The nominations have been announced for the 2012 British Jazz Awards, which is always a high point of the British jazz calendar. The 26th edition of the awards will, as always, recognise some of the best talent that the British jazz scene has to offer. Please take two minutes to give Martin your vote for ‘Best Guitarist’ by going to http://www.instant.ly/s/L6czWTvKoAA

Other nominations for the 2012 British Jazz awards are as follows:

Trumpet: Bruce Adams, Enrico Tomasso, Guy Barker, Henry Lowther

Trombone: Dennis Rollins, Ian Bateman, Mark Nightingale, Roy Williams

Clarinet: Alan Barnes, Julian Marc Stringle, Mark Crooks, Tony Coe

Alto Saxophone: Alan Barnes, Derek Nash, Nigel Hitchcock, Peter King

Tenor Saxophone: Bobby Wellins, Karen Sharp, Robert Fowler, Simon Spillett

Piano: Craig Milverton, Dave Newton, Kit Downes, Nikki Iles

Guitar: Dave Cliff, Dominic Ashworth, Jim Mullen, Martin Taylor

Bass: Alec Dankworth, Andy Cleyndert, Dave Green, Len Skeat

Drums: Bobby Worth, Ralph Salmins, Sebastiaan De Krom, Steve Brown

Miscellaneous: Alan Barnes (baritone saxophone), Christian Garrick (violin), Courtney Pine (soprano saxophone), Jim Hart (vibraphone)

Vocals: Claire Martin, Liane Carroll, Liz Fletcher, Val Wiseman

Rising Star: Amy Roberts, James Maddren, Jamie Brownfield, Lewis Wright

Big Band: Back To Basie, Beats and Pieces, NYJO, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra

Small Group: Brass Jaw, Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen, The Great Wee Band, Tipitina

New CD: Derek Nash Acoustic Quartet: Joyriding (Jazzizit), The Great Wee Band: Light Blue (Trio), John Surman: Saltash Bells(ECM), Karen Sharp: Spirit (Trio)

Reissue CD: British Traditional Jazz – A Potted History (Lake), Bruce Turner: Accent On Swing (Lake), Stan Tracey: Leader And Sideman (Avid), The Joe Harriott Story (Proper)