The Stage

Novello honour for Dankworth

Published Tuesday 19 April 2005 at 12:20 by Ruth Gillespie

British jazz performer John Dankworth has become the latest musician to receive one of five new fellowships presented by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters marking the 50th anniversary of the Ivor Novello Awards.

Martin Taylor, Carleen Anderson, Ricky Ross and Julian Joseph were among the entertainers who attended the presentation, which was made by Richard Stilgoe, during a Radio 2 recording of The Dankworth Big Band at The Stables live music venue in Milton Keynes.

Chris Green, chief executive of the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, said: “John Dankworth has epitomised all that is original and creative about British jazz for more than half a century. As a jazz writer, performer and promoter his achievements are legion. In partnership with Cleo Laine he has provided British jazz with a world stage and here at home, at the Stables at Wavendon, a real home for British jazz.”

The Ivor Novello Awards were created by the academy to honour leading songwriters and composers and have been sponsored by collections agency the Performing Rights Society for 30 years. Dankworth has been presented with the fourth 50th anniversary fellowship, joining previous recipients Elton John, John Adams and David Arnold.

Nominees for this year’s ceremony, which will take place at Grosvenor House, Park Lane on May 26, include The Streets for Best Song Musically and Lyrically and Best Contemporary Song. U2, who previously won the PRS Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music, have been nominated for International Hit of the Year along with Bob Geldof and Midge Ure for Do They Know It’s Christmas?.