Jazz FM Awards livestreamed from Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club

An array of international stars came together for the Jazz FM Awards, which took place on Tuesday 27 October via livestream from Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho. Presented by Marcus Brigstocke, the ceremony celebrated the breadth and diversity of the thriving global scene and saw awards presented to Philip Bailey, Charles Lloyd, Binker Golding, Jazz Re:freshed and Vortex Jazz Club.

There were surprise performances from double winner trumpeter Yazz Ahmed and vocalist of the year Judi Jackson plus breakthrough saxophonist Xhosa Cole.

The evening’s high profile special awards went to superstar pianist and educator Herbie Hancock – who celebrated turning 80 this year by picking up The PPL Lifetime Achievement Award, multi-platinum-selling US singer Norah Jones was presented with The Impact Award and the distinguished vibraphonist Orphy Robinson MBE was in shock as he won The Gold Award.

A host of stars turned out to present awards – including the likes of Jamie Cullum, Hugh Laurie, YolanDa Brown, Robert Glasper, Clarke Peters, Alexander O’Neal, Kandace Springs and Tom Misch.

Nick Pitts, Content Director Jazz FM:

“That we were able to put an event like this together in such tumultuous times is a reflection of the excellent work of our team at Bauer but it also displays the strength and resilience of the jazz community as a whole and hopefully provides a much-needed boost to everyone who works within it. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here and congratulations to all of the worthy winners.”

WATCH the Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDA here.

Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDA – WINNERS and NOMINEES

PPL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Herbie Hancock

Impact Award

Norah Jones

Gold Award

Orphy Robinson MBE

BREAKTHROUGH ACT OF THE YEAR sponsored by Cambridge Audio

Xhosa Cole – Winner

Yelfris Valdés

Rosie Turton

SOUL ACT OF THE YEAR

Philip Bailey – Winner

Anderson .Paak

Celeste

THE DIGITAL AWARD sponsored by Oanda

Chiminyo – Winner

Jacob Collier

Jazz re:freshed

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR

Binker Golding – Winner

Mark Kavuma

Shirley Tetteh

BLUES ACT OF THE YEAR sponsored by Blue Orchid Hotels

Jon Cleary – Winner

Keb’ Mo’

Gary Clark Jr.

THE INNOVATION AWARD sponsored by Mishcon de Reya

Jazz re:freshed – Winner

Moses Boyd

Sarathy Korwar

VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Judi Jackson – Winner

Alice Zawadzki

Georgia Cécile

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR

Charles Lloyd – Winner

Branford Marsalis

Kris Davis

PRS For Music UK JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC VOTE)

Sponsored by PRS For Music

Yazz Ahmed – Winner

Joe Armon-Jones

SEED Ensemble

ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC VOTE)

Sponsored by Arqiva

Yazz Ahmed – Polyhymnia – Winner

Ashley Henry – Beautiful Vinyl Hunter

SEED Ensemble – Driftglass

Jazzmeia Horn – Love & Liberation

Binker Golding – Abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers

Branford Marsalis Quartet – The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul

VENUE OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC VOTE)

Vortex Jazz Club – Winner

Church of Sound

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club

Love Supreme Festival

The Verdict

Band on the Wall, Manchester