QUINCY JONES - 'GENIUS' JONES HAILED AT JAZZ AWARDS

'GENIUS' JONES HAILED AT JAZZ AWARDS

Music legend QUINCY JONES has been feted by a host of jazz greats as he picked up a Lifetime Achievement accolade at the BBC Jazz Awards in London last night (13JUL06). The producer - who pioneered MICHAEL JACKSON's hit album THRILLER - was hailed a "genius" at the show when close pal SIR MICHAEL CAINE presented the award. After reminding the audience of Quincy's record-breaking 76 Grammy nominations (of which he won 26), Caine said, "I can't tell you how much I love and admire this man." A spritely Quincy, 73, danced on stage to accept the honour before predicting, "The great names of jazz will one day be mentioned alongside BEETHOVEN, BACH and MOZART. "I don't regret one inch of my career." He later wowed the audience by conducting the BBC Jazz Awards Band during a medley of his hits including FLY ME TO THE MOON. JAMIE CULLUM and enduring British TV presenter/musician JOOLS HOLLAND also played at the Mermaid Theatre, the latter later being named Jazz Artist Of The Year. The full list of winners is: Radio 3 Jazz Line Up Best Band - DENNIS ROLLINS BADBONE + CO Radio 3 Jazz on 3 Innovation - TIM GARLAND'S LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT Rising Star - ANDREW MCCORMACK Best Vocalist - CLARE TEAL Best Instrumentalist - ALAN BARNES Album Of The Year - THE LYRIC (JIM TOMLINSON feat STACEY KENT) Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year - JOOLS HOLLAND Radio 2 Best of Jazz - ANITA WARDELL Services To Jazz In The UK - IAN CARR Lifetime Achievement - QUINCY JONES.