9 PRS Foundation Grantees Nominated in Multiple Categories for the Jazz FM Awards 2025
The nominees for the 2025 Jazz FM Awards have been announced, with 9 #FundedByPRSF artists holding 12 nominations across multiple categories. These talented musicians have received funding through various PRS Foundation initiatives, including Women Make Music, the Steve Reid Innovation Award, International Showcase Fund (ISF), BBC Introducing & PRS Foundation’s showcasing partnership, PPL Momentum Music Fund, the Talent Development Network (TDN), and POWER UP.
London-based saxophonist and composer Nubya Garcia has been nominated in the UK Jazz Act of the Year and Album of the Year categories. Raised in a creatively rich environment by Caribbean parents, her afro-tinged jazz has made her a vital part of both emerging and established groups. From collaborating with MOBO Award-winning drummer Moses Boyd and Jungle producer Congo Natty to performing with Maisha and the Nérija septet, her impact on the jazz scene is profound. Garcia has received support from PRS Foundation’s International Showcase Fund, BBC Introducing & PRS Foundation showcasing partnership, the Steve Reid Innovation Award, and PPL Momentum Music Fund.
Ezra Collective, the Mercury Prize and BRITA ward-winning act, has also been nominated in the UK Jazz Act of the Year and Album of the Year categories. The group has benefited from several PRS Foundation initiatives, including the Steve Reid Innovation Award, the BBC Introducing & PRS Foundation showcasing partnership, International Showcase Fund, and PPL Momentum Music Fund.
Glasgow-based corto.alto, the moniker of Liam Shortall, has earned three nominations: UK Jazz Act of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, and The Innovation Award. His genre-blending style combines intuitive improvisation, electronic production, broken beat rhythms, and bass-heavy dub. His Mercury 2024-nominated debut album has received praise from Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, BBC 6 Music, and international outlets like KCRW and Fip Radio. He has been supported by PRS Foundation’s International Showcase Fund.
Here’s the full List of Nominated Artists:
UK Jazz Act of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE
- corto.alto – ISF
- Ezra Collective – Steve Reid Innovation Award, PPL Momentum Music Fund, ISF, BBC Introducing & PRS Foundation showcasing partnership
- Nubya Garcia – Steve Reid Innovation Award, PPL Momentum Music Fund, ISF, BBC Introducing & PRS Foundation showcasing partnership
Album of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE
- Alice Zawadzki, Fred Thomas, Misha Mullov-Abbado – Za Goěrami – Alice Zawadzki had Take Five
- Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching – Steve Reid Innovation Award, PPL Momentum Music Fund, ISF, BBC Introducing & PRS Foundation showcasing partnership
- Nubya Garcia – Odyssey – Steve Reid Innovation Award, PPL Momentum Music Fund, ISF, BBC Introducing & PRS Foundation showcasing partnership
- Shabaka – Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace – Shabaka and the Ancestors & various connected projects supported by the International Showcase
Breakthrough Act of the Year
- Mama Terra – ISF
- Ni Maxine – Women Make Music, PPL Momentum Accelerator Fund
Vocalist of the Year
- Alice Zawadzki – Take Five
- Bryony Jarman-Pinto – Take Five
Instrumentalist of the Year
- corto.alto – ISF
- Mark Kavuma – Take Five
Soul Act of the Year
- Jalen Ngonda – PPL Momentum Music Fund
The Innovation Award
- corto.alto – ISF
The Collaboration Award – NEW FOR 2025
- Queer Jazz – Founded by Angelica/Arowah (POWER UP)
- Take Five by Serious – TDN
Congratulations to All the Nominees!
These outstanding artists exemplify the power of innovative, genre-defying jazz music. We’re proud to see so many PRS Foundation-funded musicians making waves on such a prestigious platform.
Stay tuned to find out who takes home the awards! This year’s Jazz FM awards ceremony is sponsored by PRS for Music and PPL.
