Press release: Nominations announced for the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2025

The full list of nominees is as follows:

 

Jazz Vocalist of the Year

Zara McFarlane

Brigitte Beraha

Alice Zawadzki

 

Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year

Janette Mason

Jasper Høiby

Rob Luft

 

Jazz Album of the Year

Ezra Collective

‘Dance, No One's Watching’

John Surman

‘Words Unspoken’

Daniel Casimir

‘Balance’

Billy Marrows

‘Penelope’

 

Jazz Ensemble of the Year

Ezra Collective

Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band

The Banger Factory

 

Jazz Newcomer of the Year

Olivia Cuttill

Maddy Coombs

Donovan Haffner

Knats

 

Jazz Venue of the Year

606

Soul Mama

Marianne Windham

Guildford Jazz

Digbeth Jazz

 

Jazz Media Award

Richard Williams

‘Round Midnight and Soweto Kinch

Folded Wing production for BBC Radio 3

One Jazz 

 

Jazz Education Award

Tomorrows’ Warriors

Doncaster Youth Jazz Orchestra

World Heart Beat

 

Services to Jazz Award

Marianne Windham

Danielle White

Chris Philips

The nominations announced today for the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) and supported by the Musicians' Union and UK Music. The recipients of the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards will be announced on Tuesday 14th October 2025 at the World Heart Beat. The Parliamentary Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, breadth and talent of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom.

The award categories reflect the ever-increasing scope of talent from within the UK’s jazz scene: Jazz Vocalist of the Year; Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year; Jazz Album of the Year; Jazz Ensemble of the Year; Jazz Newcomer of the Year; Jazz Venue of the Year; Jazz Media Award; Jazz Education Award; and the Services to Jazz Award.

Following the online public vote for the Awards, the shortlist was then voted upon by a selection panel, that represent a broad cross-section of backgrounds united in their passion and knowledge of jazz. The winners, chosen by  members of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), will be announced on Tuesday 14th October 2025.

Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of APPJG, said: "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 help keep jazz flourishing.  These shortlists demonstrate the wealth of talent and commitment that exists in the British jazz scene. Now in its 20th year, the Parliamentary Jazz Awards honour the best of British jazz. MPs and Peers in the All Party Group are grateful to the Musicians’ Union and UK Music for supporting the event.”

“The Musicians’ Union is proud to support the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards,” said Naomi Pohl, General Secretary of the MU. “This year’s shortlist showcases the phenomenal jazz talent thriving across the UK, as well as the vibrant communities that support them in every nation and region. Congratulations to all the nominees on their well-deserved recognition.”

Tom Kiehl Chief Executive of UK Music said: “The Parliamentary Jazz Awards have a rich history, with this year promising to deliver another fantastic chapter. UK Music is proud to support the many great achievements from across the jazz community over the past year, and congratulates all those who will be celebrated on 14 October.”

The Awards are supported by the Musicians’ Union who are a community of over 36,000 musicians working to protect their members' rights and campaign for a fairer music industry. And further support is provided by UK Music which is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. They represent all sectors of the UK music industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign,and champion music.