Saxophonist Kinch Walks Away With Top Jazz Awards

Saxophonist SOWETO KINCH has walked away with two top music prizes at the BBC JAZZ AWARDS last night (30JUL04).

The MERCURY PRIZE nominee, 26, was awarded Best Band and Best Instrumentalist at the award show held at London's Hammersmith Palais, which was chosen by a panel of 100 jazz experts including record industry insiders and critics.

Trumpeter WYNTON MARSALLS received the International Award Of The Year - while Liverpool-born musician George Melly picked up the coveted Lifetime Achievement gong.

The Jazz Awards winners are:

Best Album: COLIN STEELE - THE JOURNEY HOME

Best Band: SOWETO KINCH

Best Vocalist: IAN SHAW

Best Instrumentalist: SOWETO KINCH

Rising Star: SEB ROCHFORD

Jazz Innovation: F-IRE COLLECTIVE

Jazz Innovation: F-IRE COLLECTIVE

Services To Jazz: JED WILLIAMS

International Award Of The Year: WYNTON MARSALLS

Jazz Heritage Award: KEITH NICHOLS

Lifetime Achievement: GEORGE MELLY.