The 39th Annual Jazz Station Awards / The Best Jazz of 2017

The Best Jazz of 2017 - Os melhores do jazz em 2017!

The complete results of the 39th Jazz Station Awards!

Os resultados da 39ª edição do Prêmio Jazz Station!

These are the complete results of the 39th Annual Jazz Station Awards conducted by the Los Angeles-based jazz journalist, record producer, jazz historian & jazz educator Arnaldo DeSouteiro. Mr. DeSouteiro is a voting member of NARAS-Grammy, as well as of the Jazz Journalists Association and the Los Angeles Jazz Society. He has produced over 830 sessions, according to the All Music Guide website. For more details and a small bio, please check

http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com.br/2017/10/arnaldo-desouteiro-biography.html

Ahmad Jamal (pictured above), Ron Carter, Steve Gadd, Anders Bergcrantz, Ralph Towner, Michael Pedicin, Airto Moreira, Hermeto Pascoal, Jane Ira Bloom, Tom Coppola, and the late guitarists Larry Coryell and John Abrecrombie, are among the top artists of the year.Only albums recorded or released in 2017 were eligible.
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O Prêmio Jazz Station - criado em 1979 por Arnaldo DeSouteiro, jornalista, historiador e produtor brasileiro radicado em Los Angeles - chega ao 39º ano, contemplando os artistas que mais se dedicaram no panorama jazzístico internacional em todo o mundo. Membro votante do Grammy, da Jazz Journalists Association e da Los Angeles Jazz Society, entre outras instituições, DeSouteiro já produziu mais de 830 sessões de gravação, segundo contabilizado pelo site All Music Guide.

Além de dono da gravadora JSR e da empresa Jazz Station Marketing & Consultoria, Arnaldo DeSouteiro traz no curriculo trabalhos para selos como Verve, Milestone, Sony e CTI, roteiros para shows e especiais de TV de João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luiz Bonfá, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Chuck Mangione, Bjork, Eumir Deodato e Diana Krall, e também é convidado frequentemente para atuar como parecerista em empresas privadas, instituições governamentais e festivais de jazz nos EUA, Brasil, Europa e Ásia, além de professor convidado em universidades.

Ahmad Jamal, Ron Carter, Steve Gadd, Anders Bergcrantz, Ralph Towner, Michael Pedicin, Airto Moreira, Hermeto Pascoal, Jane Ira Bloom, Tom Coppola, e os guitarristas Larry Coryell e John Abercrombie (que tinham álbums prontos para serem lançados quando faleceram) estão entre os artistas que brilharam em 2017.

Atendendo aos pedidos dos leitores, que desde 1979 acompanham essa votação, incluímos – após os nomes de todos os colocados em cada categoria – os títulos dos trabalhos (CDs, DVDs ou Blu-rays) pelo quais os artistas foram avaliados, com base apenas em lançamentos realizados no decorrer deste ano.

Para variar, foram necessárias várias semanas para a preparação de todas estas listas, reouvindo CDs, revendo DVDs, checando fichas técnicas e, às vezes, reavaliando opiniões. Tudo isso com o objetivo de fornecer o mais fiel possível retrato do cenário jazzístico em 2017, a partir de bases reais de análise.

O que significa, por exemplo, que artistas que não lançaram novos trabalhos este ano, seja como líderes ou sidemen, tornaram-se, por mais geniais que sejam, automaticamente inelegíveis. Tal critério explica a ausência de nomes como Stanley Clarke, Herbie Hancock, Mike Mainieri, Vic Juris e Gene Bertoncini que, apesar de terem realizado muitos shows, não lançaram novos trabalhos em 2017.

Vários discos premiados em 2017, com atraso, pelas revistas especializadas, não aparecem na nossa lista por uma simples razão: constaram da relação de 2016.

