Dubbed The Bells, in honor of the Australian jazz pioneer Graeme Bell, they are the Australian Jazz fraternity’s most coveted awards.
‘The Bells are now in their seventh year and in a remarkably short time have become a hight point on the Jazz calendar,’ Albert Dadon, AM, Chairman of the Australian Jazz Awards, says.
‘They are increasingly prestigious. In 2005 we were honoured to have Kevin Rudd and John Brumby at the awards.
Last year Julia Gillard inducted Bernie McGann into our Hall of Fame. And this year the awards will be enhanced – tangibly – by a significant financial benefit.
Each winner in seven categories will receive $5,000; money that may be used on their next project.
‘This new element of the Bells recognises the professionalism of our Jazz artists. The recognition of your peers that the Bells bring is something that you can’t put a price on: but the additional financial reward will be welcomed, I’m sure.’
The Awards categories are:
- Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album (For a CD led by or featuring a vocalist)
- Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album
- Best Australian Classic Jazz Album
- Best Australian Jazz Song of the Year
- Best Australian Jazz Ensemble of the Year (Based on recordings and/or live performances,and achievements within the past year).
- Young Australian Jazz Artist Of The Year (For musicians up to and including 25 years of age)
- Graeme Bell Hall of Fame (Recognising outstanding artistic achievement, and contribution to Australian Jazz)
Nominations for the Bells close on Friday 27 February. In late March the judges will announce a shortlist of three nominations for each category and the winners will be announced at BMW Edge, Federation Square on Thursday, 23 April.
For further information and to download the nomination forms:www.bellawards.org
