Readers were asked to focus on artists’ achievements that occurred between November 2015 and November 2016. Winners are bolded; runners-up are listed below in order of number of votes. An asterisk* denotes a tie.
Best New Artist
Jacob Collier
Cory Henry
Bria Skonberg
Tigran Hamasyan
Artist of the Year
Joey Alexander
Chick Corea
Donny McCaslin
Christian McBride
Best New Release
Joey Alexander Countdown (Motéma)
Donny McCaslin Beyond Now (Motéma)
Jack DeJohnette/Ravi Coltrane/Matthew Garrison In Movement (ECM)*
John Scofield Country for Old Men (Impulse!)*
Best Historical/Vault/Reissue Release
John Coltrane A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters (Impulse!/Verve)
Miles Davis Quintet Freedom Jazz Dance: The Bootleg Series Vol. 5 (Columbia/Legacy)
Bill Evans Some Other Time: The Lost Session From the Black Forest (Resonance)*
Weather Report The Legendary Live Tapes 1978-1981 (Legacy)*
Best Vocal Release
Gregory Porter Take Me to the Alley (Blue Note)
Norah Jones Day Breaks (Blue Note)
Branford Marsalis Quartet, Special Guest Kurt Elling Upward Spiral (OKeh)
Cyrille Aimée Let’s Get Lost (Mack Avenue)
Best Acoustic Small Group/Artist
Joey Alexander Trio
Kenny Barron Trio
Chick Corea
Christian McBride Trio*
Wayne Shorter Quartet*
Best Electric/Jazz-Rock/Contemporary Group/Artist
Snarky Puppy
Pat Metheny
Jack DeJohnette/Ravi Coltrane/Matthew Garrison
Kamasi Washington
Best Big Band/Large Ensemble
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra
Best Record Label
Blue Note
ECM
Mack Avenue
Concord Music Group
Jazz Book of the Year
How to Listen to Jazz by Ted Gioia (Basic)
Whisper Not: The Autobiography of Benny Golson by Benny Golson and Jim Merod (Temple University)
Conversations in Jazz: The Ralph J. Gleason Interviews edited by Toby Gleason (Yale University)
The Miles Davis Lost Quintet and Other Revolutionary Ensembles by Bob Gluck (University of Chicago)
Best Syndicated Radio Program
Jazz Night in America (NPR/WBGO/JALC)
Radio Deluxe With John Pizzarelli (Independent)
Jazz After Hours With Jeff Hanley (PRI)
Judy Carmichael’s Jazz Inspired (SiriusXM NPR)
Best Podcast
Straight No Chaser
The Checkout (WBGO)
JazzTimes Spins & Riffs
Jazz Bastard*
We Insist! Jazz Speaks Out (WBGO)*
Best Jazz Festival
Monterey Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
North Sea Jazz Festival
Montreal International Jazz Festival
Best Jazz Club
Village Vanguard
Smalls
Yoshi’s
Blue Note (NYC)
Best DVD/Blu-ray
JACO: The Film (Iron Horse)
What Happened, Miss Simone? (Eagle Rock)
Time Remembered: The Life and Music of Bill Evans
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: The Case of the Three Sided Dream (Arthaus Musik)
Best Trumpeter/Cornetist/Flugelhornist
Ambrose Akinmusire
Wynton Marsalis
Tom Harrell
Roy Hargrove
Best Trombonist
Trombone Shorty
Steve Turre
Wycliffe Gordon
Robin Eubanks
Best Clarinetist
Anat Cohen
Paquito D’Rivera
Ken Peplowski
Don Byron
Best Tenor Saxophonist
Chris Potter
Wayne Shorter
Donny McCaslin*
Joshua Redman*
Best Alto Saxophonist
Kenny Garrett
Rudresh Mahanthappa
Gary Bartz*
David Sanborn*
Best Soprano Saxophonist
Wayne Shorter
Branford Marsalis
Chris Potter
Dave Liebman
Best Baritone Saxophonist
Gary Smulyan
James Carter
Hamiet Bluiett
Ronnie Cuber
Best Flutist
Hubert Laws
Charles Lloyd
Lew Tabackin
Nicole Mitchell
Best Violinist
Regina Carter
Jean-Luc Ponty
Mark Feldman
Jenny Scheinman
Best Pianist
Chick Corea
Brad Mehldau
Kenny Barron
Herbie Hancock
Best Keyboardist (Electric Piano, Synth)
Chick Corea
Herbie Hancock
Scott Kinsey
Robert Glasper
Best Organist
Joey DeFrancesco
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Larry Goldings
Cory Henry*
Gary Versace*
Best Guitarist
Pat Metheny
Bill Frisell
John Scofield
Peter Bernstein
Best Double Bassist
Christian McBride
Ron Carter
Dave Holland
Esperanza Spalding
Best Electric Bassist
Esperanza Spalding
Stanley Clarke*
Marcus Miller *
Steve Swallow
Best Vibraphonist
Gary Burton
Warren Wolf
Stefon Harris
Joe Locke
Best Percussionist
Poncho Sanchez
Zakir Hussain
Pedrito Martinez
Airto Moreira
Best Drummer
Brian Blade
Jack DeJohnette
Antonio Sanchez
Terri Lyne Carrington
Best Vocalist (Male)
Tony Bennett
Gregory Porter
Kurt Elling
Bobby McFerrin
Best Vocalist (Female)
Cécile McLorin Salvant
Dianne Reeves*
Esperanza Spalding*
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Best Composer
Chick Corea*
Maria Schneider*
Wayne Shorter
Pat Metheny
Best Arranger
Maria Schneider
Wynton Marsalis
Carla Bley
Chick Corea
Best Instrumentalist (Misc.) (four winners)
Béla Fleck (banjo)
Grégoire Maret (harmonica)
Edmar Castañeda (harp)
Richard Galliano (accordion)
Best Vocal Group
Take 6
The Manhattan Transfer
New York Voices
Duchess
