Awards chairman and founder Albert Dadon said Bartram received a warm response from the crowd.
Named after living jazz legend and award patron Graeme Bell, the awards, now in their fourth year, had helped establish Australia's place in international jazz, Mr Dadon said.
"The whole idea is to make Australian jazz a brand of jazz and to make Australia a destination for jazz," he said.
"It gives us the opportunity to widen the scope of jazz and an opportunity to promote Australian jazz to the world."
Judges will choose winners from eight categories, including the best contemporary jazz album, best jazz vocal album, and the young jazz artist of the year, Mr Dadon said.
Winners from the short list of 24 will be announced on May 25 at a dinner at BMW Edge.
Tickets are limited.
Net link: www.melbournejazz.com
Song awards jazz up the local scene
Jordana Borensztajn
25 April 2006
RADIO star Tracy Bartram used her microphone in a different way as she traded broadcasting for singing at Federation Square.
Bartram, best known for her Mix 101.1 breakfast show, sang jazz tunes with the Joe Chindamo Trio at the announcement of the short list for the Australian Jazz Bell Awards.