The Jazz Journalists Association has announced the winners of the 2020 JJA Jazz Awards, which celebrates excellence in music and journalism in thirty-nine awards categories. This year, the JJA will be delivering hand-signed scrolls the the award-winners certifying their honors.
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. Visit the Jazz Journalists Association website for information on how to become a voting member of the JJA.
Visit the awards pages for the 2020 Performance & Recordings Winners and 2020 Journalism Winners.
Topping the list of Awards recipients are:
- Carla Bley for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
- Stanley Crouch for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz Journalism
- Terri Lyne Carrington for Musician of the Year (2019)
- Lakecia Benjamin for Up and Coming Artist of the Year
- The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul by the Branford Marsalis Quartet as Record of the Year
- Kurt Elling for Male Vocalist of the Year
- Cécile McLorin Salvant for Female Vocalist of the Year
Special thanks as well to the 2020 JJA Jazz Awards nominees for Performance & Recordings and Journalism for their contributions to Jazz in 20019.
The 2020 JJA Jazz Awards was made possible by support from Blue Note Jazz Club, Joyce & George Wein Foundation, Jazz Foundation of America, ECM, Century Media Partners, LLC, Carolyn McClair Public Relations, Jazz Promo Services, and Hot House Global.
