Australian Jazz Bell Awards Announces 2016 Nominees

Nominees for the 14th annual Australian Jazz Bell Awards have been announced, ahead of June's highly anticipated award ceremony.

Named in honour of an Australian jazz great, the late Graeme Bell, the awards are regarded as the Australian jazz industry's most respected awards. This year's prize pool is $40,000.

"The prestigious Australian Jazz Bell Awards honour the jazz art form in Australia, recognising the achievements of the young, upcoming and established Australian jazz performances and composers," founder and jazz musician Albert Dadon said.

This year's nominations include recent past winners Julien Wilson Quartet (2014 Best Jazz Ensemble), Daniel Susnjar (2015 Best Modern Jazz Album, Best Jazz Song of the Year) and Mike Nock (2015 Best Jazz Ensemble).

The Graeme Bell Hall Of Fame winner will also be announced in recognition of an outstanding jazz career.

Winners will be presented at the Australian Jazz Bell Awards on 20 June at Melbourne's Bird's Basement.

Here is the full list of shortlisted nominees:

Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album

• Kristin Berardi — Where Or When
• Vince Jones + Paul Grabowsky — Provenance
• Olivia Chindamo — Keep An Eye On Spring

Best Instrumental Jazz Album

• Barney McAll — Mooroolbark
• Angela Davis — Lady Luck
• Julien Wilson Quartet — This Narrow Isthmus

Best Produced Album

• Barney McAll — Mooroolbark
• Mike Nock/ Laurence Pike — Beginning And End of Knowing
• Angela Davis — Lady Luck

Best Australian Jazz Song/ Composition of the Year

• Barney McAll — Nectar Spur (Mooroolbark)
• Julien Wilson Quartet — Weeping Willow (This Narrow Isthmus)
• Angela Davis — A Thousand Feet from Bergen Street (Lady Luck)

Best Australian Small Jazz Band (up to 6 members)

• Barney McAll + A.S.I.O (Australian Symbiotic Improvisers Orbit) — Mooroolbark
• Allan Brown Quintet — Ithaca Bound
• Alister Spence Trio — Alister Spence Trio: Live

Best Australian Jazz Ensemble

• Jazz Groove Mothership Orchestra — 2015 Live Performance Compilation
• Daniel Susnjar — The Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group
• Mace Francis Orchestra — Music For Average Photography

Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year (Musicians up to and including 25 years of age)

• Olivia Chindama — Keep An Eye On Spring
• James McLean — Counter Clockwork
• Niran Dasika — Manticore (Phantom)