Saxophonist Jason Yarde (left) won the newly introduced Contemporary Jazz Composition category at the British Composer Awards held at the Law Society in London last night for his work Rhythm and Other Fascinations.

The judges thought that his work is “innovative, accomplished and entertaining. It achieves that difficult double act of looking back in homage to a bye-gone era and at the same time, achieving a very contemporary vision. A worthy winner from a strongly emerging voice of UK jazz.” Scottish jazz group Brass Jaw also performed at the ceremony last night.

Yarde, featured in the current issue of Jazzwise interviewed to coincide with his new duo album with pianist Andrew McCormack, first emerged on the UK jazz scene in the 1990s initially with the award winning group J-Life. He went on to become an in-demand producer for the Dune label and others and in recent years has turned his attentions more towards performing and composing. Next week his compositions ‘Rude Awakening’ and ‘Concerto’ will feature in a special concert at the Barbican to mark the 70th birthday of South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela.