The nominees for this year’s Jazz FM Awards have been announced, with Kokoroko, Cleo Sol, Robert Glasper, Mavis Staples, Questlove and Mica Millar among the contenders.
Supported by PPL and PRS for Music, the Jazz FM Awards recognise the best new talent, contemporary icons and established stars from across the jazz, soul and blues spectrum. Since launching in 2013, the awards have honoured some of the biggest names in jazz, including Tony Bennett, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Gregory Porter, Norah Jones and Dame Cleo Laine.
The award’s categories include Breakthrough Act of the Year, International Jazz Act of the Year, Soul Act of the Year, Blues Act of the Year, Vocalist of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, The Digital Award, and the Innovation Award. The winners of two categories, the UK Jazz Act of the Year and Album of the Year, are determined by public vote. Votes can be submitted via the Jazz FM Awards website and, for the very first time, via Amazon smart speakers by using the command ‘Alexa, vote for the Jazz FM Awards.’
The recipients of this year’s special awards – the Gold Award, the Impact Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award - will be announced in due course.
Nick Pitts, Content Director, Jazz FM, says ‘I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all of the artists nominated for awards this year. The scene both in the UK and abroad continues to thrive, and competition for nominations is as fierce as ever so all of those we’ve included on the list are special talents who continue to push the boundaries and create incredible music.’
Andrea Czapary Martin, chief executive officer of PRS for Music says, ‘PRS for Music is proud to be the co-headline sponsor of the Jazz FM Awards, alongside PPL. It's incredible to see the exceptional, daring and distinctive music being created by the UK's finest Jazz, Soul and Blues songwriters and musicians. Congratulations to this year's nominees, we look forward to celebrating with you!’
Peter Leathem, chief executive office of PPL, says ‘We are proud to once again be co-headline sponsors for the Jazz FM Awards alongside PRS for Music. Each year the Awards showcase the great depth of talent that the jazz genre has in the UK, celebrating not just established artists but also showcasing those whose careers are just beginning. It also recognises the important work of Jazz FM in providing a platform for these artists and for supporting their work. Congratulations to all those shortlisted and we look forward to celebrating their work in October.’
The nominees for the 2022 Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music are:
BREAKTHROUGH ACT OF THE YEAR
Chelsea Carmichael
Jasmin Myra
Mica Millar
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR
Lady Blackbird
Theo Croker
Trombone Shorty
SOUL ACT OF THE YEAR sponsored by Boisdale of Canary Wharf
Alex Isley
Cleo Sol
Mica Millar
BLUES ACT OF THE YEAR sponsored by Imagine Cruising
Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
Joanne Taylor Shaw
Mavis Staples and Levon Helm
VOCALIST OF THE YEAR sponsored by Hampstead Jazz Club and Lateralize Records
Brigitte Beraha
Georgia Cecile
Omar
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Emma Rawicz
Fergus McCreadie
Mark Kavuma
THE DIGITAL AWARD
jazzed
Summer of Soul
We Out Here
INNOVATION AWARD sponsored by Mishcon de Reya
Blue Lab Beats
Café OTO
Jazz Is Dead
UK JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR (public vote)
Blue Lab Beats
KOKOROKO
Georgia Cecile
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (public vote)
Cleo Sol – Mother
Blue Lab Beats – Motherland
Emma-Jean Thackray – Yellow
Fergus McCreadie – Forest Floor
Kurt Elling – SuperBlue
Robert Glasper – Black Radio III
