Bassist / composer / horn player Misha Mullov-Abbado has become the fourth recipient of the Royal Academy of Music’s annual Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize. The previous winners have been saxophonist Josh Arcoleo in 2011, trumpeter Reuben Fowler in 2012 and vocalist Lauren Kinsella in 2013. We reviewed a concert of Misha Mullov-Abbado’s compositions performed by his quintet in March 2014.

The judges were Evan Parker (a lifelong collaborator and friend of Wheeler’s), Nick Smart (head of jazz at the RAM), and Dave Stapleton (head of Edition Records). Part of the prize is a recording which will be issued on the Edition label.

Evan Parker said:

“…Misha’s writing and playing, along with his sense of overall form meant that there was a maturity that communicated very powerfully. His range of musical reference points means that he can go anywhere from here and it will be exciting to follow what is clearly the beginning of a journey of an outstanding individual.”