This year’s Parliamentary Jazz Awards will take place on 16 May at the House of Commons and voting is now open online for the public to cast their choices across the designated categories. Voting forms can be completed on the Jazz Services website at www.jazzservices.org.uk and the final deadline is Monday 20 February.

The awards, now in their eighth year, are firmly established as one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the jazz calendar and are held by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group in association with royalties company PPL. For 2012 there are nine categories, with the previous award of Jazz Promoter of the year being changed to Live Jazz Award covering jazz clubs, venues, festivals and promoters.

The award categories are: Jazz Musician of the Year; Jazz Ensemble of the Year; Jazz Promoter of the Year; Jazz Journalist of the Year; Jazz CD of the Year (released by a UK band or musicians); Jazz Broadcaster of the Year; Jazz Publication of the Year (including magazines, websites, listings & books); Jazz Education Award (to an educator or project for raising the standard of jazz education in the UK); and Services to Jazz Award (to a living person for their outstanding contribution to Jazz in the UK). Jazzwise encourages readers to participate in the online voting to widen the diversity of nominations and spread the message.

– Jon Newey

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