The Jazz FM Awards produced by Serious will return in 2016, taking place at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in London on Tuesday 26 April.
Following on from the success of last year’s ceremony, which was presented by actor and comedian John ‘Fast Show’ Thomson and saw performances from Hugh Masekela and Rebecca Ferguson in front of guests including Laura Mvula, Cerys Matthews, Denis Lawson and Jon Snow, the organisers have confirmed the first performer for this year’s event, the Grammy Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Gregory Porter. As well as showcasing new material, Porter will also be honoured with the Impact Award, presented to a jazz artist who’s made an outstanding impression on the wider global music scene.
Speaking about being presented with the award, Porter says: “The UK audience was the first audience to propel me really all over the world. I launched myself from the experiences I was having in the UK. France got jealous and Germany was like ‘OK what’s all this commotion about?’ and so the energy that was created is what pushes me and so I’m delighted to have the UK be the first place that I exercise this new music. In a way, you’ve let me know who I am in the past, so I’m going to lay the music on you and I hope you’ll do it again.”
“Jazz FM got my name out there, and my sound, even to the point where Howard and Guy from Disclosure heard one of my songs on Jazz FM, and that’s how they decided to call me and do the song that we did, which ended up being a number one dance song around the world. So I have you to thank for many reasons, for advancing my jazz career and doing special things like that. I’m thankful for Jazz FM’s approach, and for embracing me and my sound.”
The Jazz FM Awards 2016 will present the following awards on the night:
Breakthrough Act
Instrumentalist of the Year
Album of the Year
Jazz Innovation of the Year
Live Experience of the Year
UK Jazz Act of the Year
International Jazz Artist of the Year
Blues Artist of the Year
Soul Artist of the Year
Vocalist of the Year
Jazz Impact Award – to be presented to Gregory Porter
Digital Initiative Award
Lifetime Achievement
