2018 British Jazz Awards results announced
Many thanks to the 5500 people who voted in this year’s British Jazz Awards. As the only awards that take the pulse of the nation’s jazz fans in deciding the outstanding musicians, bands and album releases over the last twelve months, these provide a valuable form of recognition for the best in the UK’s jazz scene.
The four nominations in each of the 16 categories were selected by a group of respected figures within the Jazz community, a list of whom is included below. In addition, voters had the chance to vote for any musicians not nominate who they considered worthy of a placing as a ‘write-in’ vote – the highest placed of these from each category are included in the final listings
Despite the continued brilliance of all of the nominees over years (and in some cases, decades), a majority of last year’s winners failed to make it two in a row, with Winston Clifford topping the polls in the Drums category for the first time while Kansas Smitty’s House Band and The Gareth Lockrane Big Band making debut wins in the Small Group and Big Band categories. In addition, it was third time lucky for young trumpet star Alexandra Ridout, who walked away with the hotly contested Rising Star award, given to the best up and coming musician under 25.
So without further ado, the results of the 2018 British Jazz Awards are (with winners at number 1, runners up 2-5):
Trumpet | |
1 | Enrico Tomasso |
2 | Bruce Adams |
3 | Freddie Gavita |
4 | Henry Lowther |
5 | James Copus |
Trombone | |
1 | Mark Nightingale |
2 | Dennis Rollins |
3 | Mark Bassey |
4 | Ian Bateman |
5 | Annie Whitehead |
Clarinet | |
1 | Alan Barnes |
2 | Adrian Cox |
3 | Pete Long |
4 | Julian Marc Stringle |
5 | Mark Crooks |
Alto Sax | |
1 | Alan Barnes |
2 | Soweto Kinch |
3 | Sam Mayne |
4 | Paul Towndrow |
5 | Mike Chillingworth |
Tenor Sax | |
1 | Karen Sharp |
2 | Dave O’Higgins |
3 | Art Themen |
4 | Robert Fowler |
5 | John Hallam |
Piano | |
1 | Dave Newton |
2 | Nikki Iles |
3 | Gareth Williams |
4 | Nikki Yeoh |
5 | Craig Milverton |
Guitar | |
1 | Jim Mullen |
2 | Martin Taylor |
3 | John Etheridge |
4 | Nigel Price |
5 | Dominic Ashworth |
Double Bass | |
1 | Dave Green |
2 | Alison Rayner |
3 | Arnie Somogyi |
4 | Andrew Cleyndert |
5 | Calum Gourlay |
Drums | |
1 | Winston Clifford |
2 | James Maddren |
3 | Steve Brown |
4 | Sebastiaan De Krom |
5 | Clark Tracey |
Vocals | |
1 | Claire Martin |
2 | Clare Teal |
3 | Tina May |
4 | Georgia Mancio |
5 | Sarah Dowling |
Miscellaneous Instrument | |
1 | Courtney Pine (soprano sax) |
2 | Ross Stanley (organ) |
3 | Emma Fisk (violin) |
4 | Andy Panayi (flute) |
5 | Ben Holder (violin) |
Rising Star | |
1 | Alexandra Ridout |
2 | Nubya Garcia |
3 | Nadim Teimoori |
4 | Daniel Casimir |
5 | Alex Clarke |
Small Group | |
1 | Kansas Smitty’s House Band |
2 | Nigel Price Organ Trio |
3 | Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen |
4 | Tipitina |
5 | Alison Rayner Quintet |
Big Band | |
1 | Gareth Lockrane Big Band |
2 | NYJO |
3 | Scottish National Jazz Orchestra |
4 | Beats & Pieces |
5 | Calum Gourlay Big Band |
Best New Album | |
1 | Woodville Records: “Ask Me Now”- Alan Barnes & Dave Newton |
2 | ECM Records: “The Study of Touch” – Django Bates Beloved |
3 | ART Records: “The Tour Continues” – Art Themen’s New Directions Quintet |
4 | Lake Records: “Thanks For The Melody” – Jeff Barnhart & Spats Langham |
5 | 33 Jazz Records for “Risky Furniture” by Paul Jolly and Mike Adcock |
Best Re-issue Album | |
1 | Upbeat Recordings: “Sir Humph’s Delight” – Humphrey Lyttelton |
2 | Esoteric Recordings: “Where Fortune Smiles” – McLaughlin, Surman, Berger, Holland And Martin |
3 | Jazz Crusade: “It Looks Like A Big Time Tonight” – Johnny Parker |
4 | Lake Records: “My Tiny Band Is Chosen” – Freddy Randall |
5 | Gearbox Records: “Monk” – Thelonious Monk |
With many thanks to our nominations panel:
Chris Hodgkins | Musician and broadcaster |
David Nathan | National Jazz Archive |
Denny Ilett | Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival |
Gill Wilde | Grimsby Jazz |
Ian Darrington | Wigan Jazz Festival |
Jill Roger | Glasgow Jazz Festival |
John Billett | JBGB Events |
Lance Liddle | Bebop Spoken Here |
Laurie Burnette | Jazz London Radio |
Roger Cotterrell | Jazz Writer |
Ron Simpson | The Jazz Rag |