The Jazzpar Prize was initiated by the Danish Jazz Center in 1990. In 2005 it was terminated when the sole sponsor, The Scandinavian Tobacco Group,...

The Jazzpar Prize was initiated by the Danish Jazz Center in 1990. In 2005 it was terminated when the sole sponsor, The Scandinavian Tobacco Group, withdrew funding. Attempts to find new sponsorship were unsuccessful. Back then, musicians spoke unofficially of the "big" and the "small" Jazzpar. The "big" Jazzpar being a statuette and a cash award of DKr. 200.000, given to a musician of international acclaim, while the "small" Jazzpar was given to two Danish artists and consisted of appearances on the Jazzpar concert tour with the opportunity of inviting one or two international musicians of the recipients' own choice followed up by a recording. In 1993 the Jazzpar Prize went to the fine American pianist Tommy Flanagan. The two bandleaders were Steen Vig and Kim Kristensen & Ildvæverne. "Blue Boat" is the recording of Steen's Jazzpar band: "Steen Vig and his Bluesicians" featuring Gene "Mighty Flea" Connors and Cornell Dupree.