Jazz FM Awards honour Jools Holland, Marcus Miller & Norma Winstone
Jools Holland, Marcus Miller and Norma Winstone are to receive this year’s special awards at the Jazz FM Awards.
The special awards are given each year to three musicians who have made contributions of exceptional significance to their art.
They will be presented in-person at the ceremony at Shoreditch Town Hall on Thursday 20 October. The evening will be hosted by US actor and star of The Wire and Treme, Clarke Peters.
Pianist and broadcaster Jools Holland OBE DL will receive this year’s Impact Award. He has become a much-respected musician on the international music scene over his 50 year career.
His “Later with…” TV show, for 30 years, has helped launch the careers of countless jazz artists, he has toured his rhythm and blues orchestra around the globe, sold millions of albums and was awarded an OBE in 2003 for his services to the British music industry.
Jools Holland OBE says: “I’m honoured to be receiving Jazz FM’s Impact Award. Their radio station and my “Later with…” TV show have been aligned for 30 years; spreading the word about jazz, blues and improvised music, breaking new artists and bringing them to a wider audience.
“As well as being a regular listener to the station, I’ve also been an occasional presenter for them over the years, so I’m delighted to be a part of their awards show alongside some truly incredible talent.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award goes to UK vocalist Norma Winstone MBE. Throughout a remarkable career, the 81-year-old east-London-born singer has influenced and inspired generations and is now widely regarded as one of the all-time greats of European jazz.
Norma Winstone MBE says: “I was thrilled a few years ago when I received the “Vocalist Of The Year” at the Jazz FM Awards in 2017 and now to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award for doing what I love, is humbling. Looking forward to the ceremony and singing a little something for you all!”
Receiving the Gold Award is one of the most distinctive artists of the modern era – bassist, producer, composer and bandleader Marcus Miller.
A key figure in the late career of Miles Davis, Miller has released a string of acclaimed albums under his own name and his instantly recognisable bass playing has appeared on many hits from Bill Wither’s “Just The Two Of Us” and Luther Vandross’ “Never Too Much”, to songs by the likes of Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, George Benson and Elton John to name a few.
Marcus Miller says: “I am delighted to accept the Jazz FM Gold Award. Jazz is a vital artform that continues to bring communities and cultures together, feeding souls and bringing joy to so many of us.
“Thank you Jazz FM for your continued support of what I do and recognising the hard work of so many musicians through these awards along with providing such an invaluable platform to so many artists at all stages of their careers.”