Jazz FM Awards 2025 winners

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   The Jazz FM Awards 2025 with PPL and PRS for Music ceremony was held at KOKO in London last night. This year’s event celebrated the best in UK and international jazz, soul, and blues music.Introduced by Gregory Porter and hosted by musician, actor, and comedian Ben Bailey Smith (AKA Doc Brown), the ceremony offered a powerful reminder of the richness, diversity, and ongoing evolution of jazz, and shone a spotlight on both heritage and innovation across the musical landscape.
One of the evening’s standout winners was corto.alto, the genre-blurring Scottish ensemble led by trombonist Liam Shortall, who took home two awards: UK Jazz Act of the Year and The Innovation Award.  

Ezra Collective cemented their position at the forefront of the UK’s vibrant jazz scene by winning the coveted Album of the Year for their acclaimed release Dance, No One’s Watching, and New York-based saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin was named International Jazz Act of the Year.
Ezra Collective:
“It’s such an honour to receive this recognition and to be welcomed by the jazz community. It means the absolute most. Thank you so, so much.”
The award for Breakthrough Act of the Year went to Ni Maxine. Alice Zawadzki was named Vocalist of the Year, while Mark Kavuma earned Instrumentalist of the Year. Jalen Ngonda won Soul Act of the Year, and powerhouse vocalist Shemekia Copeland was honoured as Blues Act of the Year for her continued innovation in the genre. The Collaboration Award went to Women in Jazz, recognising their collective efforts to champion and support underrepresented talent across the scene.
The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Billy Cobham, the legendary drummer and jazz fusion pioneer whose career has spanned nearly six decades. Cobham, widely regarded as one of the great drummers of modern times, joins the ranks of previous Lifetime recipients such as Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett and Dame Cleo Laine.
Billy Cobham:
“It’s been a long, long journey – almost 60 years – and so I’m deeply honoured that I have been recognised in any way, shape or form for my contributions to the musical fabric of the jazz community.”
The evening also saw special recognition awards for Jamie Cullum, who was presented with the Impact Award for his influence on the genre and contribution to music broadcasting, while Melody Gardot was presented with the Gold Award, to recognise her artistry and global acclaim. 
The full list of winners is as follows:
Jazz FM Awards 2025 with PPL and PRS for Music
Lifetime Achievement Award
Billy Cobham

Impact Award 
Sponsored by: Raymond Weil Genève
Jamie Cullum

Gold Award
Melody Gardot
UK Jazz Act of the Year (Public Vote)
corto.alto

Album of the Year (Public Vote)
Sponsored by: Rayo
Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
Breakthrough Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Arts Council England
Ni Maxine
International Jazz Act of the Year 
Sponsored by: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority 
Lakecia Benjamin 
Vocalist of the Year 
Sponsored by: Sounds from Spain by ICEX
Alice Zawadzki 
Instrumentalist of the Year 
Sponsored by: Yamaha UK
Mark Kavuma
Soul Act of the Year 
Sponsored by: Oanda
Jalen Ngonda 
Blues Act of the Year 
Shemekia Copeland
The Innovation Award 
Sponsored by: Mishcon de Reya 
corto.alto
The Collaboration Award
Sponsored by: Cash For Kids
Women in Jazz  

from www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk

Edited by snobb - 13 hours 60 minutes ago at 6:00am

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snobb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site Admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Vilnius Status: Offline Points: 30513	Post Options Post Reply Quote snobb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Jazz FM Awards 2025 winners Posted: 14 hours 1 minutes ago at 5:59am
	The Jazz FM Awards 2025 with PPL and PRS for Music ceremony was held at KOKO in London last night. This year’s event celebrated the best in UK and international jazz, soul, and blues music. Introduced by Gregory Porter and hosted by musician, actor, and comedian Ben Bailey Smith (AKA Doc Brown), the ceremony offered a powerful reminder of the richness, diversity, and ongoing evolution of jazz, and shone a spotlight on both heritage and innovation across the musical landscape. One of the evening’s standout winners was corto.alto, the genre-blurring Scottish ensemble led by trombonist Liam Shortall, who took home two awards: UK Jazz Act of the Year and The Innovation Award. Ezra Collective cemented their position at the forefront of the UK’s vibrant jazz scene by winning the coveted Album of the Year for their acclaimed release Dance, No One’s Watching, and New York-based saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin was named International Jazz Act of the Year. Ezra Collective: “It’s such an honour to receive this recognition and to be welcomed by the jazz community. It means the absolute most. Thank you so, so much.” The award for Breakthrough Act of the Year went to Ni Maxine. Alice Zawadzki was named Vocalist of the Year, while Mark Kavuma earned Instrumentalist of the Year. Jalen Ngonda won Soul Act of the Year, and powerhouse vocalist Shemekia Copeland was honoured as Blues Act of the Year for her continued innovation in the genre. The Collaboration Award went to Women in Jazz, recognising their collective efforts to champion and support underrepresented talent across the scene. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Billy Cobham, the legendary drummer and jazz fusion pioneer whose career has spanned nearly six decades. Cobham, widely regarded as one of the great drummers of modern times, joins the ranks of previous Lifetime recipients such as Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett and Dame Cleo Laine. Billy Cobham: “It’s been a long, long journey – almost 60 years – and so I’m deeply honoured that I have been recognised in any way, shape or form for my contributions to the musical fabric of the jazz community.” The evening also saw special recognition awards for Jamie Cullum, who was presented with the Impact Award for his influence on the genre and contribution to music broadcasting, while Melody Gardot was presented with the Gold Award, to recognise her artistry and global acclaim. The full list of winners is as follows: Jazz FM Awards 2025 with PPL and PRS for Music Lifetime Achievement Award Billy Cobham Impact Award Sponsored by: Raymond Weil Genève Jamie Cullum Gold Award Melody Gardot UK Jazz Act of the Year (Public Vote) corto.alto Album of the Year (Public Vote) Sponsored by: Rayo Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching Breakthrough Act of the Year Sponsored by: Arts Council England Ni Maxine International Jazz Act of the Year Sponsored by: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority Lakecia Benjamin Vocalist of the Year Sponsored by: Sounds from Spain by ICEX Alice Zawadzki Instrumentalist of the Year Sponsored by: Yamaha UK Mark Kavuma Soul Act of the Year Sponsored by: Oanda Jalen Ngonda Blues Act of the Year Shemekia Copeland The Innovation Award Sponsored by: Mishcon de Reya corto.alto The Collaboration Award Sponsored by: Cash For Kids Women in Jazz from www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk Edited by snobb - 13 hours 60 minutes ago at 6:00am