The 2025 Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music at KOKO in London yesterday evening [Thursday 24th April], celebrated the best in jazz, soul, and blues.
Introduced by Gregory Porter and hosted by musician, actor and comedian Ben Bailey Smith (AKA Doc Brown), the ceremony offered a powerful reminder of the richness, diversity and ongoing evolution of jazz, and shined a spotlight on both heritage and innovation.
One of the evening’s standout winners was corto.alto, the genre-blurring Scottish ensemble led by trombonist Liam Shortall, who took home two awards: UK Jazz Act of the Year and The Innovation Award.
Ezra Collective cemented their position at the forefront of the UK’s vibrant jazz scene by winning the coveted Album of the Year for their acclaimed release “Dance, No One’s Watching”, and New York-based saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin was named International Jazz Act of the Year.
Ezra Collective: “It’s such an honour to receive this recognition and to be welcomed by the jazz community. It means the absolute most. Thank you so, so much.”
The award for Breakthrough Act of the Year went to Ni Maxine, Alice Zawadzki was named Vocalist of the Year, while Mark Kavuma earned Instrumentalist of the Year.
Jalen Ngonda won Soul Act of the Year, and powerhouse vocalist Shemekia Copeland was honoured as Blues Act of the Year for her continued innovation in the genre.
The Collaboration Award went to Women in Jazz, recognising their collective efforts to champion and support underrepresented talent across the scene.
The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Billy Cobham, the legendary drummer and jazz fusion pioneer whose career has spanned nearly six decades. Cobham, widely regarded as one of the great drummers of modern times, joins the ranks of previous Lifetime recipients such as Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett and Dame Cleo Laine.
Billy Cobham: “It’s been a long, long journey – almost 60 years – and so I’m deeply honoured that I have been recognised in any way, shape or form for my contributions to the musical fabric of the jazz community”.
The evening also saw special recognition awards for Jamie Cullum, who was presented with the Impact Award for his influence on the genre and contribution to music broadcasting, while Melody Gardot was presented with the Gold Award, to recognise her artistry and global acclaim.
The full list of winners:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Billy Cobham
Impact Award
Sponsored by: Raymond Weil Genève
Jamie Cullum
Gold Award
Melody Gardot
UK Jazz Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Rathbones
corto.alto
Album of the Year
Sponsored by: Rayo
Ezra Collective: “Dance, No One’s Watching”
Breakthrough Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Arts Council England
Ni Maxine
International Jazz Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority
Lakecia Benjamin
Vocalist of the Year
Sponsored by: Sounds from Spain by ICEX
Alice Zawadzki
Instrumentalist of the Year
Sponsored by: Yamaha UK
Mark Kavuma
Soul Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Oanda
Jalen Ngonda
Blues Act of the Year
Shemekia Copeland
The Innovation Award
Sponsored by: Mishcon de Reya
corto.alto
The Collaboration Award
Sponsored by: Cash For Kids
Women in Jazz
