb
Alex Webb
Panel Members 2019
Chris Hodgkins – Chair – non voting
Gary Crosby
Kevin Le Gendre
Deirdre Cartwright
Jon Newey
Camilla George
Martin Hummel
Paul Pace
Charles Alexander
Danielle White
Laurie Burnette
Keith Ames
Steve Crocker
Kathryn Shackleton
Elaine Crouch
Joe Paice
Jill Rodger
Rob Adams
Lynne Gornall
Catherine Tackley
Anne Rigg
Gill Wilde
John Fordham
Emily Jones
Emma Perry
Kate Williams
Panel Members 2018
Chris Hodgkins – Chair – non voting
Gary Crosby
Emily Saunders
Kevin Le Gendre
Andrea Vicari
Deirdre Cartwright
Jon Newey
Catherine Tackley
Camilla George
Martin Hummel
Paul Pace
Charles Alexander
Danielle White
Laurie Burnette
Keith Ames
Joe Paice
Steve Crocker
Isabella Zanon
Jill Rodger
Rob Adams
Lynne Gornall
Phil Webb
Emily Jones
Anne Rigg
Helen Mayhew
John Fordham
Chris Hodgkins
24th September 2017
Updated 10th May 2020
Updated 17th January 2021
All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group 