Australian Jazz Bell Awards
Encyclopedia
Australian Jazz Bell Awards, also known just as the Bell Awards or The Bells, are annual music awards for the jazz
music genre in Australia. The awards were named in honour of Australian jazz pianist, composer and band leader, Graeme Bell
, at their inception in 2003 at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival
.
The awards were launched by State Minister for the Arts, Mary Delahunty
, and Graeme Bell on 5 June 2003 to recognise the talent and achievements of Australian jazz artists locally and internationally. The awards were the inspiration of Festival Chairman, Albert Dadon and Artistic Director, Adrian Jackson. Adrian Jackson said at the time, "The Bells will put the spotlight on the Australian jazz industry that it has never enjoyed before. These new industry gongs will recognise the achievement of excellence by many artists, record companies and venues, and will encourage others to match those achievements."
In 2008, the Australian Jazz Awards Limited, a not-for-profit organisation with its own independent board, was established to present the awards which became separate from the Melbourne Jazz Festival committee.
|-
|rowspan="9"| 2003 || Sandy Evans || Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Australian Art Orchestra || Australian Jazz Ensemble of the Year ||
|-
| | Bennetts Lane || Australian Jazz Venue of the Year ||
|-
| | Collected Works – Allan Browne || Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Mikrokosmos – Andrea Keller || Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Making Wings – Judy Jacques || Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | The Soul of Things – Tomasz Stanko
|| International Jazz Album of the Year ||
|-
| | Aron Ottignon || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Ade Monsbourgh || Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
, Carlo Pagnotta, formerly director of Italy's famed Umbria Jazz Festival
, announced the 27 nominees of the Bell Awards. The winners were awarded in nine categories on 25 August in Melbourne.
|-
|rowspan="27"| 2004 || Phil Slater || rowspan="3"| Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Paul Grabowsky
||
|-
| | Jamie Oehlers ||
|-
| | The Necks
|| rowspan="3"| Australian Jazz Ensemble of the Year ||
|-
| | Alister Spence Trio ||
|-
| | Julien Wilson Trio ||
|-
| | Bennetts Lane || rowspan="3"| Australian Jazz Venue of the Year ||
|-
| | Side-On Cafe ||
|-
| | Hyde Park Hotel ||
|-
| | Bob Barnard's Jazz Party – Bob Barnard || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Catfish Row – Moovin & Groovin Orchestra ||
|-
| | Now You Are Talking My Language – Society Syncopators ||
|-
| | Big Small Band Live – Mike Nock
|| rowspan="3"| Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Tales of Time and Space – Paul Grabowsky ||
|-
| | Strobe Coma Virgo – Phil Slater ||
|-
| | The Secret – Alison Wedding || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | Gold – Vince Jones
||
|-
| | The Crying Game – Michelle Nicolle ||
|-
| | Suspended Night – Tomasz Stanko Quartet
|| rowspan="3"| International Jazz Album of the Year ||
|-
| | Up for It – Keith Jarrett
||
|-
| | I'm All for You – Joe Lovano ||
|-
| | Felix Bloxsom
|| rowspan="3"| Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Aaron Choulai ||
|-
| | Matthew Joddrell ||
|-
| | Allan Browne || rowspan="3"| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
|-
| | Don Burrows
||
|-
| | John Pochée ||
, following differences with Pagnotta over the festival's direction. Dadon is chairman of the Australian Jazz Bell Awards.
|-
|rowspan="9"| 2006 || Paul Grabowsky
|| Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | The Necks
|| Australian Jazz Ensemble of the Year ||
|-
| | Bennetts Lane || Australian Jazz Venue of the Year ||
|-
| | Live at Umbria Jazz ‘05 – Joe Chindamo
|| Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | The Assemblers – Jamie Oehlers || Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Moon of Manakoora – Janet Seidel
|| Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | The Ground – Tord Gustavsen Trio
|| International Jazz Album of the Year ||
|-
| | Aaron Choulai || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | John Pochée
|| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
and as chairman of the Australian Jazz Bell Awards.
|-
|rowspan="7"| 2007 || Jamie Oehlers || Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | "Five Bells" – Paul Grabowsky
|| Australian Jazz Composition of the Year ||
|-
| | Five Bells and Other Inspirations – Allan Browne's Australian Jazz Band || Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | You R Here - Session 2 – Jamie Oehlers Double Drummer Group || Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Grace – Lisa Young || Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | Shannon Barnett || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Don Burrows
|| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
, Julia Gillard
attending. The awards were separated from the Melbourne Jazz Festival in 2008 and a new company was formed, The Australian Jazz Awards Limited, a not-for-profit organisation with its own independent board.
