Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album
The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album is an award that was first presented in 1959.
| Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | quality instrumental jazz albums |
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |
| First awarded | 1959 |
| Currently held by | Brad Mehldau, Finding Gabriel (2020) |
| Website | grammy.com |
History
From 1959 to 2011, the Award was called Best Instrumental Jazz Album, Individual or Group. In 2012, it was shortened to Best Jazz Instrumental Album, encompassing albums that previously fell under the categories Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Best Latin Jazz Album (both defunct as of 2012).[1] A year later, the Best Latin Jazz Album category returned, disallowing albums in that category to be nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
Years listed indicate the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year. Before 1962 and from 1972 to 1978, the award title did not specify instrumental performances and was presented for instrumental or vocal performances. The award has had several name changes.
Name changes
- 1959–1960: Best Jazz Performance, Group
- 1961: Best Jazz Performance Solo or Small Group
- 1962–1963: Best Jazz Performance Solo or Small Group (Instrumental)
- 1964: Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Soloist or Small Group
- 1965–1966: Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Small Group or Soloist
- 1967: Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Group or Soloist with Group
- 1968–1971: Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Small Group or Soloist with Small Group
- 1972–1978: Best Jazz Performance by a Group
- 1979–1992: Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group
- 1993–2000: Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group
- 2001–2011: Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
2016–present
2021: Winner TBA on 31 January 2021 Nominees
- Ambrose Akinmusire - On The Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment
- Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science - Waiting Game
- Gerald Clayton - Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard
- Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade - Trilogy 2
- Redman Mehldau McBride Blade - RoundAgain
2020: Brad Mehldau - Finding Gabriel (winner)
- Joey DeFrancesco, In the Key of the Universe
- Branford Marsalis Quartet, The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul
- Christian McBride, Christian McBride's New Jawn
- Joshua Redman Quartet, Come What May
2019: Wayne Shorter Quartet - Emanon (winner)
- Tia Fuller, Diamond Cut
- Fred Hersch Trio, Live in Europe
- Brad Mehldau Trio, 'Seymour Reads the Constitution!
- Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade, Still Dreaming
- Wayne Shorter Quartet, Emanon
2018: Billy Childs, Rebirth (winner)
- Bill Charlap Trio, Uptown, Downtown
- Billy Childs, Rebirth
- Joey DeFrancesco & The People, Project Freedom
- Fred Hersch, Open Book
- Chris Potter, The Dreamer Is the Dream
2017: John Scofield, Country for Old Men (winner)
- Kenny Barron Trio, Book of Intuition
- Peter Erskine, Dr. Um
- Fred Hersch Trio, Sunday Night at the Vanguard
- Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau, Nearness
2016: John Scofield, Past Present (winner)
- Joey Alexander, My Favorite Things
- Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective, Breathless
- Robert Glasper and the Robert Glasper Trio, Covered: Recorded Live at Capitol Studios
- Jimmy Greene, Beautiful Life