Tag: politics

Nominations announced for the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2025

Press Release

Nominations announced for the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2025

The nominations have today been announced for the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The Awards, are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) and supported by the Musicians’ Union and UK Music. The recipients of the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards will be announced on Tuesday 14th October 2025 at the World Heart Beat The Parliamentary Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, breadth and talent of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom.

The award categories reflect the ever-increasing scope of talent from within the UK’s jazz scene: Jazz Vocalist of the Year; Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year; Jazz Album of the Year; Jazz Ensemble of the Year; Jazz Newcomer of the Year; Jazz Venue of the Year; Jazz Media Award; Jazz Education Award; and the Services to Jazz Award.

Following the online public vote for the Awards, the shortlist was then voted upon by a selection panel, that represent a broad cross-section of backgrounds united in their passion and knowledge of jazz. The winners, chosen by  members of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), will be announced on Tuesday 14th October 2025.

Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of APPJG, said: “These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the talents and energies of the great musicians, educators, promoters, record labels, jazz organisations, blogs, jazz magazines and journalists who help keep jazz flourishing.  These shortlists demonstrate the wealth of talent and commitment that exists in the British jazz scene. Now in its 20th year, the Parliamentary Jazz Awards honour the best of British jazz. MPs and Peers in the All Party Group are grateful to the Musicians’ Union and UK Music for supporting the event.”

“The Musicians’ Union is proud to support the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards,” said Naomi Pohl, General Secretary of the MU. “This year’s shortlist showcases the phenomenal jazz talent thriving across the UK, as well as the vibrant communities that support them in every nation and region. Congratulations to all the nominees on their well-deserved recognition.”

Tom Kiehl  Chief Executive of UK Music said: “The Parliamentary Jazz Awards have a rich history, with this year promising to deliver another fantastic chapter. UK Music is proud to support the many great achievements from across the jazz community over the past year, and congratulates all those who will be celebrated on 14 October.”

The Awards are supported by the Musicians’ Union who are a community of over 36,000 musicians working to protect their members’ rights and campaign for a fairer music industry. And further support is provided by UK Music which is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. They represent all sectors of the UK music industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music.

The full list of nominees is as follows:

Jazz Vocalist of the Year

Zara McFarlane

Brigitte Beraha

Alice Zawadzki

Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year

Janette Mason

Jasper Hoiby

Rob Luft

Jazz Album of the Year

Ezra Collective

‘Dance, No One’s  Watching’

John Surman

‘Words Unspoken’

Daniel Casimir

‘Balance’

Billy Marrows

‘Penelope’

Jazz Ensemble of the Year

Ezra Collective

Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band

The Banger Factory

Jazz Newcomer of the Year

Olivia Cuttill

Maddy Coombs

Donovan Haffner

Knats

Jazz Venue of the Year

606

Soul Mama

Marianne Windham – Guildford Jazz

Digbeth Jazz

Jazz Media Award

Richard Williams

‘Round Midnight and Soweto Kinch – Folded Wing production for BBC Radio 3

One Jazz

Jazz Education Award

Tomorrows’ Warriors

Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra

World Heart Beat

Services to Jazz Award

Marianne Windham

Danielle White

Chris Philips

Ends

17th August 2025

The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), co-chaired ”. by Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Mann.

Notes to the Editor

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) currently has over 70 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 23rd July 2024 are the Chair, Chi Onwurah MP and Deputy Chair, Lord Mann. The Officers are Jo White MP and Lord Crathorne with additional elected members, Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, Lord Spellar and Sarah Champion MP.

Recent reports can be seen here:

Submission to the open consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence from Chris Hodgkins

Review of Jazz in England March 2025

State of Play: submission to the Culture Media and Sport committee

ACE Review a response from the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group

The Secretary is Chris Hodgkins. The Secretary operates on a strictly pro bono basis and no expenses of any kind are paid to the Secretary. The contact address is: admin@appjag.org and the website is https://appjag.org/

Launch of the Review of Jazz in England

Review of Jazz in England: an Honest Portrait and an Actionable Roadmap – A Green Paper

Report plots ways for jazz to keep swinging

A cross-party Parliamentary focus group has published a review of jazz in England that sets out the way ahead for the music to flourish nationally over the next ten years.

The All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), which sponsors the prestigious annual Parliamentary Jazz Awards, commissioned the report to shed light on the opportunities and challenges faced by one of the most vibrant components of the English arts scene.

Compiled by musician, radio presenter and former arts administrator Chris Hodgkins and musician and journalist Howard Lawes, the report draws on observations and input from some of the most experienced figures in jazz across England and provides an honest portrait of the jazz ecosystem, highlighting both areas of growth and the need for structural support.

“In recent years, the English jazz scene has grown more dynamic and multifaceted, encompassing a wide range of influences that resonate across generations and backgrounds,” says APPJG chair, Chi Onwurah MP. “But while the spirit of jazz remains vibrant, our musicians, promoters, educators, and venues face unique pressures that have been intensified by economic and cultural shifts, not least the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The report recommends measures including strengthening the music’s support infrastructure and easing the effects of red tape to open up touring possibilities for musicians, both those seeking to work abroad and those from outside the country looking to play to local audiences.

“Like many creative industries, jazz faces considerable challenges including the effects of Brexit and the rapid evolution of technology,” says Chi Onwurah. “This review offers timely insights into these changes, mapping the landscape of jazz from the perspectives of those who live, perform, and support the music. The Review of Jazz in England is a consultative green paper and the APPJG, whilst happy to receive thoughts and ideas, is very keen to see action. With this in mind, we urge the Government to act on the findings within and to engage with the sector to better understand the challenges and opportunities our sector faces”

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the Department of Culture, Media and Science Select Committee added: “I remain committed to advocating for policies that sustain and enhance the UK’s cultural sector. Jazz is a reflection of our society – diverse, inventive, and resilient. Its future depends on bold and collaborative action, and it is our shared responsibility to ensure its prosperity for generations to come.”

The Review of Jazz in England is available at Review of Jazz in England March 2025

For further information, contact: Chris Hodgkins at admin@appjag.org

23rd March 2025

Notes to  editors

All Party Parliamentary Jazz  Group

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) currently has over 73 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 Inaugaral Meeting  on 23rd July 2024 are the Chair, Chi Onwurah MP and Deputy Chair, Lord Mann. The Officers are Jo White MP and Lord Crathorne.

The Secretary  is Chris Hodgkins. The Secretary  operates on a strictly pro bono basis and no expenses of any kind are paid to the Secretariate. The contact address is: admin@appjag.org

For further details of the Group including recent minutes and please see: https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/apg/

Please note this is not an official website [or feed] of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in these webpages are those of the group.