Congratulations to the 2026 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings, of the 31st 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 2026 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
KENNY BARRON
Pianist, composer, bandleader, educator
Photo by Jimmy Katz
Finalists:
- Anthony Braxton
- Kenny Burrell
- Andrew Cyrille
Musician of the Year
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE
Bassist, bandleader, composer, producer
Photo by Evelyn Freja
Finalists:
- Sullivan Fortner
- Mary Halvorson
- James Brandon Lewis
Up and Coming Musician of the Year
NICOLE GLOVER
Saxophonist
Photo by Ebru Yildiz
Finalists:
- Tyreek McDole
- Alexa Tarantino
- April Varner
Composer of the Year
MARIA SCHNEIDER
Composer, orchestra leader
Photo by Greg Helgeson
Finalists:
- Patricia Brennan
- Mary Halvorson
- Linda May Han Oh
Arranger of the Year
MARIA SCHNEIDER
Composer, large ensemble leader
Photo by Brien Lermitte
Finalists:
- Darcy James Argue
- John Beasley
- John Clayton
- Miho Hazama
Record Producer of the Year
ZEV FELDMAN
Resonance Records
Photo by Zak Shelby-Szyszko
Finalists:
- Kris Davis, Pyroclastic Records
- Manfred Eicher, ECM Records
- Don Was, Blue Note Records
Record of the Year
BELONGING, Branford Marsalis Quartet
(Blue Note Records)
Finalists:
- honey from a winter stone, by Ambrose Akinmusire (Nonesuch Records)
- Mundoagua: Celebrating Carla Bley, by Arturo O’Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra(ZOHO Music)
- Of the Near and Far, by Patricia Brennan (Pyroclastic Records)
- Strange Heavens, by Linda May Han Oh (Biophilia Records)
- We Insist 2025!, by Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell (Candid Records)
Historical Record of the Year
FORCES OF NATURE - LIVE AT SLUGS'
McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson (Blue Note Records)
Finalists:
- Freddie Hubbard – On Fire: Live From The Blue Morocco (Resonance Records)
- Charles Mingus – The Buenos Aires Concerts (Resonance Records)
-
Thelonious Monk – Bremen 1965 (Sunnyside Records)
-
Horace Silver – In Seattle: Live at The Penthouse (Blue Note Records)
Record Label of the Year
Blue Note Records
Finalists:
- Mack Avenue Records
- Pi Recordings
- Pyroclastic Records
- Sunnyside Records
Male Vocalist of the Year
KURT ELLING
Vocalist, songwriter
Photo by Melanie Mor
Finalists:
- Theo Bleckmann
- Michael Mayo
- Tyreek McDole
- Gregory Porter
Female Vocalist of the Year
CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT
Vocalist, songwriter
Photo by Jennifer Taylor
Finalists:
- Jazzmeia Horn
- Samara Joy
- Nicole Zuraitis
Duo of the Year
CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT, vocals and SULLIVAN FORTNER, piano
Finalists:
- Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap
- Sylvie Courvoisier & Mary Halvorson
- Chicago Underground Duo (Rob Mazurek-Chad Taylor)
- John Scofield and Dave Holland
Mid-Sized Ensemble of the Year
ARTEMIS
Band members: Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda, Allison Miller
Photo by John Abbott
Finalists:
- Kris Davis Trio
- Mary Halvorson Amaryllis Sextet
- James Brandon Lewis Quartet
Large Ensemble of the Year
ARTURO O'FARRILL AFRO LATIN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Photo by Andrea Canter
Finalists:
- Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
- Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra
- WDR Big Band
Trumpeter of the Year
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
Trumpeter, composer
Photo by Michael Wilson
Finalists:
- Ingrid Jensen
- Adam O’Farrill
- Wadada Leo Smith
Trombonist of the Year
MICHAEL DEASE
