The Annual Cadbury Music Awards . Dec 2007 by Dave James

It’s that time of year to reveal the winners in this prestigious annual fest of good things musical. For those who don’t know, a committee of distinguished and famous people including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Paul McCartney, Dame Cleo Laine and me, meet to decide on winners in various categories. A bit like the Oscars really. Well this year, Sirs Simon, Paul and the others including Katherine Jenkins, couldn’t make it, so it was left to me to do the honours. So here we go:-

Best Jazz Gig of 2007. Lots of good things at St George’s, but the winner is…..

The Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at The Colston Hall July. A great band with a charismatic leader. The bonus was the after concert session in the bar when members of the band mingled and sat in with The Andy Hague Sextet. One of those occasions when I had to be dragged away at midnight not realizing where the time had gone. The bonus bonus was seeing ex pupil James Bateman, ( a member of Andy’s band) playing with the best in the world, and still wondering what all the fuss was about.

Best TV Gig of 2007

No doubt here. The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela at the proms in August, on BBC 4. Truly inspirational music making under an amazing young conductor, Gustavo Dudamel. I have some of it on DVD if you want to share the experience.

Best Local Performance of 2007

Again St George’s provided some great stuff. But the winner is:-

Churchill School ’s performance of Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man at All Saints Weston in March . Again time flew by as the performance was awesome. Our own Naomi’s solo contribution was amazing.

Best New Band

iSax . A unanimous decision, not surprisingly.