The BBC Radio Jazz Awards coincide with a resurgence of interest in jazz. Robbie’s into Swing and Radiohead are into Humph, St. Germain and Courtney Pine are playing Hyde Park, and Diana Krall's records sell by the million. And, according to Mintel, jazz is the most popular live music in the country. This renaissance is mirrored in the stellar list of invitees expected to attend this glittering celebration of the genre.

The opinions of over one hundred members of the UK jazz industry have been polled and the three most popular nominees in each category are listed below (winners will not be announced until the awards ceremony itself). In no particular order the nominees are:

• Best Album
Alan Barnes and the David Newton Trio with special guest Conte Candoli – Manhattan (Concord Records)
Jazz Jamaica All Stars – Massive (Dune Records)
Brian Kellock Trio – Live At Henry’s (Caber Music)

• Best Band
Guy Barker Septet
Dave O’Higgins Biggish Band
Jazz Jamaica All Stars

• Best Vocalist
Stacey Kent
Claire Martin
Ian Shaw

• Best Instrumentalist
Alan Barnes
Brian Kellock
John Surman

• Rising Star
Ben Castle
Soweto Kinch
Robert Mitchell

• Best New Work
Simon Fell – 13 Rectangles
John Taylor – Green Man Suite
Stan Tracey & Clark Tracey – Continental Drift

• Jazz Innovation
Matthew Bourne
Springheel Jack
Oren Marshall

• Services To Jazz
Gary Crosby
Chris Hodgkins
David Mossman

• Jazz Heritage
To be announced at the awards ceremony

• Lifetime Achievement
To be announced at the awards ceremony

• International Artist of the Year
South African trumpeter and composer Hugh Masekela is the international artist to be honoured in this category. Mr Masekela will be at the QEH to collect his award in person and to perform.

The awards ceremony will be hosted by band leader and TV and radio presenter Jools Holland and Courtney Pine, winner of a BBC Radio Jazz award in 2001. The evening will feature live performances from the biggest names in jazz. Those performing will be chosen from the various nominees highlighting those artists who have shone brightest over the last 12 months as well as one or two special guests.

The BBC Radio Jazz Awards take place at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Wednesday, July 31st and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Monday, 5 August at 7.00-8.30pm and on BBC Radio 3’s Jazz Line-Up on Saturday, 3 August at 4.00pm.

There will be more information on the awards and a chance to listen to the acts on BBC Radio 2 Online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 and BBC Radio 3 Online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio3.

Further information:

Marc Connor at Air, +44 020 8287 4064
Hester Nevill, BBC Radio 2 Publicity + 44 20 7765 5712
or Sian Davis, BBC Radio 3 Publicity + 44 20 7765 5887