"Whisper it. Good Days deserves to win the Mercury Prize." (The Sun)

The Sun newspaper has declared : "Whisper it  [...] Good Days deserves to win [the Mercury Prize]."

And then there's a piece by Tim Woodall in the Independent's arts blog this week which gave one reason why it might be a good thing if – just for once - the jazz album could win:

“ A Mercury nomination [...] is extremely valuable for a jazz artist.“We immediately attracted bigger audiences,” says bandleader and cellist Ben Davis. “We produced another album off the back of it and played a lot of gigs. That led to the creation of more music, which is what it’s all about.”

Think about it. If that's what a nomination can do, think what a difference a win might make. Rather than rubber-stamping an existing success, a bold decision could make a sustainable career. Which got me thinking....maybe there are other reasons too:

1) THE MERCURY SAY THE CONCEPT OF A “TOKEN JAZZ PERSON” IS PLAIN WRONG

Caspar Llewellyn Smith of the Observer/ Guardian says:

"[Gwilym]'s problem is that he is the token jazz person this year, there is always the token jazz person, and you feel that the token jazz person will never win."

When I read that I wrote to the Mercury people. The answer came back that the idea that the token jazz person can never win is just plain wrong.

They wrote to me: "The Barclaycard Mercury Prize solely exists to promote and champion music in the UK […] All albums are viewed and treated equally as part of the judging process – there are no categories or ‘token’ artists.”

2) IF THAT'S TRUE, ER, PROVE IT

It would definitely be a breath of fresh air

3) IT'S A HIGHLY RECOMMENDABLE ALBUM.

Llewellyn Smith again

Before mentioning the token jazz idea, he said: “Gwilym is a fantastic talent. Been around for some time although I think he's only about 30. This is a solo album, and you can see why the comparisons that have been made with the likes of Keith Jarrett are valid. Technically he is incredibly gifted and it is a completely involving record at the same time. “

So where's the problem?

4) THE BOOKIES' FAVOURITE HAS WON BEFORE

The odds on PJ Harvey are getting shorter all the time. So, more same-old?

5) WOULD THERE BE ANY ROCK AND ROLL WITHOUT JAZZ?

Where did rock music come from? As Muddy Waters sang: “The blues had a baby and they named the baby Rock & Roll.”

Or As an American rapper said :

“Without rock and roll you wouldn’t have hip hop, and without the blues you wouldn’t have rock and roll, without jazz you wouldn’t have the blues."


Guardian source quoted / Independent source quoted