Winners Announced For 2022 Parliamentary Jazz Awards

The Parliamentary Jazz Awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) with the support of PizzaExpress Live. The Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, talent and breadth of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom.

The award categories reflect the ever-increasing scope of talent from within the UK’s jazz scene: Jazz Vocalist of the Year; Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year; Jazz Album of the Year; Jazz Ensemble of the Year; Jazz Newcomer of the Year; Jazz Venue of the Year; Jazz Media Award; Jazz Education Award; the Services to Jazz Award.

Lord Parkinson Minister for Arts and DCMS Lords Minister presented the first award to Claire Martin, Vocalist of the Year.

John Spellar MP, Co-Chair of APPJG, said: "These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the talents and energies of the great musicians, educators, promoters, record labels, jazz organisations, blogs, jazz magazines and journalists who have kept jazz flourishing. These recipients demonstrate the wealth of talent and commitment that exists in the British jazz scene. Now in their 17th year, the Parliamentary Jazz Awards honour the best of British jazz. MPs and Peers in the All Party Group is grateful to PizzaExpress Live for supporting the event.”

Chi Onwurah MP, Deputy Chair of APPJAG: “This has been another really strong year for the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in terms of talent and nominations. The well deserved recipients are a veritable who’s who of names that have made a real impact on the music and helped make the UK one of the world’s leading jazz territories”. 

The full list of recipients is as follows:

Jazz Vocalist of the Year

Claire Martin OBE

Linn recording artist Claire Martin has to worldwide critical acclaim established herself as a tour de force on the UK jazz scene gaining many awards, including winning the British Jazz Awards eight times during her career which spans over three decades. In 2018 she was the proud recipient of the BASCA Gold Badge Award for her contribution to jazz.

Claire became a professional singer at 19 and two years later realised her dream of singing at Ronnie Scott’s legendary jazz club in London Soho. Signed to the prestigious Glasgow based Linn Records in 1990, Claire has since released 18 CDs with the label, collaborating with musical luminaries including Martin Taylor, John Martyn, Stephane Grappelli, Kenny Barron, Richard Rodney Bennett and Jim Mullen on many of these recordings.

Claire has performed worldwide with her trio and, until his death in 2012, worked extensively with the celebrated composer and pianist Sir Richard Rodney Bennett in a cabaret duo setting both in England and the US where they played to sell-out houses at venues including the prestigious Algonquin Hotel in New York City.

Claire appears as a featured soloist with the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the BBC Big Band and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Claire co-presented BBC Radio 3’s flagship jazz program ‘Jazz Line Up’ from 2000 to 2017 and interviewed many of her musical heroes such as Pat Metheny and the late Michael Brecker. Her 2009 CD a Modern Art prompted Jazz Times USA to claim: “She ranks among the four or five finest female jazz vocalists on the planet”.

At the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2011 Claire was delighted to be awarded an OBE for her Services to Jazz.

Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year

Tony Kofi

Tony Kofi is a British Jazz multi-instrumentalist born of Ghanaian parents, a player of the Alto, Baritone, Soprano, Tenor saxophones and flute. Having 'cut his teeth' in the “Jazz Warriors” of the early 90’s, award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi has gone on to establish himself as a musician, teacher and composer of some authority.

As well as performing and recording with Gary Crosby's “NuTroop”  and “Jazz Jamaica”, Tony’s playing has also been a feature of many bands and artists he has worked/recorded with include “US-3” The World Saxophone Quartet, Courtney Pine, Donald Byrd, Eddie Henderson, The David Murray Big Band, Sam Rivers Rivbe Big band, Andrew Hill Big Band, Abdullah Ibrahim, Macy Gray, Julian Joseph Big band, Harry Connick JR, Byron Wallen's Indigo, Jamaaladeen Tacuma's Coltrane Configurations and Ornette Coleman.

His fluent and fiery hard-bop style makes him constantly in demand. He currently leads his own Tony Kofi Quartet, Tony Kofi Sphinx Trio, and Future Passed Trio and is also the co-founder with Jonathan Gee of the Monk Liberation Front, a group that is dedicated to the music of Thelonious Monk. Tony’s latest project sees him performing with Alex Webb’s Café Society Swing, Arnie Somogyi’s Jump Monk, Larry Bartley’s JustUS Quartet, Adrian Reid Quartet, a double leaders project with Alan Barnes called Aggregation, Orphy Robinson’s Bobby Hutcherson songbook project, Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet, Jo Harrop’s Fever, Portrait of Cannonball (Music dedicated to Cannonball Adderley) Tony Kofi and the Organisation, a recent project which he co leads on the Baritone Saxophone.

