People often ask if we'll ever launch CMU awards, given that everyone else seems to have awards. It's not currently on the agenda (well, not very high up the agenda), but if we ever do I'd like to have an award evening like the inaugural Ronnie Scott's Awards that took place in London last night.
Celebrating the very best in jazz from across the UK and the world, the event not only benefited from the always fine surroundings of Ronnie Scotts, nor from the copious amount of alcohol that flowed, but because the event was celebrating those kind of artists that are able to just rock up on stage and jam with the house band, which meant that while not all the winners were presented with their awards on the night, most of those who were immediately launched into a performance to prove why they were worthy of their prize (including Mr Jamie Cullum, who put in a brilliant rendition of 'I've Got You Under The Skin' and especially Jeff Beck and Mica Paris, who both shook the walls of Soho, with their guitar and voice respectively).
So, top marks to Ronnie Scott's, and don't be surprised if we nick your format should we ever get around to those CMU awards. In the meantime, here's the long list of winners from the first ever Ronnie Scotts Awards...
International Trumpeter: Wynton Marsalis
International Male Singer: Van Morrison
International Female Singer: Jane Monheit
International Bassist: Kyle Eastwood
International Saxophonist: Scott Hamilton
International Most Promising Newcomer Of The Year (voted For By The Readers Of Jazzwise Magazine): [Em] - (Michael Wollny Trio)
International Pianist: Chick Corea
International Small Group: Yellowjackets
UK Male Singer: Jamie Cullum
UK Female Singer: Liane Carroll
UK Trumpeter: Guy Barker
UK Trombonist: Dennis Rollins
UK Bassist: Alec Dankworth
UK Pianist: James Pearson
UK Drummer: Clark Tracey
UK Saxophonist: Courtney Pine
UK Small Group: Ray Gelato Giants
UK Most Promising Newcomer Of The Year (voted For By The Readers Of Jazzwise Magazine): Fraud
UK Instrumental Album Of The Year: Stan Tracey - Let Them Crevulate
International Instrumental Album Of The Year: Eldar - Live At The Blue Note
UK Vocal Album Of The Year: Stacey Kent - The Lyric
International Vocal Album Of The Year: Nancy Wilson - Turned To Blue
UK Jazz Crossover Album Of The Year: Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
International Jazz Crossover Album Of The Year: Randy Crawford & Joe Sample - Feeling Good
UK Jazz Crossover Artist Of The Year: Sponsored By The William Morris Agency: Mica Paris
International Jazz Crossover Artist Of The Year: David Sanborn
Blues Album Of The Year: James Hunter - People Gonna Talk
Blues Artist Of The Year: Jeff Beck
Big Band Of The Year: BBC Big Band
Musical Services To The Club: Pete King
Greatest Living Jazz Legend: Clark Terry
Services To World Jazz: Manu Dibango