Congratulations to the 2023 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings, of the 28th 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 2023 Nominees for 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
CHARLES LLOYD
NEA Jazz Master, Saxophonist, multi-instrumentalists
Photo by Dorothy Darr
Nominees: George Coleman, Keith Jarrett, Wadada Leo Smith
Musician of the Year
TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON
Drummer, composer, producer, educator
Photo by Michael Goldman
Nominees: Mary Halvorson, Charles Lloyd, Miguel Zenón
Up & Coming Musician of the Year
SAMARA JOY
Vocalist
Photo by Melanie Nanez
Nominees: Zoh Amba, Isaiah Collier, Immanuel Wilkins
Composer of the Year
MIGUEL ZENÓN
Saxophonist, composer, producer, educator
Nominees: Mary Halvorson, Wadada Leo Smith, Tyshawn Sorey
Arranger of the Year
MARIA SCHNEIDER
NEA Jazz Master, composer, orchestra leader
Nominees: John Beasley, Steven Bernstein, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jim McNeely, Miguel Zenón
Record of the Year
NEW STANDARDS Vol. 1
Terri Lyne Carrington (Candid)
Nominees: Ghost Song — Cécile McLorin Salvant (Nonesuch), Música De Las Américas — Miguel Zenón (Miel Music), Mesmerism — Tyshawn Sorey Trio (Yeros7 Music)
Historical Record of the Year
EMERALD CITY NIGHTS
Ahmad Jamal (Elemental Music)
Nominees: The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott’s — Charles Mingus (Resonance), Revival (Live At Pookie’s Pub) — Elvin Jones (Blue Note), That’s What Happened (1982-1985): The Bootleg Series, Vol.7 — Miles Davis (Legacy Recordings)
Record Label of the Year
SMOKE SESSIONS RECORDS
Nominees: Blue Note, ECM, Pi Recordings, Pyroclastic
Recordings Producer of the Year
ZEV FELDMAN
Nominees: David Breskin, Terri Lyne Carrington, Matt Pierson
Male Vocalist of the Year
KURT ELLING
Vocalist, songwriter
Photo by Dave Stapleton
Nominees: Giacomo Gates, José James, Gregory Porter
Female Vocalist of the Year
SAMARA JOY
Vocalist Nominees: Cécile McLorin Salvant, Catherine Russell, Veronica Swift
Vocal Group of the Year
THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER
Cheryl Bentyne, Trist Curless, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel Nominees: Duchess, The Royal Bopsters
Large Ensemble of the Year
ARTURO O'FARRILL AND THE AFRO LATIN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Nominees: Maria Schneider Orchestra, Sun Ra Arkestra
Mid-Size Ensemble of the Year
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE'S NEW JAWN
Marcus Strickland, Josh Evans, Christian McBride, Nasheet Waits.
Photo by Ebu Yildiz
Nominees: Bill Frisell Four, Charles Lloyd Trio, Redman Mehldau McBride Blade, Tyshawn Sorey Trio, Miguel Zenón Quartet
Duo of the Year
FRED HERSCH/ESPERANZA SPALDING
Nominees: Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Aymée Nuviola, Kaja Draksler and Susana Santos Silva, Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini, Jane Ira Bloom and Mark Helias
Trumpeter of the Year
JEREMY PELT
Trumpeter, producer, educator
Photo by Ra Re Valvede
Nominees: Ambrose Akinmusire, Tom Harrell, Wynton Marsalis, Wadada Leo Smith
Trombonist of the Year
STEVE TURRE
Trombonist, seashell player, composer, educator
Nominees: Michael Dease, Marshall Gilkes, Wycliffe Gordon, Ryan Keberle
Brass Specialist of the Year
STEVEN BERNSTEIN
Trumpeter, slider trumpeter, composer, bandleader
Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff
Nominees: Bob Stewart (tuba), Marcus Rojas (tuba), Theon Cross (tuba)
Alto Saxophonist of the Year
IMMANUEL WILKINS
Saxophonist, composer, arranger
Photo by Rog Walker
Nominees: Kenny Garrett, Bobby Watson, Miguel Zenón
Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
CHARLES LLOYD
NEA Jazz Master, Saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist
Photo by Dorothy Darr
Nominees: Melissa Aldana, Chris Potter
Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
JAMES CARTER
Saxophonist, woodwinds player
Photo by Pierre Yves-Salique
Nominees: Brian Landrus, Scott Robinson, Lauren Sevian, Gary Smulyan
Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
DAVE LIEBMAN
Saxophonist, flutist, educator
Photo by CT Konieczny
Nominees: Jane Ira Bloom, Branford Marsalis, Sam Newsome
Multiple Reeds Player of the Year
ROSCOE MITCHELL
Saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, painter
Photo by Elvira Faltermeier
Nominees: Scott Robinson (tenor saxophonist adept across winds, reeds and brass, rare instrument specialist), Chris Potter (tenor and all saxophones, flutes, clarinets, piano, percussion, samples)
Clarinetist of the Year
ANAT COHEN
Clarinetist, saxophonist, bandleader
Nominees: Ben Goldberg, Todd Marcus, Ken Peplowski, Jason Stein
Flutist of the Year
NICOLE MITCHELL
Flutist, composer, educator
Nominees: Jamie Baum, Charles Lloyd
Guitarist of the Year
BILL FRISELL
Guitarist, composer, arranger
Photo by Carol D’Inverno
Nominees: Julian Lage, Mary Halvorson
Strings Player of the Year
TOMEKA REID
Cellist, composer, educator
Nominees: Regina Carter, Sara Caswell, Mark Feldman
Pianist of the Year
EMMET COHEN
Pianist, composer, bandleader, educator
Photo by Gabriela Gabrielaa
Nominees: Kenny Barron, Kris Davis, Brad Mehldau, Gonzala Rubalcaba
Keyboardist of the Year
ROBERT GLASPER
Pianist, producer, songwriter, arranger
Nominees: Brian Charette, James Francies, John Medeski, Craig Taborn
Bassist of the Year
LINDA MAY HAN OH
Bassist, composer, educator
Photo by Shervin Lainez
Nominees: Ron Carter, Christian McBride, William Parker
Electric Bassist of the Year
JOHN PATITUCCI
Bassist, composer
Photo by Gus Cantavero
Nominees: Stanley Clarke, Melvin Gibbs, Esperanza Spalding, Steve Swallow, Victor Wooten
Percussionist of the Year
Zakir Hussain
Tabla player, composer, percussionist, music producer, film actor
Nominees: Rogerio Boccato, Kahil El’Zabar, Pedrito Martinez
Mallet Percussionist
JOEL ROSS
Vibraphonist, composer
Nominees: Sasha Berliner, Patricia Brennan, Joe Locke
Drummer of the Year
BRIAN BLADE
Drummer, composer, singer-songwriter
Nominees: Johnathan Blake, Terri Lyne Carrington, Rudy Royston, Tyshawn Sorey, Jeff “Tain” Watts
Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz
BRANDEE YOUNGER
Harpist
Photo by Melanie Nanez
Nominees: Grégoire Maret, harmonica; Scott Robinson, various
Electronics Specialist of the Year
VAL JEANTY
Electronic music composer, turntablist, educator
Nominee: Hardedge, Ikue Mori, Moor Mother
2023 AWARDSFOR JOURNALISM & MEDIA
2023 Winners in Jazz Journalism
Congratulations to the 2023 Winners in Jazz Journalism of the 28th annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards for Jazz Journalism.
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