Hugh Masekela, Loose Tubes and Shabaka Hutchings among Jazz FM Awards winners

The awards were hosted by Fast Show comedian John Thomson, famous for his Louis “nice” Balfour Jazz Club host, whose identity he briefly slipped into at the start of the ceremony. Notable winners included Sons of Kemet/Melt Yourself Down saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, who picked up the Instrumentalist of the Year award, Snarky Puppy keyboardist Bill Laurance who took home the Breakthrough Act award for his solo Project, and a thoroughly deserved win for Loose Tubes for Live Experience of the Year for their storming comeback performance at Cheltenham Jazz Festival in 2014, presented to the band’s Ashley Slater by singer and DJ Cerys Matthews.

Ronnie Scott’s MD Simon Cooke paid passionate tribute to Jazz FM founder Richard Wheatly, who sadly died in April this year, while revered South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela was presented with the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award by Bafta-winning Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow (above). Masekela also let rip in a full-blooded duet with pianist Larry Willis, while other live appearances included talented soul-jazz singer Jarrod Lawson and vocalist Rebecca Fergusson, who paid tribute to Billie Holiday.

The full list of winners is: Album of the Year (public vote) – Dianne Reeves Beautiful Life; Live Experience of the Year – Loose Tubes at Cheltenham Jazz Festival; UK Jazz Act of the Year – GoGo Penguin; Breakthrough Act – Bill Laurance; Instrumentalist of the Year – Shabaka Hutchings; Vocalist of the Year – Zara McFarlane; Jazz Innovation of the Year – Jason Moran; International Jazz Artist of the Year – Gregory Porter; Blues Artist of the Year – Dr John; Soul Artist of the Year – Jarrod Lawson; and PPL Lifetime Achievement – Hugh Masekela.

– Mike Flynn