Trombonist, composer, educator
Finalists:
- Jacob Garchik
- Ryan Keberle
- Steve Turre
Brass Specialist of the Year
THEON CROSS
Tuba player, composer
Finalists:
- Jose Davila (tuba and trombone)
- Marcus Rojas (tuba)
- Bob Stewart (tuba)
Alto Saxophonist of the Year
CHARLES MCPHERSON
Saxophonist, composer
Finalists:
- Lakecia Benjamin
- Steve Lehman
- Immanuel Wilkins
- Miguel Zenón
Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
CHRIS POTTER
Saxophonist, composer
Finalists:
- Isaiah Collier
- James Brandon Lewis
- Joe Lovano
- Mark Turner
Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
JAMES CARTER
Saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer
Finalists:
- Alex Harding
- Brian Landrus
- Scott Robinson
- Gary Smulyan
Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
BRANFORD MARSALIS
Saxophonist, composer, bandleader
Photo by Darlene Susco
Finalists:
- Jane Ira Bloom
- Ravi Coltrane
- Sam Newsome
- Steve Wilson
Flutist of the Year
CHARLES LLOYD
Flutist, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist
Photo by Dirk Neven
Finalists:
- Jamie Baum
- Nicole Mitchell
- Elena Pinderhughes
Clarinetist of the Year
KEN PEPLOWSKI (D. 2.26.2026)
Clarinetist, saxophonist
Finalists:
- Anat Cohen
- Paquito D’Rivera
- Ben Goldberg
Multi-Reeds Player of the Year
SCOTT ROBINSON
Multi-instrumentalist
Finalists:
- James Carter
- Jon Irabagon
- Roscoe Mitchell
- Chris Potter
Guitarist of the Year
MARY HALVORSON
Guitarist, composer
Photo by Melanie Mor
Finalists:
- Nels Cline
- Bill Frisell
- Julian Lage
- Pat Metheny
- John Scofield
Keyboard Player of the Year
CRAIG TABORN
Pianist, organist, keyboardist, composer
Finalists:
- Brian Charette
- Robert Glasper
- Herbie Hancock
- John Medeski
Piano Player of the Year
SULLIVAN FORTNER
Pianist
Photo by Melanie Mor
Finalists:
- Kenny Barron
- Emmet Cohen
- Kris Davis
- Jason Moran
Bassist of the Year
LINDA MAY HAN OH
Bassist, composer, educator
Photo by Robyn Twomey
Finalists:
- Ron Carter
- Dave Holland
- Christian McBride
- John Patitucci
Electric Bassist of the Year
JOHN PATITUCCI
Bassist, guitarist, composer
Photo by Gus Cantavero
Finalists:
- Stanley Clarke
- Christian McBride
- Marcus Miller
- Jamaaladeeen Tacuma
- Victor Wooten
Strings Player of the Year
Violin, Viola, Cello Player
TOMEKA REID
Cellist, composer, educator
Photo by Melanie Mor
Finalists:
- Regina Carter
- Mark Feldman
- Jenny Scheinman
- Brandee Younger
Percussionist of the Year
PEDRITO MARTINEZ
Percussionist, singer, dancer, songwriter
Photo by Melanie Mor
Finalists:
- Cyro Baptista
- Hamid Drake
- Kahil El’Zabar
- Giovanni Hidalgo
Mallet Instrument Player of the Year
PATRICIA BRENNAN
Vibraphonist, percussionist, composer
Photo by Werner Siebert
Finalists:
- Sasha Berliner
- Joel Ross
- Warren Wolf
Drummer of the Year
BILLY HART
Drummer, educator
Photo by John Rogers
Finalists:
- Brian Blade
- Johnathan Blake
- Terri Lyne Carrington
- Allison Miller
Player of Instruments Rare in Jazz
BÉLA FLECK, BANJO
Banjo
Finalists:
- Greg Leisz, steel guitar
- Grégoire Maret, harmonica
- Scott Robinson, theremin
- Gary Versace, accordion
Electronic Instruments Player
CRAIG TABORN
Pianist, organist, keyboardist, composer
Finalists:
- Herbie Hancock
- Val Jeanty
- Rob Mazurek
2026 AWARDSFOR JOURNALISM & MEDIA
2026 Winners in Journalism and Media
Congratulations to the 2026 Winners in Jazz Journalism of the 31th annual Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards for Jazz Journalism.
Read moreVisit Jazz Journalists Association to participate as a future voting member or as a sponsor.
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