For this annual companion poll to last issue’s top 50 critic’s picks, more than 30 of our regular contributors participated in a survey based on our yearly readers’ poll. Voters were asked to focus on artists’ achievements during 2016 rather than assessing entire careers.
Winners are bolded; runners-up are listed below in order of number of points. An asterisk* denotes a tie. | Evan Haga, Editor
Best New Artist
Jonathan Finlayson
Marquis Hill
Theo Croker*
Keyon Harrold*
David Virelles*
Artist of the Year
Wadada Leo Smith
Henry Threadgill
Chick Corea*
Andrew Cyrille*
Esperanza Spalding*
Best Acoustic Small Group/Artist
Henry Threadgill + ZOOID/Ensemble Double Up
Jack DeJohnette/Dave Holland/Jason Moran
JD Allen Trio
Charles Lloyd Quartet
Best Electric/Jazz-Rock/Contemporary Group/Artist
Mary Halvorson Octet
Jack DeJohnette/Ravi Coltrane/Matthew Garrison
Robert Glasper Experiment
Julian Lage Trio
Best Big Band/Large Ensemble
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Michael Formanek Ensemble Kolossus
Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra
Best Record Label
ECM
Pi
Blue Note
Mack Avenue*
Resonance*
Best Book
Conversations in Jazz: The Ralph J. Gleason Interviews edited by Toby Gleason (Yale University)
How to Listen to Jazz by Ted Gioia (Basic)
Every Song Ever: Twenty Ways to Listen in an Age of Musical Plenty by Ben Ratliff (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Better Git It in Your Soul: An Interpretive Biography of Charles Mingus by Krin Gabbard (University of California Press)
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
The Checkout (WBGO)
JazzTimes Spins & Riffs
A Noise From the Deep (Greenleaf)
We Insist! Jazz Speaks Out (WBGO)
Best Jazz Festival
Winter Jazzfest (NYC)
Newport Jazz Festival
Chicago Jazz Festival*
Monterey Jazz Festival*
Montreal International Jazz Festival*
Best Jazz Club
Village Vanguard
Jazz Standard
The Stone
Mezzrow
Best DVD/Blu-ray
What Happened, Miss Simone? (Eagle Rock)
JACO: The Film (Iron Horse)
Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise (Mug-Shot)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: The Case of the Three Sided Dream (Arthaus Musik)
Best Trumpeter/Cornetist/Flugelhornist
Ambrose Akinmusire
Wadada Leo Smith
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Marquis Hill
Best Trombonist
Wycliffe Gordon
Steve Turre
Roswell Rudd
Ryan Keberle
Best Clarinetist
Anat Cohen
Ken Peplowski
Don Byron
Ben Goldberg
Best Tenor Saxophonist
Charles Lloyd
Joe Lovano
Donny McCaslin
JD Allen
Best Alto Saxophonist
Rudresh Mahanthappa
Steve Coleman
Gary Bartz*
Tim Berne*
Kenny Garrett*
Best Soprano Saxophonist
Jane Ira Bloom
Wayne Shorter
Branford Marsalis
Dave Liebman
Best Baritone Saxophonist
Gary Smulyan
James Carter
Mats Gustafsson
Hamiet Bluiett
Best Flutist
Nicole Mitchell
Charles Lloyd
Henry Threadgill
Hubert Laws
Best Violinist
Regina Carter
Mark Feldman
Jenny Scheinman
Scott Tixier
Best Pianist
Vijay Iyer
Jason Moran
Kris Davis*
Fred Hersch*
Keith Jarrett*
Best Keyboardist (Electric Piano, Synth)
Robert Glasper
Craig Taborn
Jason Lindner
Chick Corea
Best Organist
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Larry Goldings
Joey DeFrancesco
Mike LeDonne
Best Guitarist
Julian Lage
Mary Halvorson
John Scofield
Bill Frisell
Best Double Bassist
Dave Holland
Christian McBride
Ron Carter
Michael Formanek*
John Patitucci*
Best Electric Bassist
Steve Swallow
Matthew Garrison
Esperanza Spalding
Thundercat
Best Vibraphonist
Stefon Harris
Warren Wolf
Jason Adasiewicz
Steve Nelson
Best Percussionist
Pedrito Martinez
Cyro Baptista
Zakir Hussain
Roman Díaz
Best Drummer
Jack DeJohnette
Andrew Cyrille
Tyshawn Sorey
Billy Hart
Best Vocalist (Male)
Gregory Porter
Kurt Elling
Tony Bennett
Theo Bleckmann
Best Vocalist (Female)
Cécile McLorin Salvant
Cyrille Aimée
Dianne Reeves
Cassandra Wilson
Best Composer
Wadada Leo Smith
Henry Threadgill
Darcy James Argue
Tyshawn Sorey
Best Arranger
Maria Schneider
Darcy James Argue
Carla Bley
John Beasley
Best Instrumentalist (Misc.) (four winners)
Grégoire Maret (harmonica)
Tomeka Reid (cello)
Béla Fleck (banjo)
Brandee Younger (harp)
Best Vocal Group
Tillery
Duchess
Take 6
New York Voices
