MOBO award for Esperanza Spalding

The second Pre-MOBO award ceremony took place last night at London’s Cadogan Hall. This is a recent initiative by MOBO in a seperate event before the main awards, this November in Glasgow, to honour the nominees in the categories R&B, Gospel, Jazz and African music.

The night was superbly co-hosted by vocalist China Moses, daughter of Dee Dee Bridgewater, and soul singer Lemar and although beset with technical glitches it was warmly received and filmed for TV. There were live performances from nominees including Snarky Puppy founder member and keyboardist Bill Laurance who played his own composition ‘Ready Wednesday.’ China Moses also performed with her song ‘Disconnected.’

The Best Jazz Act award went to American bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding who thus far hasn’t commented, but has acknowledged with a re-tweet.

MOBO also announced a new collaboration with the NHS to encourage more participation in blood sample donation in the African and Caribbean community to help defeat diseases like Leukaemia, adding visibility to the tireless work of The African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust and its founders Beverley De Gale OBE and Orin Lewis OBE for over 20 years.

For the full list of award recipients thus far and more on the forthcoming full MOBO Awards click here.