These are the finalist nominees for Performance and Recordings for the 2017 JJA Jazz Awards. Nominees in most categories were chosen by the votes of the Professional Journalist Members of the Jazz Journalists Association. Nominations were made on the basis of work done in calendar year 2016, with the exception of Lifetime Achievement Awards categories, in which nominations are for a lifetime body of work.
Nominees
Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
Muhal Richard Abrams
Benny Golson
Ahmad Jamal
Charles Lloyd
McCoy Tyner
Jazz Musician of the Year
Chick Corea
Fred Hersch
Charles Lloyd
Wadada Leo Smith
Henry Threadgill
Up & Coming Musician of the Year
Joey Alexander
Jerome Jennings
Adam O’Farrill
Composer of the Year
Darcy James Argue
Ted Nash
Maria Schneider
Tyshawn Sorey
Henry Threadgill
Arranger of the Year
Maria Schneider
Darcy James Argue
Carla Bley
Arturo O’Farrill
Henry Threadgill
John Beasley
Record of the Year
A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke, by Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith (ECM Records)
Madera Latino – A Latin Jazz Perspective On The Music Of Woody Shaw, by Brian Lynch (Hollistic Musicworks)
Old Locks And Irregular Verbs, by Henry Threadgill Ensemble Double Up (Pi Recordings)
Sunday Night At The Vanguard, by The Fred Hersch Trio (Palmetto)
Time/Life: Songs For The Whales And Other Beings, by Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra (Impulse!)
Historical Record of the Year
All My Yesterdays: The Debut 1966 Recordings At The Village Vanguard, by Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra (Resonance Records)
Classic Savoy Be-Bop Sessions 1945 – 1949, by Various Artists (Mosaic)
Classic 1936-1947 Count Basie & Lester Young Studio Sessions (Mosaic)
Some Other Time: The Lost Session From The Black Forest, by Bill Evans (Resonance Records)
In Paris: The Ortf Recordings, by Larry Young (Resonance Records)
Record Label of the Year
ECM Records
Mack Avenue Records
Motema Music
Pi Recordings
Resonance Records
Male Vocalist of the Year
Theo Bleckmann
Kurt Elling
Allan Harris
José James
Gregory Porter
Female Vocalist of the Year
Cyrille Aimée
René Marie
Catherine Russell
Cécile McLorin Salvant
Large Ensemble of the Year
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
Arturo O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Midsize Ensemble of the Year
Mary Halvorson Octet
Charles Lloyd and The Marvels
Pat Metheny Unity Band
Henry Threadgill Ensemble Double Up
Duo/Trio of the Year
Kenny Barron Trio
Bill Charlap Trio
Fred Hersch Trio
Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith
Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau
Trumpeter of the Year
Dave Douglas
Jonathan Finlayson
Brian Lynch
Jeremy Pelt
Wadada Leo Smith
Terell Stafford
Trombonist of the Year
Steve Davis
Michael Dease
Wycliffe Gordon
Conrad Herwig
Ryan Keberle
Steve Turre
Alto Saxophonist of the Year
Gary Bartz
Steve Coleman
Kenny Garrett
Rudresh Mahanthappa
Steve Wilson
Miguel Zenón
Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
Eric Alexander
JD Allen
Harry Allen
Charles Lloyd
Joe Lovano
Donny McCaslin
Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
James Carter
Claire Daly
Brian Landrus
Gary Smulyan
Scott Robinson
Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
Jane Ira Bloom
Jane Bunnett
Dave Liebman
Wayne Shorter
Clarinetist of the Year
Evan Christopher
Anat Cohen
Ben Goldberg
Ken Peplowski
Muli-Reeds Player of the Year
James Carter
Anat Cohen
Henry Threadgill
Chris Potter
Scott Robinson
Steve Wilson
Flutist of the Year
Jane Bunnett
Nicole Mitchell
Elena Pinderhughes
Henry Threadgill
Guitarist of the Year
Bill Frisell
Mary Halvorson
Julian Lage
Russell Malone
John Scofield
Bassist of the Year
Ron Carter
John Hébert
Dave Holland
Christian McBride
Linda Oh
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello or Harp Player of the Year
Regina Carter
Akua Dixon
Christian Howes
Tomeka Reid
Pianist of the Year
Kenny Barron
Bill Charlap
Fred Hersch
Vijay Iyer
Keyboardists of the Year
Chick Corea
Joey DeFrancesco
Robert Glasper
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Craig Taborn
Percussionist of the Year
Zakir Hussain
Pedrito Martinez
Little Johnny Rivero
John Santos
Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year
Gary Burton
Stefon Harris
Joe Locke
Steve Nelson
Warren Wolf
Drummer of the Year
Brian Blade
Andrew Cyrille
Jack DeJohnette
Eric Harland
Billy Hart
Roy Haynes
Tyshawn Sorey
Player of the Year of Instruments Rare in Jazz
Grégoire Maret (Harmonica)
Scott Robinson (Various)
Gary Versace (Accordion)
Brandee Younger (Harp)
NEW!Electronics Specialist of the Year
Robert Glasper
Jason Lindner
Ikue Mori
Craig Taborn
If you are a 2017 Nominee, or a 2017 Voter, and would like a “badge” to display on your website, email Admin@jazzjournalists.org.
Note: We ask that you DO NOT cut-and-paste or copy the nominee list into your own blog or site, please link to this page instead. We welcome coverage and commentary on the list, of course, that includes some nominee names. If you blog about or report on the nominees we will be happy to link back to you; please send the URL of your blog post or report to admin@jazzjournalists.org
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