Aí estão os resultados completos:

2017 Acoustic Piano: 1. Ahmad Jamal (“Marseille” – Jazz Village/JazzBook); 2. Chick Corea (“The Musician” – Concord); 3. Dwiki Dharmawan: "Pasar Klewer" (Musikita/MoonJune); 4. Ai Kuwabara ("Somehow, Someday, Somewhere" - TOM Records); 5. Hiromi (“Live In Montreal” w/ Edmar Castaneda – Telarc); 6. Michel Camilo (“Live In London” – Sony); 7. Mike Longo (“Only Time Will Tell” – CAP); 8. Marc Copland (“Better By Far” – Unit); 9. Martial Solal ("Masters In Bordeux" - Sunnyside); 10. Richie Beirach ("Live At Birdland New York" w/ Gregor Huebner - ACT); 11. Fred Hersch (“Open Book” – Palmetto); 12. Harold Mabern (“To Love And Be Loved” – Smoke Sessions”); 13. Dado Moroni (“Kind Of Bill: Live At Casino Di Sanremo” – BFM Jazz);14. Cyrus Chestnut (“There’s A Sweet, Sweet Spirit” – HighNote); 15. George Cables ("The New York Sessions" w/ Mark Lewis - Audio Daddio); 16. Roberto Magris ("Prague After Dark" w/ The MUH Trio - JMood Records); 17. Bill Charlap (“Uptown Downtown” – Impulse!); 18. David Kikowski (“Time Being” w/ Tim Armacost – Whirlpool Records); 19. Brad Mehldau ("Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau" - Nonesuch)

2017 Electric Piano: 1. Tom Coppola (“Island Dreams” w/ TOCO - Shine Your Light Music); 2. Pete Levin (“Möbius” – PLM); 3. Vasil Hadzimanov (“No Answer” w/ Dusan Jevtovic – MoonJune); 4. Ai Kuwabara (“Somehow, Someday, Somewhere” – TOM Records); 5. Maggi Olin (Traces” w/ David’s Angels – Kopasetic, and “Holiday on Fire” w/ Torben Waldorff); 6. Robert Tjäderkvist/Sven Erik Lundeqvist (“Soulfully Yours” w/ Anders Bergcrantz – Vanguard Music Boulevard); 7. Frank Chastenier (“Homecoming” w/ Vince Mendonza & WDR Big Band – Sunnyside); 8. Damian Espinosa (“Boundary Issues” w/ Chris Greene Quartet – Single Malt Recordings); 9. Cyrus Chestnut (“Hard Times” w/ Vincent Herring – Smoke Sessions); 10. Ray Angry (“Sit Back, Relax & Unwind” w/ Steve Wilson – JMI); 11. Jean-Philippe Dary (“Lets Bash!” w/ Jowee Omicil – Jazz Village); 12. Eike Wuffmeier (“No. 3” w/ Center – Unit)

2017 Organ: 1. Joey DeFrancesco (“Project Freedom” – Mack Avenue); 2. Nina Ott (“Change of Address” w/ Jared Sims – Ropeadope); 3. Gregory Lewis (“The Breathe Street” – GL Music); 4. Dr. Lonnie Smith (“I Didn't Know What Time It Was” w/ Jazz Orchestra Of The Concertgebouw – JOC Records/Challenge); 5. Roberto Nuzzi (“Welcome” w/ Orgzeptor – Unit); 6. Larry Goldings (“Portraits Of Joni” w/ Jessica Molaskey ‎– Ghostlight Records); 7. John Medeski (“Hudson” w/ Jack DeJohnette – Motema)

2017 Keyboards: 1. Tom Coppola (“Island Dreams” w/ TOCO - Shine Your Light Music); 2. Hugo Fattoruso (“Tercer Viaje” w/ Dos Orientales – Beans Records); 3. Jim Beard (“Trip” w/ Mike Stern – Heads Up); 4. Gary Husband (“Live @ Ronnie Scott’s” w/ John McLaughlin & 4th Dimension – Abstract Logix); 5. Scott Collard (“Fire Dance” w/ Beata Pater – B&B Records); 6. Axel Laugart (“Mae Sun Vol.1: Inter-Be” – Calmit Productions); 7. Damian Espinosa (“Boundary Issues” w/ Chris Greene Quartet – Single Malt); 8. Antoine Guenet (“Machine Mass Plays Hendrix” – MoonJune); 9. Chris McCarthy (“Sonder” –RPR); 10. Vasil Hadzimanov (“Alive” – MoonJune); 11. Christian Tumalan ("Live From Stern Grove Festival" w/ Pacific Mambo Orchestra)

