JJA Jazz Awards
  • ABOUT THE AWARDS
  • ABOUT JJA
  • DONATE
No Result
View All Result
  • Performance Awards
  • Journalism Awards
  • Jazz Heroes
  • News & Media
  • Archive
JJA Jazz Awards
  • Performance Awards
  • Journalism Awards
  • Jazz Heroes
  • News & Media
  • Archive
JJA Jazz Awards
No Result
View All Result

2025 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings

May 5, 2025
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Flutist of the Year
Nicole Mitchell
Player of Rare Instrument of the Year
Susan Alcorn
Large Ensemble of the Year
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Male Vocalist of the Year
Kurt Elling
Mallet Player of the Year
Patricia Brennan
Pianist of the Year
Kenny Barron
lectric Bassist of the Year
John Patitucci
Brass Specialist of the Year
Bob Stewart
Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
James Carter
Trumpeter of the Year
Ambrose Akinmusire
Mid-sized Ensemble of the Year
Artemis
Percussionst of the Year
Kahil El'Zabar
Record Label of the Year
Blue Note Records
Guitarist of the Year
Mary Halvorson
Multi-Reeds Player of the Year
Chris Potter
Clarinetist of the Year
Anat Cohen
Drummer of the Year
Brian Blade
Arranger of the Year
Maria Schneider
2025_musician_marshal_allen
Historical Record of the Year
Forces of Nature
Record of the Year
The Sky Will Be there Tomorrow
Female Vocalist of the Year
Cécile McLorin Salvant
Composer of the Year
Myra Melford
Up & Coming Musician of the Year
Isaiah Collier
Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
Branford Marsalis
Alto Saxophonist of the Year
Immanuel Wilkins
Duo of the Year
Cécile McLorin Salvant and Sullivan Fortner
Bassist of the Year
Linda May Han Oh
Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
George Coleman
Trombonist of the Year
Steve Turre
Strings Player of the Year
Tomeka Reid
Vocal Group of the Year
New York Voices
Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
Joe Lovano
Keyboardist of the Year
Herbie Hancock
Electronics Specialist of the Year
Val Jeanty

Congratulations to the 2025 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings, of the 30th 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 2025 Nominees for Performance & Recording in all categories. And please click the photos to expand them — some wonderful images here reward much larger presentation.

George Coleman - 2025 Lifetime Achievement in Jazz

Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz

GEORGE COLEMAN

Tenor Saxophonist

Nominees: Joe Lovano, Wadada Leo Smith

George Coleman website

Musician of the Year

MARSHALL ALLEN

NEA Jazz Master, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist
Photo by Melanie Mor

Nominees: Lakecia Benjamin, Charles Lloyd, Tyshawn Sorey

Isaiah Collier - 2025 Up & Coming Musician of the Year

Up & Coming Musician of the Year

ISAIAH COLLIER

Saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist

Nominees:  Patricia Brennan, Zaccai Curtis, Sarah Hanahan

Isaiah Collier website
Myra Melford - 2025 Composer of the Year

Composer of the Year

MYRA MELFORD

Composer, pianist
Photo by Bryan Murray

Nominees: Darcy James Argue, Vijay Iyer, Maria Schneider

Myra Melford website
Maria Schneider - 2025 Arranger of the Year

Arranger of the Year

MARIA SCHNEIDER

Composer, large ensemble leader
Photo by Greg Helgeson

Nominees: Darcy James Argue, John Beasley

Maria Schneider website
The Sky Will Be there Tomorrow - 2025 Record of the Year

Record of the Year

THE SKY WILL STILL BE THERE TOMORROW
Charles Lloyd (Blue Note Records)

Nominees: Poly Tropos/Of Many Turns, Steve Coleman (Pi Recordings); Cubop Lives!, Zaccai Curtis (Truth Records); Run the Gauntlet, Kris Davis (Pyroclastic Records); Walk a Mile in My Shoe, Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band (Imani Records)

Charles Lloyd website
Forces of Nature - 2025 Historical Record of the Year

Historical Record of the Year

FORCES OF NATURE - LIVE AT SLUGS'
McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson (Blue Note Records)

Nominees:  The Carnegie Hall Concert, Alice Coltrane (Impulse! Records); Grande-Terre Roy Hargrove’s Crisol (Verve); Freedom Weaver, Sonny Rollins  (Resonance Records)

Blue Note Records website
Blue Note Records - 2025 Record Label of the Year

Record Label of the Year

BLUE NOTE RECORDS

Nominees: Pi Recordings, Pyroclastic Records, Resonance Records, Sunnyside Records

