Glasgow’s corto.alto have scooped two awards at the Jazz FM Awards 2025, which were presented at a ceremony in London in association with PPL and PRS for Music.
Fronted by multi-instrumentalist, and trombonist with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Liam Shortall, corto.alto won the Innovation Awards and the UK Jazz Act of the Year title, which was decided by public vote.
There were awards also for Ezra Collective, whose Dance, No-One’s Watching won the Album of the Year prize, also by public vote, and drummer Billy Cobham, who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Women in Jazz won the Collaboration Award and singer, pianist and radio presenter Jamie Cullum was presented with the Impact Award.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Lifetime Achievement Award- Billy Cobham
Impact Award, Sponsored by: Raymond Weil Genève - Jamie Cullum
Gold Award - Melody Gardot
UK Jazz Act of the Year, Sponsored by: Rathbones - corto.alto
Album of the Year, Sponsored by: Rayo - Ezra Collective, Dance, No-One's Watching
Breakthrough Act of the Year, Sponsored by: Arts Council England - Ni Maxine
International Jazz Act of the Year, Sponsored by: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority - Lakecia Benjamin
Vocalist of the Year, Sponsored by: Sounds from Spain by ICEX - Alice Zawadzki
Instrumentalist of the Year, Sponsored by: Yamaha UK - Mark Kavuma
Soul Act of the Year, Sponsored by: Oanda - Jalen Ngonda
Blues Act of the Year - Shemekia Copeland
The Innovation Award, Sponsored by: Mishcon de Reya - corto.alto
The Collaboration Award, Sponsored by: Cash For Kids - Women in Jazz