Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
Dave Brubeck took home top honors at the BBC Jazz Awards on Thursday. The legendary pianist was given a Lifetime Achievement Award, and he also performed via satellite link from New York with the BBC Big Band, led by Guy Barker.
Hosted by Paul Gambaccini, the awards recognized British jazzers Martin Taylor, Finn Peters and The Neil Cowley Trio, in addition to celebrating the life and work of George Melly. This year’s ceremony included a new category, International Artist of the Year, which was awarded to platinum-selling French-American singer Madeleine Peyroux. And this year’s BBC Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year award went to Curtis Stigers.
There will be more information on the awards and a chance to listen again at BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3.
Winners of BBC Jazz Awards 2007 were:
BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line-Up Best Band: Finn Peters
Radio 3 Jazz On 3 Innovation: Tom Bancroft
Rising Star: Simon Spillet
Best Instrumentalist: Julian Siegel
Best Vocalist: Ian Shaw
Album Of The Year: Displaced – Neil Cowley
Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year: Curtis Stigers
Radio 2 Heart of Jazz Award: Martin Taylor
Services to Jazz: Gary Crosby
International Award: Madeleine Peyroux
Lifetime Achievement: Dave Brubeck
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
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