Blue Note Records website
Kurt Elling - 2025 Male Vocalist of the Year

Male Vocalist of the Year

KURT ELLING

Vocalist, songwriter

Nominees: Theo Bleckmann, José James, Michael Mayo, Gregory Porter

Kurt Elling website
Cécile McLorin Salvant - 2025 Female Vocalist of the Year

Female Vocalist of the Year

CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT

Vocalist, songwriter

Nominees: Jazzmeia Horn, Samara Joy, Catherine Russell

Cécile McLorin Salvant website
New York Voices - 2025 Vocal Group of the Year

Vocal Group of the Year

New York Voices

Nominees: säje, Take 6

New York Voices website
Cécile McLorin Salvant and Sullivan Fortner - 2025 Duo of the Year

Duo of the Year

CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT, vocals and SULLIVAN FORTNER, piano

Nominees: Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Hamilton de Holanda, Wadada Leo Smith and Amina Claudine Myers

Artemis - 2025 Mid-sized Ensemble of the Year

Mid-Size Ensemble of the Year

ARTEMIS

Bandmembers: Noriko Ueda, Nicole Glover, Allison Miller, Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen

Nominees: Vijay Iyer Trio, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Branford Marsalis Quartet, Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble

Artemis website
Maria Schneider Orchestra - 2025 Large Ensemble of the Year

Large Ensemble of the Year

MARIA SCHNEIDER ORCHESTRA

Photo by Andrea Canter

Nominees: Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Sun Ra Arkestra

Maria Schneider website
Ambrose Akinmusire - 2025 Trumpeter of the Year

Trumpeter of the Year

AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE

Trumpeter, composer

Nominees: Dave Douglas, Brian Lynch, Wadada Leo Smith

Ambrose Akinmusire website
Steve Turre - 2025 Trombonist of the Year

Trombonist of the Year

STEVE TURRE

Trombonist, composer, educator

Nominees: Steve Davis, Michael Dease, Ryan Keberle

Steve Turre website
Bob Stewart - 2025 Brass Specialist of the Year

Brass Specialist of the Year

BOB STEWART

Tuba player, educator

Nominees: Jose Davila (tuba and trombone), Marcus Rojas (tuba), William Roper (tuba)

Bob Stewart website
Immanuel Wilkins - 2025 Alto Saxophonist of the Year

Alto Saxophonist of the Year

IMMANUEL WILKINS

Saxophonist, composer, arranger

Nominees: Lakecia Benjamin, Steve Coleman, Charles McPherson, Miguel Zenón

Immanuel Wilkins website
Joe Lovano - 2025 Tenor Saxophonist of the Year

Tenor Saxophonist of the Year

JOE LOVANO

Saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer
Photo by Aquapio Films

Nominees: Isaiah Collier, James Brandon Lewis, Charles Lloyd, Chris Potter

Joe Lovano website
James Carter - 2025 Baritone Saxophonist of the Year

Baritone Saxophonist of the Year

JAMES CARTER

Saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer

Nominees: Alex Harding, Brian Landrus, Scott Robinson, Gary Smulyan

James Carter website
Branford Marsalis - 2025 Soprano Saxophonist of the Year

Soprano Saxophonist of the Year

BRANFORD MARSALIS

Saxophonist, composer, bandleader
Photo by Mark Sheldon

Nominees: Jane Ira Bloom, Jane Bunnett, Jon Irabagon, Sam Newsome

Branford Marsalis website
Chris Potter - 2025 Multi-Reeds Player of the Year

Multiple Reeds Player of the Year

CHRIS POTTER

Saxophonist, composer, bandleader

Nominees: Roscoe Mitchell, Scott Robinson

Chris Potter website
Anat Cohen - 2025 Clarinetist of the Year

Clarinetist of the Year

ANAT COHEN

Clarinetist, saxophonist, bandleader
Photo by Shervin Lainez

Nominees: Ben Goldberg, Mike McGinnis, Ken Peplowski, Jason Stein

Anat Cohen website
Nicole Mitchell - 2025 Flutist of the Year

Flutist of the Year

NICOLE MITCHELL

Flutist, composer, educator

Nominees: Jamie Baum, Charles Lloyd, Elena Pinderhughes

Nicole Mitchell website
Mary Halvorson - 2025 Guitarist of the Year

Guitarist of the Year

MARY HALVORSON

Guitarist, composer, ensemble leader
Photo by Michael Wilson

Nominees: Peter Bernstein, Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, Pat Metheny

Mary Halvorson website
Tomeka Reid - 2025 Strings Player of the Year

Strings Player of the Year

TOMEKA REID

Cellist, composer, educator
Photo by Michael Jackson

Nominees: Regina Carter, Mark Feldman, Jenny Scheinman, Brandee Younger

Tomeka Reid website
Kenny Barron - 2025 Pianist of the Year

Pianist of the Year

KENNY BARRON

Pianist, composer, bandleader
Photo by John Sann

Nominees: Kris Davis, Brad Mehldau, Jason Moran, Renee Rosnes, Matthew Shipp

Kenny Barron website
Herbie Hancock - 2025 Keyboardist of the Year

Keyboardist of the Year

HERBIE HANCOCK

Pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, composer, educator, chairman of Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Photo by Melanie Mor

