Blue Note Records and Don Was To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Blue Note Records will celebrate their 80th birthday in style with a lifetime achievement award for themselves and their president, Don Was. The label is home to the likes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Herbie Hancock and one of the greatest of all time.

Don Was (real name Don Edward Fagenson) was born in Detroit, rising to fame in the 80s with rock band, Was (Not Was). He then became a prolific producer for the likes of Carly Simon, Elton John, and the B-52’s. For the B-52’s, he produced their hit single, Love Shack. He became Blue Note president in 2012 and his illustrious career speaks for itself.

“Jazz is what inspired me to become a musician many years ago, and it is incredibly rewarding and humbling to serve as the caretaker for this historic and hugely important label.”

Don Was

The 2019 Jazz FM Awards will be held on International Jazz Day on Tuesday 30^th April at Shoreditch Town Hall. Both parties are more than worthy of their awards. It’s great to see a jazz label continue to thrive through difficult times in music over the decades.

Stream Madlib’s Shades of Blue below to get you in the mood.

List of nominees

Breakthrough Act

Cassie Kinoshi
Emma-Jean Thackray
Sarah Tandy

The Digital Award with Oanda

Blue Lab Beats
Louis Cole
Moses Boyd – 1Xtra Residency

The Innovation Award with Mishcon de Reya

Orphy Robinson – Freedom Sessions at Vortex
Steam Down
Tomorrow’s Warriors

Instrumentalist of the Year

Camilla George
Jean Toussaint
Rob Luft

International Jazz Act of the Year with Lateralize

Jamie Branch
Makaya McCraven
Wayne Shorter

Soul Act of the Year

José James
Leon Bridges
Poppy Ajudha

Blues Act of the Year

Eric Bibb
Errol Linton
Roosevelt Collier

Vocalist of the Year

Cherise Adams-Burnett
Ian Shaw
Judi Jackson

UK Jazz Act of the Year (Public Vote) with Cambridge Audio

Jason Yarde
Joe Armon-Jones
Nubya Garcia

Album of the Year (Public Vote) with Arqiva

Charles Lloyd & The Marvels + Lucinda Williams – Vanished Gardens
Jean Toussaint Allstar 6Tet – Brother Raymond
John Coltrane – Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album
Sons of Kemet – Your Queen Is A Reptile
Various Artists – We Out Here
Wayne Shorter – Emanon

Live Experience of the Year (Public Vote)

Jason Moran: The Harlem Hellfighters – Tour
Jazz Re:Fest 2018: Brighton Edition
Makaya McCraven and Nubya Garcia – EFG London Jazz Festival
Orphy Robinson presents Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks – Tour
Steam Down featuring Kamasi Washington
The Cookers – Church of Sound