2017 Acoustic Bass: 1. Ron Carter (“An Evening with Ron Carter & Richard Galliano – Live At Theaterstubchen, Kassel” – In & Out); 2. Eddie Gomez (“Kind Of Bill: Live At Casino Di Sanremo” w/ Dado Moroni – BFM Jazz); 3. James Cammack (“Marseille” w/ Ahmad Jamal – Jazz Village/JazzBook); 4. Gary Peacock (“Tangents” – ECM); 5. Miroslav Vitous (“Ziljabu Nights” – Intuition); 6. Buster Williams (“There’s A Sweet, Sweet Spirit” w/ Cyrus Chestnut – HighNote); 7. Drew Gress (“Up And Coming” w/ John Abercrombie Quartet – ECM, and “Holiday on Fire” w/ Torben Waldorff – Artist Share/Linedwon); 8. Dave Holland (“Blue Maqams” w/ Anouar Brahem - ECM); 9. Essiet Essiet ("The New York Session" w/ Mark Lewis - Audio Daddio); 10. Eva Kesselring (“Flying Curly” w/ Eva Kess Group – Unit); 11. Christian McBride (“Bringin’ It” - Mack Avenue)

2017 Electric Bass: 1. Steve Swallow (“Loneliness Road” w/ Jamie Saft & Iggy Pop – Rare Noise Records); 2. Will Lee (“Somehow, Someday, Somewhere” w/ Ai Kuwabara – TOM Records); 3. Nathan East (“Reverence” – Yamanha); 4. John Lee (“Seven Secrets” w/ Larry Coryell’s 11th House” – Savoy Jazz); 5. John Patitucci (“Irmãos de Fé” – Newvelle); 6. Aaron Germain (“Fire Dance” w/ Beata Pater – B&B Records); 7. Etienne M'Bappé ("Live @ Ronnie Scott's" w/ John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension - Abstract Logix); 8. Glauco Solter ("Tripolar" w/ Mano A Mano Trio - Gramofone); 9. Gary Brown (“Other Shore” w/ José Neto Band – Caravela Music); 10. Itaiguara Brandão (“Upside Down Looking Up” w/ Mauricio Zottarelli – MZ)

2017 Drums: 1. Steve Gadd (“Somehow, Someday, Somewhere” w/ Ai Kuwabara & Will Lee – TOM Records); 2. Alphonse Mouzon (“Seven Secrets” w/ Larry Coryell’s 11th House” – Savoy Jazz); 3. Zé Eduardo Nazario ("Color Tones" w/ John Stein - Whaling City Sound); 4. Mauricio Zottarelli (“Upside Down Looking Up” – MZ); 5. Herlin Riley (“Marseille” w/ Ahmad Jamal – Jazz Village/JazzBook); 6. Jack DeJohnette (“Hudson” – Motema) ; 7. Bobby Previte (“Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson” w/ Jane Ira Bloom – Outline); 8. Asaf Sirkis (“Pasar Klewer” w/ Dwiki Dharmawan – Musikita/MoonJune); 9. Lewis Nash (“Only Time Will Tell” w/ Mike Longo Trio – CAP); 10. Ranjit Barot ("Live @ Ronnie Scott's" w/ John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension - Abstract Logix); 11. Anders Vestergard (“Inside Turnabout” – Drumvoice Records); 12. Joe LaBarbera (“Kind Of Bill: Live At Casino Di Sanremo” w/ Dado Moroni – BFM Jazz);13. Dan Gonzalez ("Out Of The Bag" w/ LehCats - 100% Vegan); 14. Lenny White (“There’s A Sweet, Sweet Spirit” w/ Cyrus Chestnut – HighNOte); 15. Joey Baron (“Titok” w/ Ferenc Snétberger – ECM); 16. Alfred Vogel (“Blow + Beat” w/ Mats Gustafsson – Boomslang Records); 17. Victor Lewis ("Akua's Dance" w/ Akua Dixon - Akua's Music); 18. Ralph Peterson (“Common Ground” w/ B.J. Jansen – Ronin Jazz)

2017 Percussion: 1. Airto Moreira (“Aluê” – Selo SESC); 2. Manolo Badrena (“Marseille” w/ Ahmad Jamal – Jazz Village/JazzBook Records); 3. Tomohiro Yahiro (“Tercer Viaje” w/ Dos Orientales – Beans Records); 4. Marcio Doctor (“Homecoming” w/ Vince Mendoza & WDR Big Band – Sunnyside); 5. Bojan Ivkovic (“Alive” w/ Vasil Hadzimanov – MoonJune); 6. Alex Acuña (“As It Should Be: Ballads 2” w/ Michael Pedicin – Groundblue Records); 7. Alex Diaz ("Song Of No Regrets" w/ Eric Alexander - HighNote); 8. Benny Koonyevsky ("Out Of The Bag" w/ LehCats - 100% Vegan); 9. Rogerio Boccato (“Jigsaw” w/ Alan Ferber Big Band – Sunnyside)

