The 19th Year of the Jazz Oscars recognizing the Best in British Jazz

by Graham Lees

British jazz has never been healthier, and boasts to as good as, and often better than anything the USA currently produces. The 2007 annual British Jazz Awards was hosted at Gainsborough’s impressive live music venue The Sands on 18th September in Lincolnshire honoring this country’s finest jazz performers.

Widely regarded as the 'Oscars' of British Jazz, the awards help to raise the profile of British Jazz artists. The Awards are perceived by the public, the media, the music industry and musicians themselves as the most prestigious a British jazz artist can be accorded. The awards cover instrumental categories, best small groups and big bands, vocalists and CDs, plus an award for the Rising Star.

The Sands Venue has hosted many Charity events in the past; with 2005’s ‘Jazz Aid’ seeing one of the best line ups of Jazz talent in recent years. A mixture of the best entertainment, first class service and exquisite food has led to many accolades from Jazz legends, satisfied clientele and media alike. The recently refurbished ‘Old Town Hall,’ dates back to 1908, and claims an elegance from the decorative tiles in the entrance to the opulent surroundings of this 40’s/50’s style venue with its twinkling ceiling and relaxed intimate ambience. It is with this reputation that the venue has recently been honored with the great task of hosting this year’s event.

This year’s nomination panel was made up of: Tony Augarde - BBC Radio Oxford, Bob Blizzard MP - Cross-Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group, Roger Cotterrell - Northway Publications, Lord Anthony Colwyn - Cross-Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group, John Cumming - Serious Music, Mike Durham - Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, Dave Gelly - The Observer, Mike Hart - Edinburgh International Jazz Festival, Darren Henley - theJazz, Dick Laurie - Allegedly Hot News International, Tim Lihoreau - theJazz, Liz Lincoln - British Jazz Foundation, Cole Mathieson - The Concorde Club, David Nathan - National Jazz Archive, Gilles Peterson - BBC presenter, Julie Plant - Musicians Union, Sebastian Scotney - JazzDev, Ron Simpson - Jazz Rag, Jim Smith - Brecon Jazz Festival, Peter Vacher - Jazz author/journalist, Bob Weir - Jazz Journal International, and Chris Yates - Jazz North East.

The sponsors for this high-status event were Dransfield Properties Ltd who are greatly involved in the regeneration of urban communities and retail park development along with West Lindsey District Council. As guests filed in and took their seats we were invited to an appetizing plated buffet. Around 8.00.pm we were treated to the silk-lined vocals of Clare Teal with a trio made up of David Newton (piano), Alec Dankworth (upright bass) and Ralph Salmins (drums) kick-started the evening’s entertainment with a little light jazz and swing from the 1930’s-40’s catalogue. Clare Teal can be heard each Monday evening presenting BBC Radio 2 Big Band Special.

After this preliminary powerhouse of music, The Sands owner Peter Swan gave a welcome and a little information about The Sands that was opened in May 2004 and followed by a few words from Dransfield representative David Hale. A brief introduction to the awards was then made by Jim Simpson of Birmingham’s Big Bear Music Agency and the awards proper were started by presenters Tim Lihoreau, Creative Director of theJazz radio station and versatile TV actor and singer Richard Shelton. A special award for Services to British Jazz was posthumously awarded to George Melly who passed away in July this year and received on behalf of George Melly’s wife Diana by Mike Pointer and Neil Rosser followed by a short video of George performing at The Sands a short while before he died.

Following the presentations we were treated to staggering performances from several of the winning recipients including stupendous playing by Soweto Kinch, Clare Teal, Guy Barker, Karen Sharp, Dennis Rollins, David Newton, Jim Hart, Alec Dankworth and Ralph Salmins.

Cathy Conway, PR and Marketing Manager for Dransfield Properties declared: “We are committed to working with the communities we serve, and Jazz strikes the right chord with so many people. We believe that by sponsoring these nationally significant Awards, Dransfield is helping to generate even more interest in jazz and to help breathe new life into Gainsborough.” The 2007 British Jazz Awards triumphed once again with a wonderful evening defining all that’s good about British jazz as it basked in the musical magic of the best of Britain’s current finely-brushed talent. Thanks to The Sands and Luisa Cacioppo for the invitation and for hosting this prestigious highlight in the jazz music world!!!