|-
|rowspan="18"| 2008 || Julien Wilson || Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | The Fool Poets Portion – Eugene Ball
|| rowspan="3"| Australian Jazz Composition of the Year ||
|-
| | 14 Little Creatures – Stephen Magunsson ||
|-
| | The Thousands – Phil Slater ||
|-
| | Cuttin' Capers – Sweet Lowdowns || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | The Misty Downs Session – Howler's Cotton Club ||
|-
| | In-Sync – The Syncopators ||
|-
| | Little Claps – Andrea Keller Quartet || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | The Drunken Boat – Allan Browne Quintet ||
|-
| | The Thousands – Phil Slater ||
|-
| | Phil Slater Quartet || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Jazz Ensemble ||
|-
| | Allan Browne Quintet ||
|-
| | Julien Wilson Trio ||
|-
| | Night Light – Megan Washington || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | Elana Stone – Elana Stone ||
|-
| | Cuttin' Capers – Sweet Lowdowns ||
|-
| | Sam Anning || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Bernie McGann
|| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
, Julia Gillard
attending.
|-
|rowspan="7"| 2009 || Live at the Famous Spiegeltent – The Syncopators || Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Lost and Found – Oehlers, Grabowsky, Beck || Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Old Grooves for New Streets – Way Out West || Best Australian Jazz Ensemble ||
|-
| | "Till Death Does Me Part" – Johannes Luebbers || Best Australian Jazz Song ||
|-
| | Work Songs – Tina Harrod || Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | Jeremy Rose || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Mike Nock
|| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music genre in Australia. The awards were named in honour of Australian jazz pianist, composer and band leader, Graeme Bell
Graeme Bell
Graeme Emerson Bell AO MBE is an Australian Dixieland and classical jazz pianist, composer and band leader...
, at their inception in 2003 at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival
Melbourne Jazz Festival
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival is an annual jazz music festival held in Melbourne, Australia from 4 - 13 June 2011.-History:The Melbourne International Jazz Festival was first held in 1998....
.
The awards were launched by State Minister for the Arts, Mary Delahunty
Mary Delahunty
Mary Delahunty is an Australian journalist and retired politician with the Australian Labor Party.-Early life:Delahunty was born in Victoria, Australia and educated at Loreto College, in Victoria. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Latrobe University.-Media career:Delahunty...
, and Graeme Bell on 5 June 2003 to recognise the talent and achievements of Australian jazz artists locally and internationally. The awards were the inspiration of Festival Chairman, Albert Dadon and Artistic Director, Adrian Jackson. Adrian Jackson said at the time, "The Bells will put the spotlight on the Australian jazz industry that it has never enjoyed before. These new industry gongs will recognise the achievement of excellence by many artists, record companies and venues, and will encourage others to match those achievements."
In 2008, the Australian Jazz Awards Limited, a not-for-profit organisation with its own independent board, was established to present the awards which became separate from the Melbourne Jazz Festival committee.
2003 Bell Awards
The inaugural Australian Jazz Awards, or Bell Awards, were presented at Melbourne's Grand Hyatt Hotel on 28 August 2003, honouring artists in nine categories.|-
|rowspan="9"| 2003 || Sandy Evans || Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Australian Art Orchestra || Australian Jazz Ensemble of the Year ||
|-
| | Bennetts Lane || Australian Jazz Venue of the Year ||
|-
| | Collected Works – Allan Browne || Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Mikrokosmos – Andrea Keller || Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Making Wings – Judy Jacques || Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | The Soul of Things – Tomasz Stanko
Tomasz Stanko
Tomasz Stańko is a Polish trumpeter, composer and improviser. Often recording for ECM, Stańko is strongly associated with free jazz and the avant-garde....
|| International Jazz Album of the Year ||
|-
| | Aron Ottignon || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Ade Monsbourgh || Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
2004 Bell Awards
On 10 August 2004 a new artistic director of the Melbourne International Jazz festivalMelbourne Jazz Festival
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival is an annual jazz music festival held in Melbourne, Australia from 4 - 13 June 2011.-History:The Melbourne International Jazz Festival was first held in 1998....
, Carlo Pagnotta, formerly director of Italy's famed Umbria Jazz Festival
Umbria Jazz Festival
The Umbria Jazz Festival is one of the most important jazz festivals in the world and has been held annually since 1973, usually in the month of July, in Perugia, Italy...
