Megan Washington - Night Light
Julien Bell (with his trio), Renault Australian Jazz Artist of the Year
Winner of the AICE Best Jazz Vocal Album, Megan Washington
|
At The Australian Jazz Bell Awards 2008 (named in honour of local jazz legend Graeme Bell), held in Melbourne in April, AICE once again presented the award for Best Jazz Vocal Album of the Year. The recipient of the 2008 accolade was Megan Washington and Night Light. Previous winners of the award are Lisa Young, Janet Seidel and Alison Wedding.
At a gala night at BMW Edge in Melbourne, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's wife, Therese Rein, the 2008 Awards preceded the official launch of Melbourne Jazz 2008.
Melbourne saxophonist and composer Julien Wilson was named Australian Jazz Artist of the Year. As well as leading his own ensembles, Julien performs with the Australian Art Orchestra, SNAG, Ishish and Murphy's Law. Bassist Sam Anning was named Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year, whilst trumpeter Phil Slater's Quartet was named Jazz Ensemble of the Year. Sydney saxophonist Bernie McGann, two time ARIA award winner and the first non-classical musician to be awarded the Don Banks Music Award (1998), was inducted into the Graeme Bell Hall of Fame.
On the album front, alongside the Jazz Vocal Album, Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album went to the Andrea Keller Quartet for Little Claps, whilst the Sweet Lowdowns and Cuttin Capers took the Classic Jazz Album award. Composer and trumpeter Eugene Ball won the award for Best Australian Jazz Composition for The Fool Poet's Portion.
Julia Gillard officially launched Melbourne Jazz 2008 at the gala dinner following the awards ceremony. In his last as Artistic Director, Albert Dadon secured a diverse international program, with artists from USA, South Africa, Poland, Brazil, Denmark and local Australians as well as a relationship with Jazz à Juan, France and Europe's oldest jazz festival. With stars such as Dr Abdullah Ibrahim, Kurt Elling, Yamandu Costa, Tord Gustavsen, Cindy Blackman, James Morrison, Joe Chindamo and Tomasz Stanko, the southern hemisphere's largest jazz festival would certainly ensure Melbourne ‘goes jazz'.
The complete list of Bells Awards nominees and winners (highlighted in bold) were:
Australian Jazz Artist of the Year
Presented by: Renault
Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year
Presented by: TarraWarra
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Presented by: AICE
| Nominees: |
Album: |
| Elana Stone: |
Elana Stone |
| Megan Washington: |
Night Light |
| Sweet Lowdowns: |
Cuttin' Capers |
Best Australian Classic Jazz Album
Presented by: Gibson
| Nominees: |
Album: |
| Howler's Cotton Club: |
The Misty Downs Session |
| Sweet Lowdowns: |
Cuttin' Capers |
| The Syncopators: |
In-Sync |
Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album
Presented by: The ABC Jazz
| Nominees: |
Album: |
| Allan Browne Quintet: |
The Drunken Boat |
| Andrea Keller Quartet: |
Little Claps |
| Phil Slater: |
The Thousands |
Best Australian Jazz Ensemble of the Year
Presented by: Ubertas
| Nominees: |
| Allan Browne Quintet |
| Julien Wilson Trio |
| Phil Slater Quartet |
Best Australian Jazz Composition of the Year
Presented by: APRA
| Nominees: |
Album: |
| Eugene Ball: |
The Fool Poets Portion |
| Phil Slater: |
The Thousands |
| Stephen Magunsson: |
14 Little Creatures |
The Graeme Bell Hall of Fame Career Achievement Award
|
