Congratulations to Cécile McLorin Salvant, Fred Hersch, Joey DeFrancesco and Kurt Elling, all winners of this year’s Downbeat Critics Poll!
- Cécile McLorin Salvant — Winner: Jazz Artist, Female Vocalist
- Fred Hersch Trio — Winner: Jazz Group
- Joey DeFrancesco — Winner: Organ, Beyond Album
- Kurt Elling — Winner: Male Vocalist
And a big shoutout to all our published nominees!
- Jazz Artist — Fred Hersch, Charles Lloyd, Chick Corea
- Jazz Album of the Year — Cécile McLorin Salvant, Fred Hersch, Charles Lloyd, Catherine Russell
- Jazz Group — Charles Lloyd and The Marvels
- Trumpet — Wynton Marsalis
- Soprano Saxophone — Ravi Coltrane
- Tenor Saxophone — Charles Lloyd, Melissa Aldana, Pharaoh Sanders
- Piano — Fred Hersch, Chick Corea, Bill Charlap
- Keyboard — Chick Corea, Eddie Palmieri
- Guitar — Pat Metheny
- Electric Bass — Meshell Ndegeocello
- Drums — Roy Haynes
- Female Vocalist — Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lizz Wright, Catherine Russell
- Male Vocalist — Bobby McFerrin
- Composer — Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis
- Arranger — Wynton Marsalis
- Blues Artist — Marcia Ball
- Blues Album — Elvin Bishop, Chicago Plays The Stones
- Rising Star Piano — Christian Sands