Sydney guitarist Aaron Flower has been awarded first prize in the 2007 National Jazz Awards at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz.
Ben Hauptmann, also from Sydney, was second and Hugh Stuckey from Adelaide, third.
Aaron Flower received $6000 in prize money plus a studio recording session for Jazztrack with Mal Stanley on ABC Classic FM and an invitation to perform in the Stonnington Jazz concert series in May 2008.
Ben Hauptmann received $3000 in prize money and Hugh Stuckey, $1500.
This year saw the guitar being featured – the first time since 2000, when Steve Magnusson and James Muller were declared joint winners.
Both Magnusson and Mulller returned this year as judges for the Award, along with Sydney pianist Mike Nock.