As well as being a musician, composer and bandleader, Tony also works as a teacher at The Julian Joseph Jazz Academy and The World Heart Beat Music Academy. In September 2020 he started teaching at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and this year was awarded an honorary professorship from Nottingham University.

Jazz Album of the Year

Boxed In by Daniel Casimir

Described to have won the Young Jazz Musician Award “with great mix of communicativeness, simplicity and sass” and winner of the Jazz FM "Instrumentalist of the Year," Multi-award winning bassist and composer Daniel Casimir has played a crucial role in the UK Jazz scene.

Since finishing the formal aspect of his musical training, Daniel has had the opportunity of performing with the following artists; Julian Joseph, Jason Rebello, Lonnie Liston Smith, Chihiro Yamanaka, Jean Toussaint, and David Lyttle. In addition to performing with an array of musicians, Daniel has recorded with Nubya Garcia (We Out Here, Nubya’s 5IVE), Binker Golding (abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers) Camilla George (Isang) Blue Lab Beats, Oscar Jerome and Ashley Henry (Beautiful Vinyl Haunter).

In 2017 Daniel released his first recording as a bandleader Escapee, which was released under Jazz Re:freshed followed by the critically acclaimed album "These Days” in 2019.

London-based composer/bassist, Daniel Casimir returns with his solo debut album “Boxed In”, a dynamic collision of pulsing modern jazz & orchestral instrumentation.

Featuring Casimir’s quintet of fellow British jazz luminaries, including Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd, Al Macsween & James Copus, Boxed In astutely bridges traditional and contemporary jazz forms with enveloping strings, woodwind & brass arrangements, but under its intricate musical surface seeks to confront some necessary hard truths.

Jazz Ensemble of the Year 

Kansas Smitty’s House Band

Led by American-Italian alto-saxophonist/clarinettist Giacomo Smith, and featuring a wide array of young and exciting British jazz talent, including pianist Joe Webb (Haley Tuck, Alaska Alaska}, Will Cleasby on drums (Judi Jackson, Kurt Elling, Banger Factory) and bassist Ferg Ireland (Ashley Henry, Ruby Rushton), Kansas Smitty’s astutely bridge traditional and modern jazz forms in seamless and sublime fashion. Having sold out shows at Ronnie Scott’s and The Jazz Café, and festival appearances including North Sea Jazz and Love Supreme and Cheltenham Jazz Festival. 

Jazz Newcomer of the Year

Emma Rawicz

Emma Rawicz is an award winning young saxophonist and composer, already making waves on the UK music scene. She has been described as 'a force to be reckoned with' (Jazzwise) and 'a fast rising star' (London Jazz News). At the age of 19 she has already recorded her eagerly awaited debut album featuring Ant Law, made up entirely of her original compositions, due to be released in May 2022. She has also created a name for herself both as a bandleader and a sideman. A new arrival on the scene, she has already made an impact, regularly playing at major London jazz venues with a wide range of established musicians. Emma is a recipient of the 2021 Drake Yolanda Award.

Emma's influences range from modern jazz and fusion to folk and soul, key figures in her musical development including Chris Potter, Ari Hoenig, Kenny Jarrett, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea and more. 

Growing up in rural North Devon, Emma didn't discover jazz until the age of 15, and didn't pick up a tenor saxophone until a year later, but had spent her childhood otherwise immersed in largely folk and classical music.

Emma is a natural performer. Her music has a unique sound, fusing all her many influences, and her compositions range from lilting Afro Cuban inspired grooves to hard hitting modern jazz and funk numbers.

Jazz Venue of the Year

The Globe, Newcastle upon Tyne

The Globe in Newcastle upon Tyne is the first bar and music venue in the UK to be owned by a cooperative committed to music. The Globe was bought in 2014 following a successful community share issue. Over 225 people bought shares and became members of the cooperative, and more are welcome to join. Jazz.Coop provides an extensive range of courses, workshops, jam sessions and projects.

Their determination to keep live music going during the pandemic has been rewarded with a national award. The Globe was declared the Small Community Co-op of the Year 2021.

Dave Parker, co-chair of Jazz.Coop, said, “We’re delighted with this award because it recognises the vision, determination and hard work of members, volunteers and everyone else who helped keep us going during the pandemic, providing income for musicians, employment for staff, and joy for lovers of live music. Eight years ago, The Globe was a failing pub. Today it is an award-winning music venue and learning centre owned and run by a co-operative. We worked with musicians to develop live streaming, and soon decided this was the way forward. The Globe was refurbished, and new equipment was installed by volunteers. We were fortunate in accessing funding from Power to Change and the Culture Recovery Fund.”

Cooperative ownership ensures that The Globe is a place where people can enjoy live music in a relaxed environment and where musicians can share and develop their skills.

