Below: Article and Poem
The Jazz FM Awards produced by SERIOUS celebrated the achievements of jazz, blues and soul artistes at The Bloomsbury Ballroom on 26 April 2016.
Music industry professionals and guests mingled at the reception whilst Jazz FM broadcasted their live radio show during the event.
Kansas Smitty's House Band opened the awards with a stomping instrumental performance. The Awards ceremony was presented by Comedian/Broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli who comfortably sailed through proceedings in his witty way.
The acclaimed producer/composer & music Impresario Quincy Jones was honoured with the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award and, Gregory Porter whose well known for his baritone voice won the Impact Award. Unfortunately, Quincy and Gregory weren't present at the Awards and they along with other award-winning artistes were featured in video broadcasts.
Towards the end of the Awards, Hardeep mentioned the sad demise of several renowned music artistes and encouraged the audience to sing Purple Rain in memory of the late great pop icon Prince.
Other guests from the world of music and entertainment included Brand New Heavies, Nitin Sawhney, Cerys Matthews, Bill Oddie and Brenda Emmanus.
Jazz FM Awards 2016 Winners:
"Instrumentalist of the Year: Mark Lockheart
Soul Artist of the Year (Sponsored by RCS): Jill Scott
Breakthrough Act of the Year: Binker & Moses
Blues Artist of the Year: Gary Clark Jr.
Vocalist of the Year: Lauren Kinsella
International Artist Of The Year (Sponsored by Yamaha): Kamasi Washington
Album Of The Year - Public Vote (Sponsored by Arqiva): Hiatus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon
UK Jazz Act of the Year (Sponsored by Grange Hotels): Binker & Moses
Digital Initiative of the Year (sponsored by 7digital): Jacob Collier
Jazz Innovation of the Year (sponsored by Mishcon de Reya): Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Live Experience of the Year - Pubic Vote: Ice-T and Ron McCurdy - The Langston Hughes Project at the Barbican
Impact Award: Gregory Porter
PPL Lifetime Achievement Award: Quincy Jones"
© Article by Gina Chrysanthou
Poem: SERIOUS-LY GOOD!
The 2016 JAZZ FM Awards
The ebullient H.S Kohli in his
Jazzy pink turban,
Hosted the Awards event where
One sipped cocktails & bourbon.
Recognising talent in the world
Of jazz,
Awards were presented with
Much pizzaz.
Outstanding music artists seized
The day,
Awards in hand they happily
Walked away.
Ultimate accolades went to
G.Porter and Q. Jones -
Guests filmed screen recordings
On their cell phones.
Entertaining artists performed
During the night,
Including Kansas Smitty's House Band
Who later took flight.
Rhythm and blues along with
The sound of soul,
Guests treated to champagne and
Canapés filled the hole.
© By Amita Chatterji
Photos below by Gina Chrysanthou & Amita Chatterji
Hardeep Singh Kohli
Binker and Moses
Kandace Springs
Brenda Emmanus
Mark Lockheart
Cerys Matthews
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Liv Warfield
Hiatus Kaiyote
Nitin Sawhney
Jamie Crick
Kandace Springs
Kansas Smitty's House Band
Chris Philips
Jumoke Fashola & Christian Scott
Moses Boyd
Zoe Rahman
Brand New Heavies
Hiatus Kaiyote
Kandace Springs
Binker and Moses, Hardeep and Joe Stilgoe
Hiatus Kaiyote
ICE-T
Quincy Jones
Kansas Smitty's House Band
Music band 'Nérija'
Jean-Paul (Bluey) from Incognito (2nd from right) and friends
Simon Cooke (2nd from left) and Natalie Williams (far right)
Lianne Caroll (right) and friends
Charlie Wood, Jacqui Dankworth & Emily Dankworth
Bill Oddie
Please view Pukka PR's full collection of photos in the Gallery:
Jazz FM Awards 2016