This year its singers.
Australia’s most prestigious jazz instrumental competition, will put the spotlight on Australia’s leading young jazz singers this year. Vocalists up to the age of 35 will be vying for a spot in the final 10, who will compete at this year’s Wangaratta Jazz festival in November.
Increased prizemoney is on offer this year, with the winner receiving $10,000, the runner-up $5000, and the third placegetter $2500. In addition to these cash prizes, the winner will be invited to record in the ABC studios for ABC Classic FM’s ‘Jazztrack With Mal Stanley’, and to perform in the 2013 Stonnington Jazz festival.
The National Jazz Awards have been an integral part of Australia’s premier jazz festival since Wangaratta Jazz began in 1990. This year will be the first time that vocals have been featured since 2005, when the first prize was awarded to Elana Stone.
Renowned jazz pianist Mike Nock will again serve as chairman of judges for the Awards this year. He will be joined by leading Melbourne jazz singer Michelle Nicolle, who was the first vocalist to win the National Jazz Awards back in 1998 ; and renowned vocalist-trumpeter-bandleader Vince Jones.
Entrants must be no older than 35, as at 1 November 2012. The closing date for entries is 1 June.
The Festival’s artistic director, Adrian Jackson, said, “I know there are a lot of very talented jazz singers out there who will want to consider entering the Awards this year. They might be vocalists who already enjoy a strong reputation, or younger musicians who are in the early stages of their career. Either way, they would benefit from the incentives and the increased media profile that can flow from doing well in the National Jazz awards.”
The judging panel will assess the recordings submitted on a blindfold basis. The ten highest-ranked entrants will then be invited to participate in the finals at the 2012 Wangaratta Jazz festival, on the weekend of 2 – 5 November. They will perform with a stellar band, featuring pianist Sam Keevers.
The finals, on Sunday 4 November, will be broadcast live to air nationally on ‘Jazztrack with Mal Stanley’, on ABC Classic FM, from 5.00pm.
