By Matt Micucci
The MOBO Awards for “Music of Black Origin” were established in 1996 by Kanya King and Andy Ruffell. Its award show is held annually in the United Kingdom and is dedicated to recognising artists of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music – R&B, soul, gospel and, of course, jazz.
This year, MOBO decided to do things a little differently, with their very first MOBO Awards pre-show to celebrate the UK’s finest talents in the field. The inaugural event was a first of its kind in MOBO history, and it took place at London’s Under the Bridge on October 27.
The Best Jazz Act prize was also awarded on the night. The duo composed by tenor saxophonist Binker Golding and drummer Moses Boyd, also known as Binker and Moses, took home the coveted MOBO Award. It was the first time the London duo had been nominated for a MOBO.
The rising star duo recorded their newest release, Dem Ones, in the live room at Mark Ronson’s Zelig Studio. It was released on May 29 and since then has gone on to earn high praise from jazz music critics for their youthful and raw performances.
Binker and Moses beat out competition from the other nominees, Polar Bear, David Lyttle, Courteney Pine and Julia Biel.
The other two awards of the night went to Shakka for best R&B/Soul Act and to Faith Child for Best Gospel Act.
The jazz highlights of the night included an unforgettable performance by previous MOBO Award winner and legendary multi-instrumentalist Courtney Pine CBE, who thrilled out a packed-outroom of esteemed music industry guests and the next generation of music stars.
Other jazz performances on the night were delivered by the Hackney Colliery Band, a band that has been praised for “reinventing the brass-band format for the 21st century” and singer songwriter and musician Julia Biel.
Highlights from the Pre-MOBO Awards Show will be broadcast during the MOBO Awards ceremony on 4 November, which takes place at Leeds’ First Direct Arena, UK.