Australian jazz awards: winners revealed, Academy launched

At last night’s 13th Australian Jazz Bell Awards in Melbourne, Founder and Chairman Albert Dadon AM announced the launch of the Australian Jazz Award Academy.

“From 2016 members of the Academy will be eligible to vote for the nomination process,” he said. “Members of the Award Academy will be members of the Australian Recording Industry, musicians and academics”. More information is at http://australianjazzacademy.org.au.

The awards were held at the Regent Theatre and hosted by Helen Kapalos. Education Minister Christopher Pyne make a keynote speech.

Dadon told assembled guests, “Tonight we celebrate and recognise the success and the talent of the finalists. We have amazing jazz talent in Australia and we are privileged to have the Bells to pay tribute to that talent. We congratulate all this year’s winners.”

The winners, each receiving $5,000, were:

Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album: Sarah McKenzie – We Could Be Lovers

Best Australian Modern Jazz Album: Daniel Susnjar – Su Su Nje

Best Australian Contemporary ‘Avant-garde’ Jazz Album: Monash Art Ensemble / George Lewis ‐ Hexis

Best Australian Traditional Jazz Album: James Morrison – A-Z Of Jazz

Best Australian Jazz Song of the Year: Daniel Susnjar – Forte Pulse Torte

Best Australian Jazz Ensemble: Mike Nock Octet – Suite Sima

Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year: James Mustafa Jazz Orchestra – The Last Sanctuary

Saxophonist, composer and arranger Graeme Lyall AM was inducted into the Australian Jazz Hall of Fame.