The 2025 Jazz FM Awards, presented in collaboration with PPL and PRS for Music, have unveiled this year’s nominees.
Celebrating both emerging and established talent, the ceremony is set to take place on Thursday April 24th at KOKO in North London.
Among the nominees are Ezra Collective, Michael Kiwanuka, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka, Meshell Ndegeocello, Samara Joy and Jalen Ngonda.
The winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Gold Award, and Impact Award will be announced in the coming weeks. These awards recognise individuals who have not only shaped jazz history but continue to inspire new generations of musicians and audiences.
Nick Pitts, Content Director of Jazz FM and Magic Classical said: “I’m very grateful to all those in the industry who contributed the longlist and to our panel of judges for creating such a creatively diverse list of nominees.
“This is a true reflection of the class of 2025 covering off the great and the good of the jazz, soul and blues world today.
“The Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music ceremony this year will surely provide a defining moment in the genre with such a superb selection behind the winners that will be announced then. Good luck to all of our nominees!”
Jazz FM Awards 2025 with PPL and PRS for Music – Nominees List
UK Jazz Act of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE
Sponsored by: Rathbones
corto.alto
Ezra Collective
Nubya Garcia
Album of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE
Alice Zawadzki, Fred Thomas, Misha Mullov-Abbado – Za Górami
Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching
Meshell Ndegeocello – No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin
Nubya Garcia – Odyssey
Samara Joy – Portrait
Shabaka – Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace
Breakthrough Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Arts Council England
Mama Terra
Ni Maxine
Sultan Stevenson
International Jazz Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority
Lakecia Benjamin
Meshell Ndegeocello
Samara Joy
Vocalist of the Year
Sponsored by: ICEX España
Alice Zawadzki
Bryony Jarman-Pinto
Lucy-Anne Daniels
Instrumentalist of the Year
corto.alto
Emma Rawicz
Mark Kavuma
Soul Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Oanda
Allysha Joy
Jalen Ngonda
Michael Kiwanuka
Blues Act of the Year
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Shemekia Copeland
Toby Lee
The Innovation Award
Sponsored by: Mishcon de Reya
corto.alto
Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band
Orii
The Collaboration Award – NEW FOR 2025
Queer Jazz
Take Five by Serious
Women in Jazz