The finest talent in Scotland’s vibrant music scene was celebrated last night as the winners of the Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 were unveiled. Held at The Savings Bank in Glasgow and hosted by acclaimed musician Seonaid Aitken, the ceremony honoured the vocalists, instrumentalists, and industry pioneers driving the genre forward.
Mercury Prize-nominated band corto.alto rounded off a sensational year by taking home the prestigious Best Band Award. Known as boundary breakers in the genre, they were joined in the winners’ circle by saxophonist Matt Carmichael, whose third album Dancing with Embers secured the Best Album Award, recognised for its sincerity and unique style.
The evening was marked by a poignant tribute to the late pianist Brian Kellock, who passed away in May. In a moving segment led by singer and actress Suzanne Bonnar, it was announced that the Best Instrumentalist Award has been permanently renamed the Brian Kellock Best Instrumentalist Award in his honour. The inaugural recipient of the renamed accolade was trumpeter Colin Steele, following the release of his quartet’s tribute to The Blue Nile. Last year’s winner, Fergus McCreadie, performed a dedicated piece to Kellock’s memory.
The full list of Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 winners is:
- Rising Star Award: Pippa Blundell
- The Fionna Duncan Best Vocalist Award: Rachel Lightbody
- The Brian Kellock Best Instrumentalist Award: Colin Steele
- Grassroots Promoter Award: LayLow, Glasgow
- Best Album Award: Matt Carmichael – Dancing with Embers
- Best Band Award: corto.alto
- Critics’ Choice Award: Norman&Corrie
Experimental jazz-folk duo Norman&Corrie picked up the Critics’ Choice Award following their debut album Twa Double Doubles. Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Pippa Blundell was named this year’s Rising Star, having previously earned recognition in the Scottish Album of the Year Awards’ Sound of Young Scotland nominations.
A new category for 2025, the Grassroots Promoter Award, was presented to LayLow. Hosted at Glasgow’s Rum Shack, the promoter was recognised for establishing a vital home for live jazz in the city and nurturing emerging talent. Multi-award-winning vocalist Rachel Lightbody secured the Best Vocalist title, capping off a year of collaborations with artists ranging from Kris Drever to Tom McGuire and the Brassholes.
The ceremony featured exceptional live music, including performances from Matt Carmichael and Roan Anderson, the newly crowned BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician 2025. Winners were selected by a public vote from a shortlist compiled by an industry panel.
Jill Rodger, Director of Glasgow Jazz Festival and Producer of the Scottish Jazz Awards, said: “Scottish jazz is making waves around the world and it’s only right we celebrate the very best of our scene on home soil. This year’s awards have once again highlighted the sheer passion, ingenuity and excitement within the Scottish jazz scene. It’s a genuine privilege to celebrate these outstanding artists whose expression and creativity connect with so many.”
Rodger added: “We were especially honoured to pay tribute to the immense contribution of Brian Kellock, a true giant of Scottish jazz, whose legacy will continue to inspire musicians for generations to come.”
Clare Hewitt, Music Officer at Creative Scotland, noted that the winners exemplify the vitality of the country’s scene. “The Scottish Jazz Awards celebrate not just the artists and promoters honoured tonight, but the whole Scottish jazz community who support and nurture their peers and their music,” she said.
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