Engines Orchestra voted 2015 Parliamentary Jazz Ensemble of the Year.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Saxophonist and composer Phil Meadows has contacted us with the news that his large ensemble, Engines Orchestra, has been honoured at the 2015 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Details attached.

12/03/2015
Phil Meadows writes;

2015 Parliamentary Jazz Ensemble of the Year!

On Tuesday night we were incredibly excited to be at the Houses of Parliament having been nominated for the 2015 Parliamentary Jazz Ensemble of the Year award. Having been nominated by members of the public and leading members of the Jazz community in the UK we were shortlisted alongside Loose Tubes and Partisans before facing a vote from members of parliament and the House of Lords. Being up against two of the countries most iconic jazz ensembles we are both surprised and humbled to announce that we have received the award in this category.

It is safe to say that it’s an unusual situation for an ensemble as new as the Engines Orchestra (eO) to receive an accolade of this nature and I write this feeling a great sense of pride for the one-hundred (or so) people who have helped bring the eO’s first project to life. This huge achievement has been made possible by the amount of passion, hard work and dedication from everyone involved over the last eighteen-months with special thanks to our principal violinist Emily Davis, conductor Matt Roberts and for all his input in the development of the music, Tim Garland.

We’re a community of musicians whose aim is to work with others to develop new audiences for creative music allowing people to be curious rather than intimidated by the contemporary music world. As I write this we are working hard to set the Engines Orchestra up as a registered charity in the hope of commissioning and working with artists on large-scale orchestral projects and continuing our educational outreach that has seen us visit schools across London, write a commission with non-musicians and run our three day jazz course for young, aspiring jazz musicians.

We have an incredible group of twenty-six musicians, a brilliant projects team, a growing board of trustees and a wonderful set of supporters that have helped us crowd fund our way into existence.  We have also been fortunate to receive support from Help Musicians UK, Arts Council England and the London Jazz Festival as well as a range of kind words and coverage from many publications, bloggers and radio shows. On a personal note, I would like to thank you all for becoming part of the Engines Orchestra.

This award represents recognition for the future of an ensemble here to collaborate, create and promote new British music and we are honoured to be the recipient. Thank you for your support and we hope you can join us at this years Scarborough Jazz Festival!


Phil Meadows ? Artistic Director.

Congratulations to all nominees and winners, including Instrumentalist of the Year and eO trumpeter Laura Jurd:

Jazz Vocalist of the Year: Norma Winstone MBE
Nominees: Alice Zawadzki, Georgia Mancio, Zara McFarlane.

Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year: Laura Jurd
Nominees: Jason Yarde, Phil Robson.

Jazz Album of the Year: Partisans Swamp
Nominees: Julian Arg?elles Circularity, Tim Garland Songs to the North Sky.

Jazz Newcomer of the Year: Peter Edwards
Nominees: Blue-Eyed Hawk, Elliot Galvin Trio.

Jazz Venue of the Year: St Ives Jazz Club.
Nominees: Manchester Jazz Festival, Spice of Life.

Jazz Media Award: LondonJazz News
Nominees: Jazz on 3, The Jazz Breakfast.

Jazz Education Award: National Youth Jazz Orchestra
Nominees: Dr Tommy Smith, Simon Purcell.

Services to Jazz Award: Chris Hodgkins
Nominees: Evan Parker, Mike Gordon.

Jazz Ensemble of the Year: Engines Orchestra
Nominees: Loose Tubes, Partisans.

Special Award: Peter Ind

Ian adds;
Congratulations to Phil and the Engines Orchestra on the winning of this well deserved award. The album “Lifecycles” is a significant artistic achievement and the ensemble’s performance at the 2014 EFG London Jazz Festival proved to be one of the highlights of the festival week. Well done to all concerned.