Awards provide jazz with annual pat on the back. (Jazz).

Awards shows, like Channel Four programmes about soul music, are often viewed as something of a necessary evil. At best, they prompt debate and promote sales. At worst, they misfire entirely, sending the statuettes to the wrong people while ignoring the true merits of the right people. Fortunately, no such aspersions can be cast on the BBC Jazz Awards, whose third event takes place at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall on July 29.

Since its inception in 2000, the event has been one of the most credible of prize-giving ceremonies. And the reason why the Jazz Awards feel about as right as they possibly can is because its organisers have made a concerted effort to reflect the plurality of the art form to its full extent.

"There's as wide a spectrum as possible," says Terry Carter, the event's producer and the man who mooted the original idea back in the late Nineties. "We are talking about anything from people leaning to the cutting-edge right through to people who would fit more naturally with jazz heritage.

"It is very inclusive. I think that when you can honour people as diverse as Matthew Bourne, Chris Barber and Hugh Masekela in one night then you know that the event is doing something right."

Bourne is the enfant terrible of solo piano whose challenging, bolshy and humorous use of cinematic samples, toys and Dada-sque free-form netted him the innovation award for 2002. Mainstream veteran Barber walked off with the Heritage Award and South African legend Masekela was honoured with the International Award. Nobody could take issue with those decisions, or with any of the other 2002 winners, who included Jazz Jamaica All Stars, Soweto Kinch and John Taylor.

Nominations for this year's categories are mouthwatering; Best album will go to either Gilad Atzmon (for Exile), Guy Barker (Soundtrack) or Chris Bowden (Slightly Askew). Atzmon and Barker do battle again with Tim Garland and the Dean Street Underground Orchestra for best band. Barker is again nominated for best instrumentalist along with ...