Released last week on 18 March, the album is the follow up to 2005’s Hush Now, and continues Rockberger’s trademark mix of Steely Dan-esque jazz harmonies and pop hooks, aided on the launch gig by a strong UK band featuring London-based US bassist Michael Janisch, saxophonist Paul Booth, MOBO-nominated guitarist Femi Temowo and in-demand jazz/session drummer Troy Miller.

Rockberger is also known for electro-funk-fusion trio Mister Barrington, who also performed in the capital recently to great reviews, while the versatile Berklee-trained keyboardist has been clocking up sessions and tours with the likes of Randy Brecker, Will Lee and Steve Gadd, as well as hip hop stars Common and Queen Latifah.

For more info go to www.pizzaexpresslive.com

– Mike Flynn

In a packed programme the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Keith Lockhart, will perform William Grant Still’s ‘Symphony No 1 (Afro-American)’, which was written in 1930, (Still was the first black American composer to be played by a major orchestra), plus Henry Gilbert’s ‘The Dance Place in Congo’. The Nu Civilisation Orchestra conducted by its musical director, Peter Edwards, will then perform a medley of Duke Ellington’s work, featuring music from the Cotton Club era (1927-31) including ‘Black and Tan Fantasy’, ‘The Mooche’, and ‘Mood Indigo’. Their set will also feature ‘Harlem Airshaft’, where, according to Ellington: "You get the full essence of Harlem in an airshaft. You hear fights, you smell dinner, and you hear people making love.”

The evening will conclude with members of both orchestras combining on a joint performance of Ellington’s 'Harlem (A Tone Parallel To Harlem)', conducted again by Lockhart, with the whole concert recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Afternoon On 3 at 2.00pm on Wednesday 17 April.

Things get off to a rousing start with a free performance in the Front Room performance space at the QEH at 6.15pm with a set from Tomorrow’s Warriors – here featuring award-winning saxophonist Nathaniel Facey, pianist Charlie Stacey and vocalist Cherise Adams-Burnett – who will provide musical illustrations for a pre-concert talk from Open University music lecturer Catherine Tackley about how the blues has also influenced modern ensemble and orchestral works.

– Mike Flynn

For more info go to www.southbankcentre.co.uk

The two nights feature four contrasting stylists from the worlds of jazz and classical music – with Mitchell performing on the second night. These include leading UK improv pianist Pat Thomas (who’s worked with luminaries such as Derek Bailey, Jim O’Rourke and the cream of the London improv scene); Belgian-born pianist Ivo De Greef, who’s a fast rising star of the international jazz scene; and top British contemporary classical pianist, Clare Hammond.

Mitchell aims to raise the profile of this approach to the piano, and is already planning subsequent editions of Leftitude. The inaugural festival will be hosted by one-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy, who was born without a right hand but has risen to fame through his virtuosic left-hand only playing; in fact he’s the only graduate of the Royal College Of Music in its history for left hand only piano repertoire. He recently performing at the Paralympics closing ceremony and on the BBC Piano Season Gala Concert, and will interview Hammond and Mitchell on stage during the festival, while he plans to perform at next year’s event. The line up this week is Pat Thomas plus Ivo De Greef on Wednesday 20 March, followed by Claire Hammond plus Robert Mitchell on Thursday 21 March.

For more info go to leftitudefestival.com

– Mike Flynn

The awards are sponsored by music licensing company PPL and Jazz Services and feature nine categories: Jazz Musician of the Year, Jazz Album of the Year, Jazz Ensemble of the Year, Live Jazz Award, Jazz Journalist of the Year, Jazz Broadcaster of the Year, Jazz Publication of the Year, Jazz Education Award, and the Services to Jazz Award.

The final list of nominees was selected following an online public vote for the awards via the Jazz Services website, with the shortlist voted for by the selection panel who represent a broad cross-section of backgrounds united in their love and knowledge of jazz. The winners are chosen by judging members of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group in Parliament and will be announced at the awards ceremony.

The full list of nominees is:

 Jazz Musician of the Year
Christine Tobin
Guy Barker
John Etheridge

Jazz Album of the Year
Christine Tobin Sailing to Byzantium
John Surman Saltash Bells
Phronesis Walking Dark

Jazz Ensemble of the Year
Beats & Pieces Big Band
Impossible Gentlemen
Troyka

Live Jazz Award of the Year
Café Oto, Dalston, London
Herts Jazz
Manchester Jazz Festival
The Vortex, London

Jazz Journalist of the Year
John Fordham
Mike Hobart
Rob Adams

Jazz Broadcaster of the Year
Gilles Peterson
Helen Mayhew
Mike Chadwick

Jazz Publication of the Year
Catherine Tackley - Benny Goodman’s Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert
Jazzwise Magazine
LondonJazzNews

Jazz Education Award
Brian Moore
Jonathan Eno
Nick Smart
Tommy Smith

Services to Jazz Award
Evan Parker
Keith Loxam
Norma Winstone
Stan Tracey