The 2025 Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS For Music were staged at Koko in London for the first time in three years.
Introduced by Gregory Porter and hosted by musician, actor and comedian Ben Bailey Smith (AKA Doc Brown), the ceremony celebrated the best in jazz, soul and blues.
Corto.alto, the Scottish ensemble led by trombonist Liam Shortall, 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 jazz scene by winning the coveted Album Of The Year for Top 10 LP Dance, No One’s Watching. It follows the band’s BRIT Awards victory.
In a statement, Ezra Collective said: “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.”
New York-based saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin was named International Jazz Act Of The Year.
It’s such an honour to receive this recognition and to be welcomed by the jazz community
Ezra Collective
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 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 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Billy Cobham, the drummer and jazz fusion pioneer whose career has spanned nearly six decades. Cobham joins the ranks of previous Lifetime recipients such as Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett and Dame Cleo Laine.
Billy Cobham said: “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 is as follows:
Jazz FM Awards 2025 with PPL and PRS for Music
Lifetime Achievement Award
Billy Cobham
Impact Award
Sponsored by: Raymond Weil Genève
Jamie Cullum
Gold Award
Melody Gardot
UK Jazz Act Of The Year – PUBLIC VOTE
Corto.alto
Album Of The Year – PUBLIC VOTE
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
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