UK Jazz talent wins big at Jazz FM Awards with music creators and organisations #FundedByPRSF collecting trophies
The winners of this year’s Jazz FM Awards were announced last night at a ceremony at Under the Bridge in Chelsea sponsored by PRS for Music and PPL, with many of the categories honouring the increasing number of high-profile women dominating the UK’s jazz scene and two Talent Development Partners being recognised for impact and innovation. The wins reflected the power of UK talent – and the organisations supporting them – tearing up the international Jazz scene.
Music creators taking home prizes included composer/producer/arranger/instrumentalist/singer Emma-Jean Thackray who won UK Jazz Act of the Year; Songwriter, POWER UP Participant Ego Ella May who won Vocalist of the Year; drummer, composer, band leader Jas Kayser who won Breakthrough Act of the Year; and bassist and composer Daniel Casimir who won Instrumentalist of the year.
The Awards also recognised the impact and adaptability of organisations who play an integral role in the scene, including the EFG London Jazz Festival team who won The Innovation Award and Tomorrow’s Warriors (who celebrate their 30th anniversary this year) who won The Impact Award.
It was a proud moment for the PRS Foundation team whose programme have helped several of the nominated creators and organisations, including winners:
- Emma Jean Thackray (Women Make Music/MIR Brazil/ BBC Music introducing x PRS Foundation Showcase at Winter Jazzfest, Lynsey de Paul Prize)
- Ego Ella May (POWER UP/ International Showcase Fund)
- TOMORROW’S WARRIORS (Talent Development Partner)
- EFG London Jazz Festival (Talent Development Partner)
- Daniel Casimir (Supported by funded organisations including Jazz re:freshed and through Serious’ Take Five programme)
- Jas Kayser (Supported by funded organisation the Abram Wilson Foundation for Creative Arts)
Joe Frankland, CEO of PRS Foundation said:
“On behalf of the Foundation team, I would like to congratulate all of the winners at this year’s Jazz FM Awards. It was incredible to be back in a room with so many talented creators and organisations who have helped to build a flourishing UK Jazz, Soul and Blues scene. We would like to thank event sponsors PPL and PRS for Music whose support of PRS Foundation’s programmes alongside other partners has played a role in ensuring talented creators can fulfil their potential and compete on an international stage. We are particularly proud of creator grantees Emma-Jean Thackray and Ego Ella May who both deserve the accolades, plus two Talent Development Partners whose dedication to nurturing the scene was recognised last night – Serious (organisers of the EFG London Jazz Festival) and Tomorrow’s Warriors.”
For more information visit https://www.jazzfmawards.com/
