BBC Jazz Awards Honor Brubeck

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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



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