The prestigious accolade will be presented at the ceremony at KOKO in London, which takes place on Thursday April 24 2025 and will be hosted by musician, actor, and comedian Ben Bailey Smith (AKA Doc Brown).
The Jazz FM Impact Award, sponsored by luxury Swiss watchmaker Raymond Weil Genève, celebrates visionaries who have played a pivotal role in bringing jazz into the mainstream. It recognises those whose groundbreaking contributions - whether through performance, education, or media - have made the genre more accessible to audiences around the world. Previous recipients of the Impact Award include Grammy-winning Norah Jones, legendary guitarist and vocalist George Benson, Oscar-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle, acclaimed jazz vocalist Gregory Porter, renowned broadcaster and pianist Jools Holland, and the influential music education organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors.
Jamie Cullum’s career, which spans more than two decades, has been defined by his innovative approach to jazz, blending traditional styles with contemporary influences. Having sold over 10 million albums, the pianist and singer is the best-selling British jazz artist of all time. Beyond his work as a performer and recording artist, Cullum has made a significant impact as a broadcaster and his long-running BBC Radio show has become a platform for showcasing the ever-evolving world of jazz, helping to introduce new audiences to the genre while celebrating its roots.
Jamie Cullum said "Jazz has been a constant source of inspiration and joy in my life, and to be recognised in this way by Jazz FM – an essential radio station that has championed the genre for so long - is a real honour. It’s a privilege to be part of such a rich and evolving musical tradition."
The Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music will also this year honour the internationally renowned US vocalist Melody Gardot with the Gold Award, celebrating her extraordinary and sustained contributions to the world of music.
The 2025 nominees feature a dynamic mix of pioneering artists and rising stars including UK trailblazers Ezra Collective, British sax star Nubya Garcia, celebrated singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka, one of the world’s great jazz vocalists Samara Joy, the pioneering UK multi-instrumentalist Shabaka, rising contemporary soul sensation Jalen Ngonda, multi-talented singer and ECM recording artist Alice Zawadzki, and the Mercury-nominated corto.alto. Full list below.
