L to R: Kellylee Evans, Andy Milne, Larnell Lewis, Caity Gyorgy & Jeremy Ledbetter
The nominees for the 54th Annual JUNO Awards were announced on February 11 and we’ve got you covered on all the jazz, blues and roots nominees.
Among the jazz nominees this year include Larnell Lewis, Laila Biali, Kellylee Evans, Andy Milne, Caity Gyorgy, Jeremy Ledbetter, Mark Kelso and Christine Jensen.
Pop singer Tate McRae and country singer Josh Ross lead the nominations with five nominations each, including Album of the Year and Artist of the Year. The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes also follow with four nominations each.
This year’s honorees include punk rock band Sum 41 and Loreena McKennitt, who will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Other honorees include hip hop producer Boi-1da who will receive the International Achievement Award, singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer who will receive the 2025 Humanitarian Award and legendary music executive Live Nation’s Riley O’Connor who will receive the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.
The 2025 JUNO Awards will be held at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia on March 30, hosted by Vancouver native Michael Bublé. The ceremony will be broadcast across Canada and streamed live globally. Tickets to attend the ceremony in person are on sale now for the general public at www.ticketmaster.ca/junos. Click here to see the full list of this year’s nominees.
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SOLO)
Montreal Jazz Series 1 (Échanges Synaptiques) – André Leroux
The Head Of A Mouse – Audrey Ochoa
Portrait of Right Now – Jocelyn Gould
Slice of Life – Larnell Lewis
The Antrim Coast – Mark Kelso
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (GROUP)
Time Will Tell – Andy Milne and Unison
Reverence – Carn Davidson 9
Harbour – Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra
Gravity – Jeremy Ledbetter Trio
Jaya – Raagaverse
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Oh Mother – Andrea Superstein
Hello! How Are You? – Caity Gyorgy
Winter Song – Kellylee Evans
Wintersongs – Laila Biali
Magpie – Sarah Jerrom
Andy Milne & Unison - Lost and Found
Mark Kelso - Giant's Causeway
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra - Swirlaround
Larnell Lewis - Slice of Life
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
This Old Life Big – Dave McLean
New Orleans Sessions – Blue Moon
YEAH! – David Gogo
Samantha King and the Midnight Outfit – Samantha King & The Midnight Outfit
One Guitar Woman – Sue Foley
TRADITIONAL ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Hemispheres – Inn Echo Independent
Retro Man … More and More (Expanded Edition) – Jake Vaadeland
Domino! – La Bottine Souriante
The Road Back Home (Live) – Loreena McKennitt
At The End Of The Day – Sylvia Tyson
CONTEMPORARY ROOTS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Anniversary – Abigail Lapell Outside
For Eden – Boy Golden Six Shooter*The Orchard
Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now – Donovan Woods