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The Jazz FM Awards, produced by Serious, has announced legendary US composer, producer and musical pioneer Quincy Jones will be the recipient of this year’s PPL Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s award ceremony will take place at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in London on Tuesday 26th April and will be hosted by British personality, broadcaster and comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli.

One of the most prestigious events in the jazz calendar, the Awards shine a light on the broad range of talent that the worlds of jazz, blues and soul have to offer. The evening will once again feature performances from a selection of acclaimed artists with special appearances to be revealed on the night. This year’s event will honour Grammy award-winning vocalist and songwriter Gregory Porter with the Impact Award, and once again, the Jazz FM team will present an hour of highlights straight after the event featuring music and interviews with nominees and winners. Listeners will have a chance to hear whether the artists they voted for in the Album of the Year, UK Jazz Act of the Year and Live Experience of the Year categories will take home the acclaimed prizes.

Hardeep Singh Kohli on hosting the 2016 Jazz FM Awards:
“Jazz is where all modern music started. Hundreds of years ago. I am old enough to have been there when it started. I’m lucky enough to be here now to host these awards.”

Following in the footsteps of last year’s winner Hugh Masekela, iconic composer, arranger, producer and humanitarian Quincy Jones will be awarded with the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award, an accolade that recognizes his prolific contribution to the music industry throughout the course of a career that has spanned over six decades and seen him garner a record 79 Grammy Award nominations and 28 Grammys. Quincy’s work has shuffled pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African and Brazilian music into many dazzling fusions, traversing virtually every medium, including records, live performance, movies and television, successfully bringing jazz to the attention of the mainstream.

Quincy Jones on being honoured with the PPL Lifetime Achievement Award:
“What can I say Jazz FM? I’m so moved… To be so young and receive an award like this it’s astounding; I’m only 83, man!”