2017 Vibes/Marimba: 1. Terry Gibbs ("92 Years Young: Jammin' at the Gibbs House" - Whaling City Sound); 2. Steve Nelson (“Brothers Under The Sun” – HalfNote); 3. Gary Burton (“The Musician” w/ Chick Corea – Concord); 4. Nikara Warren (“Mae Sun Vol.1: Inter-Be” – Calmit Productions); 5. Warren Wolf (“The Co-Op” – Brown Brothers Recordings)

2017 Miscellaneous: 1. Akua Dixon - cello ("Akua's Dance" - Akua's Music); 2. Michael Rabinowitz - bassoon (“Uncharted Waters” – Cats Paws); 3. Edmar Castaneda – harp (“Live in Montreal” w/ Hiromi – Telarc); 4. Richard Galliano – accordion (“An Evening with Ron Carter & Richard Galliano – Live At Theaterstubchen, Kassel” – In & Out); 5. Anouar Brahem - oud (“Blue Maqams” – ECM); 6. Mat Maneri – viola (“New Artifacts” w/ Tony Malaby & Daniel Levin); 7. Jenny Bliss Bennett – viola da gamba (“Talinka” – Fanfare/MoonJune); 8. Jon Davis – guzheng (“Zhongyu” – MoonJune); 9. Marius Preda – cimbalom (“Mission Cimbalom” – Universal Music Romania) 10. Erik Friedlander - cello ("Gendhing For A Spirit Rising" w/ David Lopato - Global Coolant); 11. Chris Thile - mandolin ("Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau" - Nonesuch)

2017 Acoustic Guitar: 1. Ralph Towner (“My Foolish Heart” – ECM); 2. José Neto (“Other Shore” – Caravela Music); 3. Larry Coryell (“Seven Secrets” w/ Larry Coryell’s 11th House” – Savoy Jazz); 4. Biréli Lagrène ("Tribute To Stephane & Django" - Avanti Jazz); 5. Romero Lubambo ("Sampa" - Sunnyside); 6. Marcello Gonçalves ("Outra Coisa - The Music of Moacir Santos" w/ Anat Cohen - Anzic); 7. Freddie Bryant ("Akua's Dance" w/ Akua Dixon - Akua's Music); 8. John Pizzarelli (“Sinatra & Jobim @ 50” – Concord); 9. Paul Meyers (“Bright Lights & Promises: Redefining Janis Ian” w/ Sarah Partridge – Origin); 10. Rolf Sturms ("August Love Song" w/ Roswell Rudd & Heather Masse - Red House)

2017 Electric Guitar: 1. Larry Coryell (“Seven Secrets” w/ Larry Coryell’s 11th House” – Savoy Jazz); 2. John Abercrombie (“Up And Coming” – ECM); 3. John McLaughlin (“Live @ Ronnie Scott’s” – Abstract Logix); 4. Pat Martino (“Formidable” – HighNote); 5. Mark Whitfield (“Grace” – Marksman Productions); 6. Russell Malone (“Time For The Dancers” – HighNote); 7. Mike Stern (“Trip” – Heads Up); 8. Lupa Santiago (“Inside Turnabout” – Dreamvoice Records); 9. Torben Waldorff (“Holiday on Fire” – ArtistShare/Linedown); 10. Michel Delville (“Machine Mass Plays Hendrix” – MoonJune); 11. Gustavo Assis Brasil ("Upside Down Looking Up" w/ Mauricio Zottarelli - MZ); 12. John Scofield (“Hudson” w/ Jack DeJohnette – Motema); 13. Peter Bernstein (“Signs Live!” – HighNote); 14. Dusan Jevtovic (“No Answer” – MoonJune); 15. John Stein (“Color Tones” – Whaling City Sound); 16. Tohpati (“Mata Hati” w/ Tohpati Ethnomission – MoonJune); 17. Johnnie Valentino (“As It Should Be: Ballads 2” w/ Michael Pedicin – Groundblue Records)

2017 Violin: 1. Gregor Huebner ("Live at Birdland" w/ Richie Beirach - Act); 2. Roby Lakatos ("Tribute To Stephane & Django" w/ Biréli Lagrène - Avanti Jazz); 3. Zach Brock (“Festival” w/ Matt Ulery’s Loom/Large – Woolgathering Records); 4. Alicia DeJoie (“Zhongyu” w/ Zhongyu – MoonJune); 5. Mark Feldman ("Leaving Everything Behind" w/ Yelena Eckemoff Quartet - L&H Prod.)

