Jazz Bell Award Winners Announced

Queensland-born, Melbourne-based muso Joseph O'Connor received top honours at tonight's Jazz Bell Awards, taking home the title of Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year from among a nominee field of some of the country's foremost and finest jazz talents.

Proudly presented by theMusic.com.au, the 2014 Jazz Bell Awards were held in Melbourne's Plaza Ballroom and recognised several personalities for their contributions to the nation's vibrant jazz scene. The first Bells ceremony took place in 2003.

While O'Connor, a member of fellow award-winners Monash Art Ensemble, claimed what is arguably the ceremony's “centrepiece” trophy, saxophonist and fellow Melburnian (from birth) Julien Wilson was ubiquitous, claiming three awards: Best Australian Jazz Song of the Year for his track Trout River, and two with the Julien Wilson Quartet, who took out Best Australian Jazz Ensemble as well as Best Australian Traditional Jazz Album for their work on their release This Is Always.

Hosted by Tracey Curro, the night's event kicked off with speeches from Jazz Bell Awards chairman Albert Dadon AM, federal Attorney-General The Honorable George Brandis, and Dorothy Bell, the wife of late, great jazz pioneer Graeme Bell AO; MBE, for whom the awards are named, before getting into the swing of things (no pun intended, though, yes, we know jazz and swing are different styles).

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Full round-up of categories and winners are below.