The second Jazz FM Awards took place last night at Great Halls at Vinopolis, London Bridge.
The evening was hosted by John Thomson and featured performances from PPL Lifetime Achievement winner Hugh Masekela who performed with Larry Willis, a beautiful tribute from Rebecca Ferguson, celebrating the centenary of Billie Holiday, and the House Gospel Choir. There was also a surprise performance from Soul Artist Of The Year winner Jarrod Lawson.
Amongst the evenings winners were Gregory Porter, who took his second Jazz FM award win with International Jazz Artist of the Year, Snarky Puppyās pianist Bill Laurance who won the Breakthrough Act award and world-renowned multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer and singer Hugh Masekela who was commended with the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Jazz FM Awards 2015 is a partnership between Jazz FM and Serious and was made possible with the support of Aberdeen Asset Management, Audemus Spirits, CityJet, Conrad London St. James, Denbies Wine Estate, Mishcon De Reya, PPL, Taylorās Port, Vinopolis, Voss, 7digital and Yamaha Music.
The full list of winners is as below:
Album of the Year (Public vote):
Dianne Reeves – Beautiful Life
Live Experience of the Year, sponsored by 7digital (Public Vote):
Loose Tubes at Cheltenham Jazz Festival
UK Jazz Act of the Year sponsored by Yamaha Music (Public Vote):
GoGo Penguin
Breakthrough Act, sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management:
Bill Laurance
Instrumentalist of the Year:
Shabaka Hutchings
Vocalist of the Year, sponsored by CityJet:
Zara McFarlane
Jazz Innovation of the Year, sponsored by Mishcon de Reya:
Jason Moran
International Jazz Artist of the Year, sponsored by Taylorās Port:
Gregory Porter
Blues Artist of the Year:
Dr John
Soul Artist of the Year, sponsored by Conrad London St. James:
Jarrod Lawson
PPL Lifetime Achievement:
Hugh Masekela