Jazz Media Award 

Jane Cornwell

Australian-born, London-based, writes for major newspapers and online platforms in the UK and Australia. Jane Cornwell has been the jazz critic for the London Evening Standard from 2014 and one of that newspaper’s two world music critics for over a decade. Jane is the contributing editor of the global music magazine Songlines, and for Australia Jane writes about music and the arts for The Weekend Australian Review, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and more

Jane is the go-to freelancer for the likes of News Limited and Fairfax and a writer of books, press releases, programme notes and copy for a wide range of clients. Jane is a compere and onstage interviewer at festivals including WOMAD and the EFG London Jazz Festival.

In 2019 Jane completed a highly regarded Masters degree in Global Creative and Cultural Industries (Distinction) at SOAS, University of London. Jane’s dissertation on the resurgence of jazz music in London – ‘Jazz Refreshed? A Contemporary Jazz Phenomenon’ – involved research, interviews, robust arguments and new ideas.

Jazz Education Award

Jazz Camp For Girls, Helena Summerfield, Jazz North

Jazz Camp for Girls – led by Helena Summerfield of Jazz North - enables young musicians to experience jazz music and explore improvisation in a supportive environment with expert tuition from professional musicians. Participants will gain new skills and be inspired by learning about – and playing alongside – pioneering women in the jazz industry.

The camps are designed for girls aged between 9 – 15 years old with little or no experience of improvising. All instruments and vocalists are welcome. Camp participants receive a Jazz Camp for Girls handbook filled with interviews, practice tips and more.

The camps took place this year in Doncaster, Hull, Leeds and Trafford across Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March 2022.

Jazz North is an Arts Council England funded organisation, supporting and developing musicians within the jazz sector. Their mission is to support the sustainable growth of contemporary jazz in the north by developing opportunities for artists and building audiences. For more information about what they do, visit their website.

Services to Jazz Award

Mike Westbrook

Born in High Wycombe in 1936, Mike Westbrook grew up in Torquay and was educated at Kelly College, Tavistock. He formed his first band while studying painting in Plymouth in 1958, moving to London in the early 1960s. He has led and composed for a succession of groups, notably his 1960s Sextet and Concert Band, his Brass Band, formed in the mid-70s, the jazz rock group Solid Gold Cadillac and the Mike Westbrook Orchestra.  He has toured extensively throughout Europe, and as far afield as Australia and the Far East, Canada and New York. He has directed performances of his work with big bands in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland and Australia.  He has broadcast on radio and TV in many countries, and made over 50 albums.

Mike also gives solo piano concerts.  His album PARIS was recorded live in Paris by Jon Hiseman in July 2016. This was followed by STARCROSS BRIDGE in December 2017. He wrote the music for Kate Westbrook’s new album GRANITE and is a member of Kate’s Granite Band. His retrospective album CATANIA was recorded at the three-day Mike Westbrook Music Festival in Catania, Sicily in 1992. His current big band project with The Uncommon Orchestra, PURE GOLD presents a selection of his work from the mid-70s to the present day.

Mike Westbrook was awarded an OBE in 1988 and, in 2004 an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Plymouth. He received an Honorary Fellowship of Plymouth College of Art in 2018.

Mike celebrated his 85th birthday in 2021. (arranged by London Jazz News)

Mike Westbrook first made his mark as a composer with his 1960s recordings for Deram, Celebration, Release and Marching Song, followed by Metropolis for RCA.

Subsequent compositions for Jazz Orchestra include Citadel/Room 315 featuring John Surman, The Cortege, On Duke's Birthday dedicated to the memory of Duke Ellington, Big Band Rossini which was featured in the 1992 BBC Proms and Chanson Irresponsable, (Enja Records) commissioned by BBC Radio 3, which brings together jazz and classical musicians.

Works for classical ensembles include a saxophone concerto Bean Rows and Blues Shots which was commissioned by the Bournemouth Sinfonietta for John Harle, a score for the silent movie Moulin Rouge commissioned by the Matrix Ensemble, and Classical Blues in 2002 for the BBC Concert Orchestra. Mike's television music credits include the award-winning BBC drama Caught on a Train by Stephen Poliakoff  and directed by Peter Duffell starring Peggy Ashcroft and Michael Kitchen.

His involvement in experimental theatre began in the late 60s with the multi-media work Earthrise, and collaborations with The Welfare State Theatre Company and The Cosmic Circus. His work for the stage includes Adrian Mitchell's Tyger a celebration of William Blake, staged by the National Theatre in 1971, and Mitchell’s White Suit  Blues about Mark Twain. His opera  Quichotte  commissioned by L’Ensemble Justiniana, toured in France in the 1980s. Coming Through Slaughter, based on the novel by Michael Ondaatje about the New Orleans cornettist Buddy Bolden, was premiered in London in a concert version in 1994.

