Chris Philips is an award-winning broadcaster, curator, and advocate for contemporary jazz. Best known for hosting The Blueprint on Jazz FM, he’s a former Head of Music at the station and co-founder of Jazzed, the world’s first interactive jazz app. He co-curates Jazz in the Round with Jez Nelson, spotlighting cutting-edge artists in intimate venues across the UK. A passionate supporter of new music and innovation, Chris is also a patron of the National Jazz Archive. His work has helped shape the sound and visibility of modern jazz in Britain, both on air and on stage.
Other notable winners on the night included Donovan Haffner for best newcomer, Zara McFarlane for vocalist of the year and Mark Kavuma’s Banger Factory for Ensemble of the year. One Jazz was also nominated in the Jazz Media Award but lost out to ‘Round Midnight with Soweto Kinch – congratulations to him.
The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), co-chaired by Dame Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Mann.
The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) currently has over 70 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. Their aim is to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz, to increase Parliamentarians’ understanding of the jazz industry and issues surrounding it, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside Parliament.