Ornette Coleman influenced post-punk jazz group Led Bib led by US-born drummer Mark Holub have been nominated for the Mercury Prize just announced today for their Cuneiform records album Sensible Shoes. The Bib comprises Holub with a front line saxophone attack of Pete Grogan and Chris Williams, keys player Toby McLaren and bassist Liran Donin. The band performed recently at Meltdown curated by Ornette Coleman himself. Mark Holub told Jazzwise that he felt “elation and surprise” at the news. “We were so excited to get it. It means so much in terms of exposure and getting the music across. I studied populism and the avant garde at Leeds, John Zorn and all that, and we’re staying true to the vision and reaching people. It’s not a really-out record but it’s not a pop record, is it? Getting the call for Meltdown was pretty much as good as it gets. Ornette is a very early hero and I went to hear him on the Sunday as well. Oh wow, we were part of that.”

In addition The Invisible – with guitarist Dave Okumu who first made his name as a member of the Courtney Pine band and later led his own group Jade Fox, hirsute bassist Tom Herbert also of Polar Bear and formerly of Acoustic Ladyland, and drummer Leo Taylor – have also been nominated for their eponymous album released on Matthew Herbert’s Accidental Records.

Joint favourites this year according to the bookies are Kasabian for West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, and Florence And The Machine for Lungs. Kasabian performed ‘Underdog’ at the launch. The band’s drummer Ian Matthews features in the group Porkchop set to appear next month at the Canary Wharf Jazz Festival with Bristol scene saxophonist James Morton.

Other albums nominated are: south London hip hopper Speech Debelle for Speech Therapy, dance act Friendly Fires for Friendly Fires, synth pop act La Roux for La Roux, previously nominated Bat For Lashes for Two Suns, art-Goth band The Horrors for Primary Colours, rockers Glasvegas for Glasvegas, Sweet Billy Pilgrim for Twice Born Men and folk singer Lisa Hannigan, who performed at the launch for Sea Sew. The winner will be announced in September.

- Stephen Graham