In collaboration with his wife, singer/librettist Kate Westbrook, he has generated a whole series of jazz/cabarets and music-theatre pieces, notably The Ass, based on the poem by D.H.Lawrence, Pierides commissioned by Extemporary Dance Theatre and Good Friday 1663, a TV opera commissioned by Channel Four with libretto by Helen Simpson. Their 2003 composition Art Wolf commissioned by the Aargauer Kunsthaus, Switzerland, is dedicated to the 18th-century Alpine painter Caspar Wolf.

Mike wrote the music for Kate Westbrook's album The Nijinska Chamber (voiceprint) pairing Kate's voice with accordionist Karen Street.  Other compositions include two works for voice and acoustic brass, performed by The Village Band,- Waxeywork Show and English Soup or the Battle of the Classic Trifle which premiered in 2008.

Their 2009 album Fine 'n Yellow was released on the Gonzo label. The Serpent Hit written for voice, percussion and saxophone quartet, was premiered in London in 2011 at Wilton’s Music Hall.

The Westbrook’s have also created large-scale concert works incorporating settings of European poetry, as in The Cortege a work for voices and jazz orchestra, and London Bridge Is Broken Down for voice, jazz group and chamber orchestra.  Jago, their first full-scale opera, was commissioned by Wedmore Opera in 2000. Their jazz oratorio Turner in Uri, based on the painter Turner's travels in the Swiss Alps, was premiered in Altdorf and Zurich in 2003. Their opera Cape Gloss - Mathilda's Story for classical soprano and piano, had its first performance at the University of Plymouth in 2007.

Mike Westbrook's albums for ENJA Records include The Cortege, Bar Utopia a big-band cabaret with lyrics by Helen Simpson, The Orchestra of Smith's Academy, compositions recorded ‘live’ by the Mike Westbrook Orchestra and the Steve Martland Band, a tribute to the Beatles Off Abbey Road, and Glad Day settings of the poetry of William Blake. His releases on the Jazzprint label include Platterback with Westbrook & Company, L'ascenseur/The Lift with The Westbrook Trio, Waxeywork Show with The Village Band and a reissue on CD and DVD of Westbrook’s 1980s jazz cabaret Mama Chicago. Reissues on BGO include Citadel/Room 315 and London Bridge is Broken Down, and, on the Swiss label Hatology, On Duke’s Birthday and Westbrook Rossini.

Mike Westbrook returned to big band work with the formation of The Uncommon Orchestra, a 22-piece ensemble based in the South West of England, combining jazz,   rock, pop and classical musicians. The orchestra released its first album (on ASC Records) A Bigger Show, a ‘jazz/rock oratorio’ with lyrics written and performed by Kate Westbrook with fellow vocalists Martine Waltier and Billy Bottle. Mike also works regularly in The Westbrook Trio with Kate and saxophonist Chris Biscoe. Forthcoming performances include a revival of The Westbrook Blake, featuring the voices of Kate Westbrook and Phil Minton in a Choral Version of his settings of the poetry of William Blake. Currently the 7-piece Westbrook & Company is presenting a new jazz cabaret Paintbox Jane, inspired by the painter Raoul Dufy.

Special APPJG Award

Barbara Thompson

Barbara was born in Oxford and educated at Queen’s College, Harley Street, London and the Royal College of Music, where she studied clarinet, piano, flute and composition. Whilst retaining a strong interest in classical music, Barbara was captivated by the jazz work of Duke Ellington and John Coltrane and developed a consuming passion for the saxophone.

She formed her own group Paraphernalia in 1977. The band, touring up until 2005, despite Barbara being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1997, became one of the major instrumental attractions on the European concert scene. Barbara’s original and inventive compositions and soaring saxophone and flute improvisations have earned her international acclaim, while the originality of the music has appealed to a wider audience than solely contemporary jazz buffs.

The final Paraphernalia album ‘The Last Fandango’ was released in 2015 and Barbara played her last concert that same year with her husband’s jazz/rock outfit Colosseum. Barbara and drummer and bandleader Jon Hiseman, created their own, wide-ranging world of music. Throughout Europe, their names alone were enough to fill any concert hall. After his tragic death in 2018 she continued composing in the contemporary classical world until her battle with Parkinson’s made this impossible.

Millions throughout the world have heard the sound of her haunting saxophone playing the title theme to the TV Series, ‘A Touch of Frost’ and heard her flute playing on ‘The South Bank Show’ theme that features Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Variations’. In 2020, Barbara Thompson’s critically acclaimed autobiography ‘Journey to a Destination Unknown’ along with a 14CD Box set ‘Live At The BBC’ (Repertoire Records) was released.