The polls are now open in the 2020 All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group Awards

It's that time of year again when we ask Parliament to look to more important matters than Brexit or Covid -19 and turn their attention to the real issues that matter - The APPJAG Awards.

The last couple of years have been monumental in recognising the jazz activity in the northeast. In 2019 Zoë Gilby picked up the Oscar for Jazz Vocalist of the Year whilst in 2018 Bebop Spoken Here got the nod in the Jazz Media category. 

Voting is now open for the 2020 nominations and who knows but that some others of the region's movers and shakers may also get in the frame.

Cast your vote here: https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/parliamentary-jazz-awards.

The categories are:

• Jazz Album of the Year (released in 2019 by a UK band or musicians)
• Jazz Vocalist of the Year (UK-based vocalist who impressed in 2019)
• Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (UK-based musician who impressed in 2019)
• Jazz Ensemble of the Year (UK-based group who impressed in 2019)
• Jazz Venue of the Year (including jazz clubs, venues, festivals and promoters)
• Jazz Media Award (including broadcasters, journalists, magazines, blogs, listings and books)
• Jazz Education Award (to an educator or project for raising the standard of jazz education in the UK)
• Jazz Newcomer of the Year (UK-based artist, musician or group with a debut album released in 2019)
• Services to Jazz Award (to a living person for their outstanding contribution to jazz in the UK). 

The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG), co-chaired by John Spellar MP and Lord Mann.

Votes must be in by midnight on March 31, 2020.