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Jazz FM Awards recognise some great talent

There's so much great new music around right now and I would have found it hard to be a judge for this year's Jazz FM awards. The selection of nominees was outstanding and could have been doubled to include even more great artists and performers. It was particularly good to see Jamie Cullum recognised for the impact he's had on jazz and brilliant to see Alice Zawadski take away the gong for Vocalist of the Year.

Ni Maxine, winner of Breakthrough Act of the Year


Although I was disappointed that the award for Breakthrough Act of the Year didn't go to my Harmonious World guest Sultan Stevenson, there was tough competition and final winner Ni Maxine thoroughly deserved her recognition.

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. Meanwhile, Melody Gardot was presented with the Gold Award, to recognise her artistry and global acclaim.



The Jazz FM Awards 2025 with PPL and PRS for Music full list of winners is as follows:

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 (Sponsored by: Rathbones)
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
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