The nominations for the Jazz FM Awards 2020, produced by Serious, have been announced today, recognising the best emerging new artists, contemporary icons and established stars from across the worlds of jazz, soul and blues. More than ever, this year’s shortlist reflects the genre’s rude health and the melting pot of sounds and influences which make up its rich multicultural history.

Represented this year are the likes of legendary US saxophonist Charles Lloyd, iconic soul singer and Earth Wind & Fire founding member Philip Bailey, powerhouse jazz vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, genre-bending superstar Anderson .Paak and blues singer-songwriter Keb’ Mo’.

Four-time Grammy-winning Jacob Collier, Brit Award Rising Star winner Celeste, Mercury-nominated SEED Ensemble and Moses Boyd, Joe Armon-Jones, Yazz Ahmed, Binker Golding, Xhosa Cole and Ashley Henry are amongst the British artists nominated, showcasing the exceptional musical diversity and talent bursting from the UK scene right now.

The night will feature an array of world-class performances and a host of special guests, to be revealed very soon.

Once again, the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award, Gold Award and Impact Award recipients will be announced ahead of the ceremony. Music greats such as George Benson, Dame Cleo Laine, Quincy Jones, Gregory Porter, Don Was & Blue Note Records and the late Hugh Masekela have received these special awards in previous years.

A new category Venue of The Year launches this year with Church of Sound, Love Supreme Festival and Manchester’s Band On The Wall amongst those in contention, which in addition to Album Of The Year and the PRS For Music UK Jazz Act Of The Year will be decided by public vote.

Andrea C. Martin, CEO, PRS for Music, said: “I am delighted that we are once again supporting the Jazz FM Awards, celebrating the brightest stars in the jazz, soul and blues community. The UK Jazz Act of the Year award is always hotly contested and we’re looking forward to seeing who the public vote as the winner. Congratulations to everyone nominated across all the awards, your creativity, innovation and vision continues to inspire us.”

Public voting is open now at www.jazzfmawards.com and will close on Wednesday 15^th April at 23:59.

The Jazz FM Awards is made possible with support from PRS for Music, PPL, Mishcon de Reya, Hampstead Jazz Club, Saint Lucia Wellness Festival, Cambridge Audio, Arqiva, Oanda, British Airways, Shoreditch Town Hall, Yamaha UK, Blue Orchid Hotels and Saville Row Gin.

High res photos are available from here.

Full list of 2020 nominations:

BREAKTHROUGH ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Cambridge Audio

Rosie Turton

Xhosa Cole

Yelfris Valdés

THE DIGITAL AWARD
Sponsored by Oanda

Chiminyo

Jacob Collier

Jazz re:freshed

THE INNOVATION AWARD

Sponsored by Mishcon de Reya

Jazz re:freshed

Moses Boyd

Sarathy Korwar

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hampstead Jazz Club

Binker Golding

Mark Kavuma

Shirley Tetteh

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Saint Lucia Wellness Festival

Branford Marsalis

Charles Lloyd

Kris Davis

SOUL ACT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by British Airways

Anderson .Paak

Celeste

Philip Bailey

BLUES ACT OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Blue Orchid Hotels

Keb’ Mo’

Gary Clark Jr.

Jon Cleary

VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Alice Zawadzki

Georgia Cécile

Judi Jackson

PUBLIC VOTE

PRS For Music UK JAZZ ACT OF THE YEAR

Joe Armon-Jones

SEED Ensemble

Yazz Ahmed

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Arqiva

Ashley Henry – Beautiful Vinyl Hunter

Binker Golding – Abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers

Branford Marsalis Quartet – The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul

Jazzmeia Horn – Love and Liberation

SEED Ensemble – Drift Glass

Yazz Ahmed – Polyhymnia

VENUE OF THE YEAR

Band on the Wall, Manchester

Church of Sound

Love Supreme Festival

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club

The Verdict, Brighton

Vortex, Dalston

SPECIAL AWARDS

Impact Award

TBA

Gold Award

TBA

PPL Lifetime Achievement Award

TBA

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For more information, please contact Baxter PR:

joe@baxterpr.com | natasha@baxterpr.com | 0207 426 5145

About Jazz FM:

Jazz FM is the largest commercial jazz station in the world, celebrating the complete spectrum of jazz in all its colourful forms since 1990, and celebrating its 30th birthday year in 2020. Jazz FM broadcasters, producers and entire team are true devotees, with a deep love and understanding of their particular jazz shade; their passion is vivid, their enthusiasm infectious, sharing the finest jazz with everyone. As the UK’s only dedicated jazz broadcaster, Jazz FM is on a mission to entertain, promote and celebrate all that’s great about jazz. Involvement with national festivals and awards is part of this – setting the bar high for live performance, recognising outstanding talent and strengthening the jazz community. No matter how people tune-in they always listen in colour.

About Bauer Media UK:

Bauer Media UK reaches over 25 million UK consumers through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, KISS, Grazia, Empire, Magic, Absolute Radio and the Hits Radio Network. These brands offer commercial partners access to highly engaged audiences, with creative solutions underpinned by insight and instinct. Bauer Media UK is part of the Bauer Media Group, one of the world’s largest privately-owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe.

About Serious:

Serious is a producer of live jazz and international and contemporary music. Working with artists and partners from the UK and internationally, Serious creates and produces a diverse range of concerts, tours, festivals and live events. Serious creates and produces the EFG London Jazz Festival, which celebrated its 25th year in 2017. In addition, Serious is Associate Producer at London’s Barbican. Serious provides Talent Development opportunities for emerging and established artists and delivers an extensive learning and participation programme.