Article Source: Scottish Jazz Awards
Last Updated: 10 December 2021 11:59
Winners across seven categories, including Best Vocalist, Best Band and Rising Star, were honoured at Glasgow venue The Savings Bank as the event applauded stand out musical endeavours.
More than 2,000 public votes were cast for the nominees, while the Services To Scottish Jazz and Lifetime Achievement Awards were selected by a panel of industry specialists, including press and promoters from across the UK.
Winners of the 9th Scottish Jazz Awards are:
• Best Vocalist Award sponsored by Whighams Jazz Club - Marianne McGregor
• Best Instrumentalist Award sponsored by ESP Music Rentals - Laura Macdonald
• Rising Star Award sponsored by Musicians’ Union - Rachel Duns
• Best Band Award sponsored by Inhouse Event Productions - Rose Room
• Best Album Award sponsored by Birnam CD - Georgia Cecile, Only the Lover Sings
• Services to Scottish Jazz Award - Lindsay Robertson, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO)
• Lifetime Achievement Award in association with Help Musicians Scotland - Richard Michael
It’s been an exciting year for the Scottish jazz community. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, 2019's Rising Star winner and this year’s Best Vocalist Marianne McGregor released her self-penned debut album Good Morning Warning, followed by a second release Standards covering her favourite jazz tracks.
Best Instrumentalist winner, saxophonist and teacher Laura Macdonald had an equally busy year playing concerts and jazz festivals across the country while also competing in BBC’s MasterChef, making it to the final four in the popular cookery competition.
Glasgow saxophonist Rachel Duns has gained experience playing jazz as a member of various youth bands including the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland, which contributed to her gaining a place studying jazz at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and has now earned her the title of Rising Star.
Best Band winners Rose Room have become one of Scotland’s leading ensembles with their 1930s ‘Hot Club’ standards, gypsy jazz favourites and self-penned originals. The quartet, who recently celebrated 10 years together, is fronted by violinist and vocalist Seonaid Aitken, who hosted the ceremony, alongside Jimmy Moon, Tam Gallagher and Conor Smith.
Jazz vocalist Georgia Cecile’s debut album Only the Lover Sings was released to great critical acclaim and praise from fans, reaching the top 10 of the UK jazz charts and has now picked up the prestigious Best Album Award.
Lindsay Robertson of the SNJO was honoured with the Services to Scottish Jazz Award in recognition of her many years managing the orchestra, as well as her work with Edinburgh Jazz Festival and Jazz From Scotland before her retirement.
Acclaimed pianist Richard Michael was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his varied career including his pioneering work with Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra where he has been influential in the development of many of Scotland’s finest musicians such as Calum Gourlay, Helena Kay, Fergus McCreadie and Kim Macari.
A popular broadcaster on BBC Radio Scotland’s Jazz Nights show since 2007, he has revealed to thousands of listeners the secrets of the jazz masters in his role as “Jazz Jargonbuster”. He is Honorary Professor of Jazz Piano at the University of St Andrews and spent many years spent as Head of Music in Beath High School. He joins previous winners Martin Taylor, Fionna Duncan, Carol Kidd, Ken Mathieson, Bobby Wellins, Tam White and Ronnie Rae in the Jazz Hall of Fame.
Jill Rodger, Director of Glasgow Jazz Festival and Producer of the Scottish Jazz Awards, said: “It’s been a wonderful year for jazz music in Scotland despite the challenges and it’s been inspiring to see the new heights reached and boundaries pushed within the scene. I’d like to congratulate all of our nominees and winners on their recognition at this year’s Scottish Jazz Awards - they are all fantastic ambassadors for Scottish jazz and it is inspiring to see so many women picking up trophies across the board this year.”
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland: “Congratulations to all the 2021 Scottish Jazz Awards nominees and winners. This year’s awards highlight the increasing diversity of the Scottish jazz scene and how dedicated teachers and organisers play a vital role in its success. The winners in each and every category have produced outstanding artistic work that has clearly connected with audiences.”
The Scottish Jazz Awards are produced as an independent event by the organisers of Glasgow Jazz Festival and supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
For more information visit: www.jazzfest.co.uk/awards/
BTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MOREGinger and Jester Productions announces the cast for its upcoming panto at Cumbernauld Theatre, Baltic, written by Jerry Taylor.
READ MOREThe limited-time experience is the first-of-its-kind at Topgolf Glasgow in collaboration with Marvel Studios!
READ MOREScotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MOREThis summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MORESummerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MORETopgolf Glasgow is dialling up the fun with a fresh range of value offers launching throughout the summer, helping players maximise their experience by giving them more for less!
READ MOREThe biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MORECheck out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MOREHistoric Environment Scotland is calling for people across the country to connect with heritage to boost their wellbeing as a part of a national campaign, Historic Places, Breathing Spaces.
READ MOREScotland's hospitality industry and customers have spoken, and the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 has listened!
READ MORERefugee Festival Scotland gets underway today, kick-starting nine days of dance performances, film screenings, visual art and photography exhibitions and community events across the country.
READ MORETickets are on sale for an exclusive Superman screening at Vue venues in Scotland, with fans in for an extra special treat to take home.
READ MOREOne lucky East Kilbride winner has raised £739.03 for Children's Hospices Across Scotland while picking up the same amount in Aldi favourites for himself on the Supermarket Sweep challenge!
READ MOREThe paperback edition of Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands has just been released - and is already making waves.
READ MOREAn Albino hypnotist and mind reader who was inspired by Derren Brown to launch a stage career has helped people to cure their fear of exotic spiders and snakes.
READ MOREA brand new 'Power Trail' has officially launched at New Lanark and the Falls of Clyde, exploring the remarkable story of waterpower, from 18th-century cotton mills to 21st-century renewable energy.
READ MOREM&D’s Scotland’s Theme Park is celebrating National Carers Week (9th to 15th June) by offering exclusive discounts to unpaid carers in recognition of the huge amount work that they do.
READ MOREScottish Building Society marked its Annual General Meeting (AGM) by announcing funding to support eight local charities and good causes across the country.
READ MOREVisitors are invited to come along and get up-close to some amazing cars, set against the beautiful backdrop of Loch Lomond, as part of a great day out.
READ MOREBark by popular demand, the Gordon Setter Parade returns on Saturday 5th July as part of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair, held at the stunning Scone Palace.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres are inviting families across the UK along to its stores on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of June to spend a magical afternoon filled with fun activities and good food.
READ MORECineworld is launching a brand new 4DX Father's Day gift experience, containing two 4DX tickets and ponchos, perfect for experiencing the new live-action "How to Train Your Dragon" film.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres is hosting a free Rose-themed Grow How workshop this June, sharing top tips for caring for this beloved flowering plant.
READ MOREScotland's longest-running hospitality awards turn 30 - and they want you to have your say!
READ MORELoch Lomond Unplugged, our FREE showcase of talented buskers and singer/songwriters, is this weekend and we’re super excited to welcome great acts from across Scotland and beyond!
READ MOREMiss Rachel fever, the American YouTuber who creates baby and toddler learning videos, is sweeping Scotland.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres is inviting children to come along to its free-to-attend Little Seedlings Club, taking place across the country this June.
READ MOREAldi Scotland is on the hunt for the nation's biggest beer lover, as it revamps its popular Best Home Bar Competition by expanding the criteria.
READ MORERefugee Festival Scotland has officially unveiled the programme for its highly anticipated 2025 edition, running from 13 – 22 June.
READ MORE