Polar Bear and Penguins add jazz cool to the Mercurys

The latest nominations for the high profile annual Mercury music awards have been announced and two ground breaking jazz groups make the cut.

Nine Years after first being nominated Polar Bear, led by the maverick experimental drummer Seb Rochford, get the nod again for their album 'In Each and Every One'. Rochford's work clearly sets up a fresh and dynamic British jazz soundscape, a spacial and tonally eery musical journey away from their previous more chaotic work.

Manchester's GoGo Penguin were also nominated for their succinctly entitled second album 'V2.0'. Their influences are a million miles from the usual jazz points of reference of blues and standards, taking in electronic, techno and drum and bass vibes infused with ideas gleened from the standard baring Esbjorn Svensson Trio, gods of European piano trio jazz.

Nick Mulvey of electronic jazz outfit Portico was also amongst the nominees.

Twelve acts are in line for the award and the prize fund of £20,000. The winner is announce October 30th.