The JJA Jazz Awards have announced this year’s nominees, with Terri Lyne Carrington, Maria Schneider, Charles Lloyd and William Parker named as finalists for jazz musician of the year.
Nominees in most categories were chosen by the votes of the members of the Jazz Journalists Association. With the exception of the lifetime achievement award, the nominations were made based on artists’ work done in the year 2020.
The Maria Schneider Orchestra’s Grammy-winning album Data Lords may be the favourite for record of the year. The other nominees are Charles Lloyd’s 8: Kindred Spirits, John Scofield’s Swallow Tales, Ambrose Akinmusire’s On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment and Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Hero Trio.
After winning two Grammy Awards this year, Schneider’s total of five JJA Jazz Awards nominations is second only to Lloyd’s six.
Schneider’s other nods are in the categories for composer, arranger and large ensemble of the year, while Lloyd is also nominated for tenor saxophonist, flutist and midsize ensemble of the year, along with being a finalist for the lifetime achievement award.
The four nominees for male vocalist of the year are Kurt Elling, Dwight Trible, Theo Bleckmann and Gregory Porter, while the five finalists for female vocalist of the year are Veronica Swift, Jazzmeia Horn, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Sara Serpa and Thana Alexa.
Emmet Cohen, Nubya Garcia, Immanuel Wilkins and Lakecia Benjamin are in the running for up-and-coming musician of the year.
This year’s JJA Jazz Awards include five new categories, honouring the year’s best vocal group, duo, brass specialist, electric bassist and electronics specialist.
The JJA Jazz Awards will be presented on Wednesday, May 5.
You can see the full list of nominees here.