Nominees: Brian Charette James Francies, Robert Glasper, Craig Taborn

Herbie Hancock website
Linda May Han Oh - 2025 Bassist of the Year

Bassist of the Year

LINDA MAY HAN OH

Bassist, composer, educator
Photo by Shervin Lainez

Nominees: Ron Carter, Christian McBride, William Parker, John Patitucci

Linda May Han Oh website
John Patitucci - 2025 Electric Bassist of the Year

Electric Bassist of the Year

JOHN PATITUCCI

Bassist, guitarist, composer

Nominees: Stanley Clarke, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, Meshell Ndegeocello

John Patitucci website
Kahil El'Zabar - 2025 Percussionst of the Year

Percussionist of the Year

KAHIL EL'ZABAR

Percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, ensemble leader
Photo by Sheldon Levy

Nominees: Cyro Baptista, Hamid Drake, Pedrito Martinez

Kahil El'Zabar website
Patricia Brennan - 2025 Mallet Player of the Year

Mallet Percussionist

PATRICIA BRENNAN

Vibraphonist, percussionist, composer
Photo by Noel Brennan

Nominees: Sasha Berliner, Joe Locke, Joel Ross, Warren Wolf

Patricia Brennan website
Brian Blade - 2025 Drummer of the Year

Drummer of the Year

BRIAN BLADE

Drummer, composer, singer-songwriter
Daniel Sheehan

Nominees: Johnathan Blake, Terri Lyne Carrington, Eric Harland, Billy Hart, Allison Miller, Tyshawn Sorey, Nasheet Waits, Matt Wilson

Brian Blade website
Susan Alcorn - 2025 Player of Rare Instrument of the Year

Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz

SUSAN ALCORN

Pedal steel guitarist, composer

Nominees: Bela Fleck, banjo; Richard Galliano, accordion; Grégoire Maret, harmonica; Gary Versace, accordion

Susasn Alcorn website
Val Jeanty - 2025 Electronics Specialist of the Year

Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz

VAL JEANTY

Electronic music composer, turntablist

Nominees: Rob Mazurek, Craig Taborn

2025 AWARDSFOR JOURNALISM & MEDIA

Paul De Barros
Awards for Journalism

2025 Winners in Jazz Journalism

May 5, 2025

Congratulations to the 2025 Winners in Jazz Journalism of the 30th annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards for Jazz Journalism. 

Read more

Visit Jazz Journalists Association to participate as a future voting member or as a sponsor.

2025 SPONSORS

Berklee College of Music
Blue Note Records
Jazz Foundation of America logo
Verve Records

PAST AWARD WINNERSFOR PERFORMANCE & RECORDING

Jack DeJohnette
Awards for Performance & Recordings

2024 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings

May 13, 2024
Charles Lloyd - 2023 Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
Awards for Performance & Recordings

2023 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings

May 15, 2023
Sheila Jordon- 2022 Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
Awards for Performance & Recordings

2022 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings

May 3, 2022
Load More
Next Post
Paul De Barros

2025 Winners in Jazz Journalism

The Latest

Paul De Barros

2025 Winners in Jazz Journalism

May 5, 2025
George Coleman

2025 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings

May 5, 2025

2025 JJA Jazz Awards Playlist

April 22, 2025
Poly Tropos/Of Many Turns

2025 Nominees for Performance & Recordings

April 18, 2025

THE JAZZ OMNIBUS support from

The Jazz Omnibus book cover
Berklee College of Music
Jazz Foundation of America logo
Blue Note Records
Verve Records
JJA Jazz Awards text logo
  • Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings
  • Winners in Jazz Journalism
  • Jazz Heroes
  • About the Awards
  • About JJA

Contact

Email us at President@jazzjournalists.org for more information about how you can participate or become a sponsor of the 2021 JJA Jazz Awards.

Archive

  • 2022 Jazz Heroes (26)
  • 2023 Jazz Heroes (32)
  • 2024 Jazz Heroes (29)
  • 2025 Jazz Heroes (27)
  • Award Nominees (18)
  • Award Winners (23)
  • Awards Events (7)
  • Awards for Journalism (17)
  • Awards for Performance & Recordings (15)
  • Jazz Heroes (11)
  • News (31)
  • Playlists (2)
  • Uncategorized (1)
  • Videos (28)

© 2021 Jazz Journalists Association | Website by Underbunny Design

No Result
View All Result
  • Performance Awards
  • Journalism Awards
  • Jazz Heroes
  • News & Media
  • Archive

© 2021 Jazz Journalists Association | Website by Underbunny Design