We are excited to announce that ECN Music projects and associated artists have been recognised at this year’s Presto Music Awards, which celebrate outstanding achievements across jazz and classical recordings, books, and related releases.
With recipients selected from a longlist of more than 150 finalists, the awards highlight the breadth, diversity, and continued vitality of contemporary music-making. The 2025 jazz selections reflect a particularly strong year for the genre, with artists exploring tradition, innovation, collaboration, and cross-genre approaches.
ARQ wins Jazz Recording of the Year
The album SEMA4 by ARQ was named one of the year’s leading jazz recordings. Led by bassist and composer Alison Rayner, the quartet has long been a defining presence within the UK jazz scene.
SEMA4 was recognised for its distinctive blend of styles and for capturing the energy and cohesion of a live performance, showcasing the musical chemistry that has become a hallmark of ARQ’s work.
Fabienne Ambuehl recognised for Thrive
Fabienne Ambuehl’s album Thrive was also highlighted among the top jazz recordings of the year. The release was noted for its lyrical approach and its seamless integration of jazz, folk, and poetic storytelling.
Thrive explores themes of nature, identity, and belonging, combining song-based writing with richly textured arrangements that create an immersive and emotionally resonant listening experience.
Other winners
After The Last Sky – Anouar Brahem
Affirmations – Live at Blue Note New York – Theon Cross
Ride Into the Sun – Brad Mehldau
Trumpeter and vocalist Olivia Cuttill received the Newcomer in Jazz 2025 award, recognising the impact of her recent work and her growing profile as an emerging voice in the genre.
ECN Music awarded Jazz Organisation of the Year
ECN Music was named Jazz Organisation of the Year, acknowledging the organisation’s ongoing contribution to the jazz community.
The award recognises ECN Music’s artist-centred approach, offering tailored support across distribution, promotion, project management, and design, while enabling artists to retain ownership of their work. It also acknowledges ECN Music’s role in supporting artists affected by industry changes in recent years and its continued commitment to initiatives such as the Brubeck Living Legacy Prize.
Buy, stream and save on the winners
All the winners are available now from Presto Music. Until 21 January 2026, customers can save up to 30% on the finalists in CD, Vinyl, Blu-ray or Download format.
The winning recordings can also be enjoyed, the majority in high-resolution quality, via Presto’s streaming service. Now available in 46 countries worldwide, the Presto Music streaming service operates a Fair Play Initiative, ensuring artists receive payment per second of music streamed rather than the typical pay-per-track model.
With roots stretching back almost 40 years, Presto Music has evolved from a specialist retailer into a trusted global platform for recorded music, scores, and expert insight. The company continues to champion artistry, scholarship, and discovery in classical and jazz music.
