The 2006 list of nominees features a plethora of popular jazz names including Polar Bear, Julia Biel, Clare Teal, Tim Garland, Georgie Fame, Jason Yarde and many more. The legendary Quincy Jones will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Jazz Award, and Ian Carr will be recognised for his contribution to the industry with the Services to Jazz In The UK Award .

The nominees in the 2006 BBC Jazz Awards are:

Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year nominations:

• Jools Holland
• Georgie Fame
• Elaine Delmar

The Best of Jazz Award:
The artist or group playing in an accessible style who has kept the music at the forefront of public attention. Nominations:

• Bobby Wellins
• Anita Wardell
• Ray Gelato

Radio 3 Jazz Line-Up Award for Best Band:
For the group making the jazz headlines over the past 12 months. Nominations:

• John Taylor Trio
• Ronnie Rae Quintet
• Dennis Rollins Badbone & Co

Radio 3 Jazz on 3 Award for Innovation or Achievement in New Music:
For the artist who has made an outstanding contribution to reinventing and refreshing jazz. Nominations:

• Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Project
• Jason Yarde
• Spring Heel Jack

Album Of The Year:
For the new jazz album, released April 05 to April 06, judged most likely to stay on the turntables for a long time. Nominations:

• Held on the Tips of Fingers - Polar Bear
• Last Chance Disco - Acoustic Ladyland
• Max - Partisans
• Angel of the Presence - John Taylor
• Yeah! - Alan Barnes
• The Lyric - Jim Tomlinson featuring Stacey Kent

The winners of the Rising Star, Best Instrumentalist and Best Vocalist categories were decided by a selection of industry figures.

Rising Star Nominations:

• Andrew McCormack
• Julia Biel
• Polly Gibbons

Best Instrumentalist. Nominations:

• Alan Barnes
• Seb Rochford
• Tim Garland

Best Vocalist. Nominations:

• Ian Shaw
• Jacqui Dankworth
• Clare Teal

The BBC Jazz Awards 2006 Double CD will available to buy on June 26 (on Specific Jazz). It will be available nationwide and includes tracks from all of this year’s nominees.

BBC Jazz Awards broadcast details:

• Jazz on 3, BBC Radio 3, Friday 14 July 11.30pm
• Jazz Line-Up, BBC Radio 3, Saturday 15 July 5.00pm
• BBC Jazz Awards (full concert) BBC Radio 2, Monday 17 July 8.00pm

There will be more information on the awards and a chance to listen again at bbc.co.uk/radio2 and bbc.co.uk/radio3.