, announced the 27 nominees of the Bell Awards. The winners were awarded in nine categories on 25 August in Melbourne.
|-
|rowspan="27"| 2004 || Phil Slater || rowspan="3"| Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Paul Grabowsky
Paul Grabowsky
-Biography:Grabowsky was born on 27 September 1958 in Lae, Papua New Guinea; his father Alistair had lived in Papua New Guinea with his wife Charlotte since the 1930s working on oil rigs, building roads, flying planes and playing the drums...
||
|-
| | Jamie Oehlers ||
|-
| | The Necks
The Necks
The Necks are an experimental jazz trio from Sydney, Australia, comprising Chris Abrahams on piano and Hammond organ, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass...
|| rowspan="3"| Australian Jazz Ensemble of the Year ||
|-
| | Alister Spence Trio ||
|-
| | Julien Wilson Trio ||
|-
| | Bennetts Lane || rowspan="3"| Australian Jazz Venue of the Year ||
|-
| | Side-On Cafe ||
|-
| | Hyde Park Hotel ||
|-
| | Bob Barnard's Jazz Party – Bob Barnard || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Catfish Row – Moovin & Groovin Orchestra ||
|-
| | Now You Are Talking My Language – Society Syncopators ||
|-
| | Big Small Band Live – Mike Nock
Mike Nock
Mike Nock is a jazz pianist, currently based in Australia. He began studying piano at 11 and by 18 was performing in Australia. He headed a trio that toured England in 1961 and then attended Berklee College of Music...
|| rowspan="3"| Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Tales of Time and Space – Paul Grabowsky ||
|-
| | Strobe Coma Virgo – Phil Slater ||
|-
| | The Secret – Alison Wedding || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | Gold – Vince Jones
Vince Jones
Vince Jones is an Australian jazz artist. He is a singer, songwriter, and trumpet/flugelhorn player. His music includes both original music and new contemporary versions of jazz standards. His themes are often love, inequity, injustice, peace and anti-greed.He attributes his love of jazz to...
||
|-
| | The Crying Game – Michelle Nicolle ||
|-
| | Suspended Night – Tomasz Stanko Quartet
Tomasz Stanko
Tomasz Stańko is a Polish trumpeter, composer and improviser. Often recording for ECM, Stańko is strongly associated with free jazz and the avant-garde....
|| rowspan="3"| International Jazz Album of the Year ||
|-
| | Up for It – Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
||
|-
| | I'm All for You – Joe Lovano ||
|-
| | Felix Bloxsom
Felix Bloxsom
Felix Bloxsom, was born in Sydney, Australia. He is a professional musician, best known for his drumming and percussion playing.Since completing Jazz studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2000, Felix has worked with a diverse group of artists across many styles and genres...
|| rowspan="3"| Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Aaron Choulai ||
|-
| | Matthew Joddrell ||
|-
| | Allan Browne || rowspan="3"| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
|-
| | Don Burrows
Don Burrows
Donald Vernon Burrows, AO, MBE is an Australian jazz and swing musician, playing the clarinet, saxophone, and flute....
||
|-
| | John Pochée ||
2006 Bell Awards
In 2006 Albert Dadon took over the role of artistic director of the Melbourne International Jazz festivalMelbourne Jazz Festival
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival is an annual jazz music festival held in Melbourne, Australia from 4 - 13 June 2011.-History:The Melbourne International Jazz Festival was first held in 1998....
, following differences with Pagnotta over the festival's direction. Dadon is chairman of the Australian Jazz Bell Awards.
|-
|rowspan="9"| 2006 || Paul Grabowsky
Paul Grabowsky
-Biography:Grabowsky was born on 27 September 1958 in Lae, Papua New Guinea; his father Alistair had lived in Papua New Guinea with his wife Charlotte since the 1930s working on oil rigs, building roads, flying planes and playing the drums...
|| Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | The Necks
The Necks
The Necks are an experimental jazz trio from Sydney, Australia, comprising Chris Abrahams on piano and Hammond organ, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass...
|| Australian Jazz Ensemble of the Year ||
|-
| | Bennetts Lane || Australian Jazz Venue of the Year ||
|-
| | Live at Umbria Jazz ‘05 – Joe Chindamo
Joe Chindamo
Joe Chindamo is an Australian pianist and composer residing in Melbourne. In 2009, "Something Will Come to Light" , written by Chindamo, won the 'Jazz Work of the Year' at the Australasian Performing Right Association Awards, his "Moments and Eternities" was also nominated.His music has been used...
|| Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | The Assemblers – Jamie Oehlers || Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Moon of Manakoora – Janet Seidel
Janet Seidel
Janet Seidel is an Australian-born jazz vocalist and pianist.Her albums, recorded with musicians including her brother, bassist David Seidel, have been nominated for prizes such as the ARIA Music Awards. Her album "Moon of Manakoora" won the Bell Award for Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album in...
|| Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | The Ground – Tord Gustavsen Trio
Tord Gustavsen Trio
The Tord Gustavsen Trio is a Norwegian jazz trio. It consists of Tord Gustavsen Harald Johnsen and Jarle Vespestad .- Discography :*Changing Places *The Ground *Being There...
|| International Jazz Album of the Year ||
|-
| | Aaron Choulai || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | John Pochée
John Pochee
John Pochée, is a Jazz Drummer and Bandleader.John Pochée was born in Sydney, Australia in 1940.His career as a professional musician began in 1956. He formed The Last Straw in 1974 and also played with the Judy Bailey Quartet from 1974 to 1979...
|| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
2007 Bell Awards
In 2007 Albert Dadon continued as artistic director of the Melbourne International Jazz festivalMelbourne Jazz Festival
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival is an annual jazz music festival held in Melbourne, Australia from 4 - 13 June 2011.-History:The Melbourne International Jazz Festival was first held in 1998....
and as chairman of the Australian Jazz Bell Awards.
|-
|rowspan="7"| 2007 || Jamie Oehlers || Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | "Five Bells" – Paul Grabowsky
Paul Grabowsky
-Biography:Grabowsky was born on 27 September 1958 in Lae, Papua New Guinea; his father Alistair had lived in Papua New Guinea with his wife Charlotte since the 1930s working on oil rigs, building roads, flying planes and playing the drums...
|| Australian Jazz Composition of the Year ||
|-
| | Five Bells and Other Inspirations – Allan Browne's Australian Jazz Band || Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | You R Here - Session 2 – Jamie Oehlers Double Drummer Group || Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Grace – Lisa Young || Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | Shannon Barnett || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Don Burrows
Don Burrows
Donald Vernon Burrows, AO, MBE is an Australian jazz and swing musician, playing the clarinet, saxophone, and flute....
|| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
2008 Bell Awards
On 29 April 2008, the Australian Jazz Awards Limited presented the Australian Jazz Bell Awards, with Deputy Prime Minister of AustraliaDeputy Prime Minister of Australia
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Australia. The Deputy Prime Ministership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1968, and the Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime...
, Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
attending. The awards were separated from the Melbourne Jazz Festival in 2008 and a new company was formed, The Australian Jazz Awards Limited, a not-for-profit organisation with its own independent board.
|-
|rowspan="18"| 2008 || Julien Wilson || Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | The Fool Poets Portion – Eugene Ball
Eugene Ball
Eugene Ball is an Australian jazz music composer and acclaimed trumpeter who won the best Australian jazz composition award for Fool Poet's Portion in 2008....
|| rowspan="3"| Australian Jazz Composition of the Year ||
|-
| | 14 Little Creatures – Stephen Magunsson ||
|-
| | The Thousands – Phil Slater ||
|-
| | Cuttin' Capers – Sweet Lowdowns || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | The Misty Downs Session – Howler's Cotton Club ||
|-
| | In-Sync – The Syncopators ||
|-
| | Little Claps – Andrea Keller Quartet || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | The Drunken Boat – Allan Browne Quintet ||
|-
| | The Thousands – Phil Slater ||
|-
| | Phil Slater Quartet || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Jazz Ensemble ||
|-
| | Allan Browne Quintet ||
|-
| | Julien Wilson Trio ||
|-
| | Night Light – Megan Washington || rowspan="3"| Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | Elana Stone – Elana Stone ||
|-
| | Cuttin' Capers – Sweet Lowdowns ||
|-
| | Sam Anning || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Bernie McGann
Bernie McGann
Bernie McGann is an Australian jazz alto saxophone player. He began his career in the late 1950s and is still active as a performer, composer and recording artist.- Biography :...
|| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
2009 Bell Awards
On 23 April 2009, the Australian Jazz Awards Limited presented the Australian Jazz Bell Awards, with Deputy Prime Minister of AustraliaDeputy Prime Minister of Australia
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Australia. The Deputy Prime Ministership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1968, and the Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime...
, Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
attending.
|-
|rowspan="7"| 2009 || Live at the Famous Spiegeltent – The Syncopators || Best Australian Classic Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Lost and Found – Oehlers, Grabowsky, Beck || Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album ||
|-
| | Old Grooves for New Streets – Way Out West || Best Australian Jazz Ensemble ||
|-
| | "Till Death Does Me Part" – Johannes Luebbers || Best Australian Jazz Song ||
|-
| | Work Songs – Tina Harrod || Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album ||
|-
| | Jeremy Rose || Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year ||
|-
| | Mike Nock
Mike Nock
Mike Nock is a jazz pianist, currently based in Australia. He began studying piano at 11 and by 18 was performing in Australia. He headed a trio that toured England in 1961 and then attended Berklee College of Music...
|| Graeme Bell Hall of Fame ||
See also
- Melbourne International Jazz FestivalMelbourne Jazz FestivalThe Melbourne International Jazz Festival is an annual jazz music festival held in Melbourne, Australia from 4 - 13 June 2011.-History:The Melbourne International Jazz Festival was first held in 1998....
- Australian jazzAustralian jazzJazz music has a long history in Australia. Over the years jazz has held a high profile at local clubs, festivals and other music venues and a vast number of recordings have been produced by Australian jazz musicians, many of whom have gone on to gain a high profile in the international jazz...