2022 Jazz Music Awards Winners: Full List – Billboard

Christian McBride and Inside Straight were the big winners at the inaugural Jazz Music Awards, held Saturday, October 22 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta. McBride & Inside Straight received two of eight competitive awards – Best Mainstream Artist and Best Duo, Group or Big Band. McBride, 50, an eight-time Grammy winner, was on the road in Europe and was unable to attend the event.

The show, dubbed Celebrating the Spirit of Jazz, was co-hosted by Dee Dee Bridgewater and actor Delroy Lindo. Terri Lyne Carrington was the show’s musical director and co-executive producer.

A mid-show medley of “social justice songs” featured Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jazzmeia Horn and Ledisi. Reeves opened the segment with his 1994 composition, “Endangered Species,” which gained notice at last month’s Primetime Emmy Awards when Sheryl Lee Ralph sang it in her acceptance speech.

Singer Somi, one of two winners of the Best Vocal Performance award (due to a tie), performed a tribute to Miriam Makeba, “House of the Rising Sun.”

A presentation of a lifetime achievement award to influential jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter included a medley of his songs and Shorter’s heartfelt video message.

The show ended with a touching performance by Lizz Wright and Tia Fuller of “Georgia on My Mind.”

Carrington’s All-Star Band performed throughout the show. The group included pianist Orrin Evans, bassist James Genus, guitarist Mark Whitfield, tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, alto saxophonist Braxton Cook, trumpeter Milena Casado, keyboardist Ray Angry, drummer Nikki Glaspie and DJ/percussionist Kassa Overall.

Presenters included Reeves, Horn, Jean and Marcus Baylor of the Baylor Project, Brandee Younger, Ben Tankard, Orrin Evans, Ragan Whiteside, Tia Fuller and Bob Baldwin.

Many attendees were sobered by the more than 100 jazz greats listed in the In Memoriam tribute. All died between the end of December 2019 and October 2022.

The Jazz Music Awards is a non-profit division of Jazz 91.9 WCLK at Clark University in Atlanta, owner and licensee of WCLK.

The second annual Jazz Music Awards are scheduled for Saturday, October 21, 2023.

Here is a full list of nominees in all eight competitive categories:

Best Mainstream Artist
Joey DeFrancesco, more music
Kenny Garrett, The sounds of the ancestors
WINNER: Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Live at Village Vanguard
Brandee Young, somewhere different

Best Contemporary Artist
Brian Bromberg, Some catchy music
Ben Tankard, SHINE!
Lindsey Webster, “I Didn’t Mean It”
WINNER: Ragan Whiteside, “Off the Cuff”

Best Duo, Group or Big Band
The Baylor Project, Generations
Jazzmeia Horn and her noble strength, Dear love
WINNER: Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Live at Village Vanguard
Count Basie Orchestra, Living in Birdland
(edited by Scotty Barnhart)
Kevin Eubanks and Orrin Evans, EEE (Eubanks-Evans-Experience)

Best New Jazz Artist (Contemporary or Mainstream)
Simon Moulier, Countdown
Julieta Engenio, Jump
Kazemby George, I insist
WINNER: Samara Joy, Samara Joy

Best Vocal Performance
The Baylor Project, Generations
CO-WINNER: Somi Kakoma, Dream Zenzile
CO-WINNER: Stacey Kent, Songs from elsewhere
Shawn Monteiro, You are the

Best Mainstream Album
The Baylor Project, Generations
CO-WINNER: Orrin Evans, The magic of today
CO-WINNER:Kenny Garrett, The sounds of the ancestors
Brandee Young, somewhere different

Best Contemporary Album
WINNER:Bob Baldwin, The Stay Home Series, Volume 1
Brian Culbertson, The Red Trilogy
Sonny Emory, soul ascension
Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, Tongue and groove

Song of the Year (Fan Vote)
WINNER: Norman Brown, “Back to Ya”
Brian Culbertson, “Feel the Love”
Justin-Lee Schultz, “Gruv Kid”
James “PJ” Spraggins, “Up From Here”