Congratulations to the 2017 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 2017 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
MCCOY TYNER
NEA Jazz Master, pianist
Nominees: Muhal Richard Abrams, Benny Golson, Ahmad Jamal, Charles Lloyd
Musician of the Year
WADADA LEO SMITH
Trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer
Photo by Michael Jackson
Nominees: Chick Corea, Fred Hersch, Charles Lloyd, Henry Threadgill
Up & Coming Musician of the Year
JOEY ALEXANDER
Pianist
Photo by Carol Friedman
Nominees: Jerome Jennings, Adam O’Farrill
Composer of the Year
TED NASH
Jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer
Nominees: Darcy James Argue, Maria Schneider, Tyshawn Sorey Henry Threadgill
Arranger of the Year
MARIA SCHNEIDER
NEA Jazz Master, composer, orchestra leader
Nominees: Darcy James Argue, Carla Bley, Arturo O’Farrill, Henry Threadgill, John Beasley
Record of the Year
MADERA LATINO - A LATIN JAZZ PERSPECTIVE ON THE MUSIC OF WOODY SHAW
Bryan Lynch (Hollistic MusicWorks)
Nominees: A Cosmic Rhythm With Each Stroke, by Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith (ECM Records); 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 , by Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra (Songs For The Whales And Other Beings (Impulse!)
Historical Record of the Year
SOME OTHER TIME: THE LOST SESSION FROM THE BLACK FOREST
Bill Evans (Resonance Records)
Nominees: 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); In Paris: The Ortf Recordings, by Larry Young (Resonance Records)
Record Label of the Year
RESONANCE RECORDS
Nominees: ECM Records; Mack Avenue Records; Motema Music; Pi Recordings
Male Vocalist of the Year
GREGORY PORTER
Singer, songwriter, actor
Nominees: Theo Bleckmann; Kurt Elling; Allan Harris; José James
Female Vocalist of the Year
RENÉ MARIE
Vocalist, songwriter
Photo by John Abbott
Nominees: Cyrille Aimée; Catherine Russell; Cécile Mclorin Salvant
Large Ensemble of the Year
ARTURO O'FARRILL AFRO LATIN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Photo by John Abbott
Nominees: Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society; Maria Schneider Orchestra; Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Mid-Size Ensemble of the Year
CHARLES LLOYD AND THE MARVELS
Reuben Rogers, Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd, Eric Harland, Greg Leis
Photo by Dorothy Darr
Nominees: Mary Halvorson Octet; Pat Metheny Unity Band; Henry Threadgill Ensemble Double Up
Duo or Trio of the Year
VIJAY IYER & WADADA LEO SMITH
Photo by John Rogers
Nominees: Kenny Barron Trio; Bill Charlap Trio; Fred Hersch Trio; Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau
Trumpeter of the Year
BRIAN LYNCH
Trumpeter, composer, bandleader
Nominees: Dave Douglas; Jonathan Finlayson; Jeremy Pelt; Wadada Leo Smith; Terell Stafford
Trombonist of the Year
WYCLIFFE GORDON
Jazz trombonist, arranger, composer, bandleader, educator
Nominees: Steve Davis; Michael Dease; Conrad Herwig; Ryan Keberle; Steve Turre
Multiple Reeds Player of the Year
ANAT COHEN
Clarinetist, saxophonist, bandleader
Photo by Jimmy Katz
Nominees: James Carter; Henry Threadgill; Chris Potter; Scott Robinson; Steve Wilson
Alto Saxophonist of the Year
GARY BARTZ
Saxophonist
Nominees: Steve Coleman; Kenny Garrett; Rudresh Mahanthappa; Steve Wilson; Miguel Zenón
Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
CHARLES LLOYD
NEA Jazz Master, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist
Nominees: Eric Alexander; JD Allen; Harry Allen; Joe Lovano; Donny McCaslin
Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
CLAIRE DALY
Saxophonist, composer
Photo Judy Schiller
Nominees: James Carter; Brian Landrus; Gary Smulyan; Scott Robinson
Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
JANE IRA BLOOM
Jazz saxophonist, composer
Photo by Bridget Lacombe
Nominees: Jane Bunnett; Dave Liebman; Wayne Shorter
Flutist of the Year
NICOLE MITCHELL
Jazz flutiest, composer, educator
Photo by Kristi Sutton Elais
Nominees: Jane Bunnett; Elena Pinderhughes; Henry Threadgill
Clarinetist of the Year
ANAT COHEN
Jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, bandleader
Photo by Jimmy Katz
Nominees: Evan Christopher; Ben Goldberg; Ken Peplowski
Guitarist of the Year
MARY HALVORSON
Jazz guitarist
Photo by Peter Gannushkin
Nominees: Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, Russell Malone, John Scofield
Pianist of the Year
KENNY BARRON
NEA Jazz Master, pianist, composer, educator
Nominees: Bill Charlap; Fred Hersch; Vijay Iyer
Keyboardist of the Year
DR. LONNIE SMITH
Hammond B3 organist
Photo by Mark Sheldon
Nominees: Chick Corea; Joey DeFrancesco; Robert Glasper; Craig Taborn
Bassist of the Year
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE
Bassist, composer, arranger, producer educator
Nominees: Ron Carter; John Hébert; Dave Holland; Linda Oh
Strings Player of the Year
REGINA CARTER
Violist
Photo by David Katzenstein
Nominees: Akua Dixon; Christian Howes; Tomeka Reid
Percussionist of the Year
PEDRITO MARTINEZ
Percussionist, drummer, singer, dancer, bandleader, songwriter, composer, educator
Photo by Michael Weintrob
Nominees: Zakir Hussain; Little Johnny Rivero; John Santos
Mallet Player of the Year
WARREN WOLF
Vibraphonist
Nominees: Gary Burton; Stefon Harris; Joe Locke; Steve Nelson
Drummer of the Year
JACK DEJOHNETTE
Jazz drummer, pianist, composer
Nominees: Brian Blade; Andrew Cyrille; Eric Harland; Billy Hart; Roy Haynes; Tyshawn Sorey
Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz
SCOTT ROBINSON
Jazz multi-instrumentalist
Nominees: Gregoire Maret (Harmonica); Scott Robinson (Various); Gary Versace (Accordion); Brandee Younger (Harp)
Electronics Player of the Year
ROBERT GLASPER
Pianist, record producer, songwriter, arranger
Nominees: Jason Lindner; Ikue Mori; Craig Taborn
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