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Nominations announced for 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Awards

Wed 7 July 2021

TL staff and alumni dominate this year’s shortlist honouring best of British jazz.

Now in their 16th year, the Parliamentary Jazz Awards champion the vibrancy, diversity, talent and breadth of the UK’s jazz scene.

Trinity Laban staff, alumni and Honorary Fellows have been shortlisted across eight categories, representing the broad cross-section of incredible educators and musicians in our creative community united in their passion and knowledge of jazz.

They are:

  • Kansas Smitty’s, where jazz drummer and alum Will Cleasby features in the hackney venue’s house band (Jazz Venue of the Year)
  • Jazz vocal tutor Brigitte Beraha (Jazz Vocalist of the Year)
  • Jazz saxophonist and alum Nubya Garcia (Jazz Album of the Year for Source, Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year)
  • Jazz pianist, alum and tutor Deschanel Gordon (Jazz Newcomer of the Year)
  • Jazz saxophone tutor Tony Kofi (Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year)
  • Kokoroko led by trumpeter and alum Sheila Maurice Grey and including composition alum Cassie Kinoshi (Jazz Ensemble of the Year)
  • Pianist and jazz ensemble tutor Liam Noble (Lockdown Innovation Award for Saturday Lockdown Live Sessions)
  • Musician and alum Steve Rubie has run 606 Club since 1976 (Jazz Venue of the Year, Service to Jazz)
  • Jazz trumpet and composition tutor Byron Wallen (Jazz Album of the Year for Portrait: Reflections on Belonging)
  • Singer and Honorary Fellow Norma Winstone (Service to Jazz Award)

The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG), with the support of PizzaExpress Live.

John Spellar MP, Co-Chair of APPJAG comments –

“These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the talents and energies of the great musicians, educators, promoters, record labels, jazz organisations, blogs, jazz magazines and journalists who kept jazz flourishing, in spite of the challenges they faced in 2020.  In a year of hardship, unparalleled in the last 76 years, these shortlists demonstrate the wealth of talent and commitment that exists in the British jazz scene.”

Winners of the 2021 Parliamentary Jazz Awards will be chosen by judging members of the APPJAG and announced online on Monday 26 July 2021.

Find out more about Jazz at Trinity Laban.