Congratulations to the 2015 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings, of the annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards. Professional journalist members of the JJA made open nominations in a first-selection round; those who received the most nominations advanced to the finalists’ ballot, and JJA’s professional members voted on them to arrive at these honorees.
Our congratulations, of course, to all the 2015 Nominees for Performance Performance & Recording in all categories. And please click the photos to expand them — some wonderful images here reward much larger presentation.
Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz
RANDY WESTON
NEA Jazz Master, pianist, composer
Nominees: Charles Lloyd, Chick Corea
Musician of the Year
JASON MORAN
Jazz pianist, composer, educator
Nominees: Ambrose Akinmusire, Chick Corea
Up & Coming Musician of the Year
CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT
Vocalist, songwriter
Photo by Hector Perez
Nominees: Ambrose Akinmusire, David Virelles, Melissa Aldana, Warren Wolf
Composer of the Year
WADADA LEO SMITH
Trumpeter, composer
Photo by Michael Jackson
Nominees: Ambrose Akinmusire, Arturo O’Farrill, Henry Threadgill, Maria Schneider, Tom Harrell, Vijay Iyer
Arranger of the Year
MARIA SCHNEIDER
NEA Jazz Master, composer, orchestra leader
Photo by Dina Regine
Nominees: Billy Childs, Ryan Truesdell, The Bad Plus
Record of the Year
THE ART OF CONVERSATION
Kenny Barron and Dave Holland (Impulse!)
Nominees: All Rise, by Jason Moran (Blue Note); The Rite of Spring, The Bad Plus (Sony Music)
Historical Record of the Year
MILES AT THE FILMORE
Miles Davis Bootleg Series Vol. 3 (Columbia/Legacy)
Nominees: Manhattan Stories, by Charles Lloyd (Resonance); Offering: Live At Temple University, by John Coltrane (Resonance)
Male Vocalist of the Year
GREGORY PORTER
Singer, songwriter, actor
Nominees: Andy Bey, Kurt Elling
Female Vocalist of the Year
CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT
Vocalist, songwriter
Photo by Hector Perez
Nominees: Cassandra Wilson, Cyrille Aimée, Dianne Reeves
Large Ensemble of the Year
ARTURO O'FARRILL AFRO LATIN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Photo by John Abbot
Nominees: Maria Schneider Orchestra, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Mid-Size Ensemble of the Year
WAYNE SHORTER QUARTET
Wayne Shorter, Brian Blade, Danilo Pérez, Brian Patitucci
Photo by Erica Gannett
Nominees: Henry Butler/Steven Bernstein and the Hot 9, Steve Lehman Octet
Duo or Trio of the Year
KENNY BARRON AND DAVE HOLLAND
Photo by Jimmy Katz
Nominees: Fred Hersch Trio, The Bad Plus, Vijay Iyer Trio
Trumpeter of the Year
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
Trumpeter, composer
Michael Jackson
Nominees: Dave Douglas, Terell Stafford, Terence Blanchard, Tom Harrell
Trombonist of the Year
STEVE TURRE
Jazz trombonist, arranger, composer, bandleader, educator
Nominees: Conrad Herwig, Marshall Gilke, Robin Eubanks, Steve Turre
Multiple Reeds Player of the Year
ANAT COHEN
Clarinetist, saxophonist, bandleader
Photo by Jimmy Katz
Nominees: Charles Lloyd, Scott Robinson
Alto Saxophonist of the Year
MIGUEL ZENÓN
Saxophonist, composer
Jimmy Katz
Nominees: Steve Coleman; Miguel Zenón
Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
CHRIS POTTER
NEA Jazz Master, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist
Nominees: Chris Potter, Joe Lovano
Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
GARY SMULYAN
Multi-instrumentalist, saxophonist
Nominees: Claire Daly, Joe Temperley, Ronnie Cuber
Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
JANE IRA BLOOM
Jazz saxophonist, composer
Photo by Bridget Lacombe
Nominees: Dave Liebman; Jane Bunnett; Sam Newsome
Flutist of the Year
NICOLE MITCHELL
Jazz flutiest, composer, educator
Photo by Kristi Sutton Elais
Nominees: Charles Lloyd; Henry Threadgill
Clarinetist of the Year
ANAT COHEN
Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, bandleader
Photo by Jimmy Katz
Nominees: Ken Peplowski, Paquito D’Rivera
Pianist of the Year
KENNY BARRON
Pianist, educator, activist
Vincent Soyez
Nominees: Jason Moran, Matthew Shipp, Vijay Iyer
Keyboardist of the Year
CHICK COREA
Pianist, organist, keyboardist, composer
Photo by Sue Sakayama
Nominees: Jason Lindner; Marc Cary; Robert Glasper
Guitarist of the Year
MARY HALVORSON
Jazz guitarist
Photo by Peter Gannushkin
Nominees: Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Julian Lage
Bassist of the Year
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE
Bassist, composer, arranger, producer educator
Chi Modu
Nominees: Linda Oh; Michael Formanek
Strings Player of the Year
REGINA CARTER
Violist
Photo by David Katzenstein
Nominees: Jenny Scheinman; Tomeka Reid
Percussionist of the Year
PEDRITO MARTINEZ
Percussionist, drummer, singer, dancer, bandleader, songwriter, composer, educator
Photo by Michael Weintrob
Nominees: Poncho Sanchez; Zakir Hussain
Mallet Player of the Year
WARREN WOLF
Vibraphonist
Nominees: Stefon Harris; Warren Wolf
Drummer of the Year
BRIAN BLADE
Jazz drummer, pianist, composer
Nominees: Brian Blade; Eric Harland; Matt Wilson; Rudy Royston
Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz
EDMAR CASTAÑEDA
Jazz multi-instrumentalist
Nominees: Gregoire Maret (harmonica); Hendrik Meurkens (harmonica)
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