International stars come together for the Jazz FM Awards 2020
A host of international stars from around the world came together for last night’s Jazz FM Awards with OANDA, which was livestreamed from Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho.
The evening’s two high profile Special Awards, which had been announced before the ceremony, went to 14-time Grammy winner Herbie Hancock, who celebrated turning 80 this year by picking up The PPL Lifetime Achievement Award, and multi-platinum-selling US singer Norah Jones, who was presented with The Impact Award.
Accepting his award, Herbie Hancock said: “The UK has supported and kept jazz alive for so many years. Not just for its citizens, but globally. And people in distant lands, many fans from Asia, Africa and around the world have been able to enjoy great jazz in places like Ronnie Scott’s and other venues for many, many years.
“It has all been a wonderful ride and continues with the younger generation of jazz musicians collaborating with me and I’m inspired by that. They think I’m inspiring them; they don’t realise they are inspiring me! But jazz is in a very healthy state. The pandemic is not going to stop that. It’s continuing beyond that. So I want to thank the Jazz FM Awards and OANDA for this wonderful honour. Thank you all so very, very much.”
Earth Wind and Fire’s Philip Bailey was presented with Soul Act Of The Year, US saxophonist Charles Lloyd picked up International Act Of The Year, Binker Golding was Instrumentalist Of The Year, The Innovation Award went to Jazz re:freshed and Venue Of The Year was won by The Vortex.
The Gold Award was presented to UK band leader and vibraphonist Orphy Robinson MBE for his services to UK jazz and jazz education.
Stars who turned out to present awards included Jamie Cullum, Hugh Laurie, Yolanda Brown, Robert Glasper, Clarke Peters, Alexander O’Neal and Tom Misch.
JAZZ FM AWARDS 2020 WITH OANDA – FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND NOMINEES
PPL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Herbie Hancock (Presented by Robert Glasper)
IMPACT AWARD
Norah Jones (Presented by Kandace Springs)
GOLD AWARD
Orphy Robinson (Presented by Chris Philips)
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BREAKTHROUGH ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Cambridge Audio
Xhosa Cole – Winner (Presented by Yolanda Brown)
Yelfris Valdés
Rosie Turton
SOUL ACT OF THE YEAR
Philip Bailey – Winner (Presented by Clarke Peters)
Anderson .Paak
Celeste
THE DIGITAL AWARD
Sponsored by OANDA
Chiminyo – Winner (Presented by Joel Culpepper)
Jacob Collier
Jazz re:freshed
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hampstead Jazz Club
Binker Golding – Winner (Presented by Marcus Miller)
Mark Kavuma
Shirley Tetteh
BLUES ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Blue Orchid Hotels
Jon Cleary – Winner (Presented by Hugh Laurie)
Keb’ Mo’
Gary Clark Jr.
THE INNOVATION AWARD
Sponsored by Mishcon de Reya
Jazz re:freshed – Winner (Presented by Tony Minvielle)
Moses Boyd
Sarathy Korwar
VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Judi Jackson – Winner (Presented by Dee Dee Bridgewater)
Alice Zawadzki
Georgia Cécile
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Saint Lucia Wellness Festival
Charles Lloyd – Winner (Presented by Christian McBride)
Branford Marsalis
Kris Davis
UK JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC VOTE)
Sponsored by PRS For Music
Yazz Ahmed – Winner (Presented by Jamie Cullum)
Joe Armon-Jones
SEED Ensemble
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (PUBLIC VOTE)
Sponsored by Arqiva
Yazz Ahmed – Polyhymnia – Winner (Presented by Tom Misch)
Ashley Henry – Beautiful Vinyl Hunter
SEED Ensemble – Drift Glass
Jazzmeia Horn – Love and 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 (Presented by Alexander O’Neal)
Band on the Wall
Church of Sound
Love Supreme Festival
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
Verdict Jazz