2017 Flute: 1. Karen Stachel ("Out Of The Bag" w/ LehCats - 100% Vegan); 2. Charles Lloyd ("Passin' Thru" - Blue Note); 3. Hubert Laws (one track from "Reverence" w/ Nathan East - Yamaha); 4. Mark Lewis (one track from “The New York Session” - Audio Dadio); 5. Anne Drummond (“Clockwork” w/ Victor Gould – Fresh Sound); 6. Fernando Brandão (“Color Tones” w/ John Stein – Whaling City Sound); 7. Oriente Lopez (“Upside Down Looking Up” w/ Mauricio Zottarelli – MZ); 8. Scott Robinson (“Bright Lights & Promises: Redefining Janis Ian” w/ Sarah Partridge – Origin); 9. Anna Weber ("Binary" - Skirl); 10. Esaie Cid (“Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” w/ Lisa Lindsley – Take One Music)

2017 Clarinet/Bass Clarinet: 1. Anat Cohen (“Outra Coisa – The Music of Moacir Santos” w/ Marcello Gonçalves – Anzic); 2. David Krakauer (“AKOKA: Reframing Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time” – Pentatone); 3. Norbert Stachel ("Out Of The Bag" w/ LehCats - 100% Vegan); 4. Sergio Albach (“TriPolar” w/ Mano A Mano Trio – Tratore); 5. Gilad Atzmon (“Talinka” – Fanfare/MoonJune and "Passar Klewer" w/ Dwiki Dharmawan - Musikita/MoonJune); 6. Louis Sclavis (“Asian Fields Variations” – ECM); 7. Scott Robinson (“Bright Lights & Promises: Redefining Janis Ian” w/ Sarah Partridge – Origin); 8. Lucas Pino ("Gendhing For A Spirit Rising" w/ David Lopato - Global Coolant); 9. Samuel Pompeo ("Que Descaída" - P&MB0); 10. Chris Speed (“Vista Accumulation” w/ Matt Mitchell – Pi Recordings); 11. James DeJoie (“Zhongyu” w/ Zhongyu – MoonJune)

2017 Trumpet: 1. Anders Bergcrantz (“Soulfully Yours” – Vanguard Music Boulevard); 2. Randy Brecker (“Seven Secrets” w/ Larry Coryell’s 11th House” – Savoy Jazz); 3. Matt Cappy (“Church And State” – Ropeadope); 4. Tom Harrell (“Moving Picture” – HighNote); 5. Tomasz Stanko (“December Avenue” – ECM); 6. Ingrid Jensen (“Holiday on Fire” w/ Torben Waldorff – ArtistShare, and “Traces” w/ David’s Angels – Kopasetic); 7. Jack Walrath ("Lyric Fury" w/ Cynthia Hilts - Blond Coyote); 8. Jeremy Pelt (“The Co-Op” – Brown Brothers Recordings); 9. Andrea Motis (“Emotional Dance” – Impulse!); 10. Duane Eubanks (“Common Ground” w/ B.J. Jansen – Ronin Jazz)

2017 Flugelhorn: 1. Tom Harrell (“Moving Picture” – HighNote); 2. Jeremy Pelt (“The Co-Op” – Brown Brothers Recordings); 3. Phil Grenadier (“Color Tones” w/ John Stein – Whaling City Sound); 4. Matt Cappy (“Church And State” – Ropeadope); 5. Anders Bergcrantz ("Soulfully Yours" - Vanguard Music Boulevard)

2017 Trombone: 1. Roswell Rudd ("August Love Song" w/ Heather Masse - Red House); 2. Steve Davis (“Think Ahead” – Smoke Sessions); 3. Delfeayo Marsalis (“Common Ground” w/ B.J. Jansen – Ronin Jazz); 4. Steve Turre (“Hard Times” w/ Vincent Herring – Smoke Sessions); 5. Wycliffe Gordon (“The Co-Op” – Brown Brothers Recordings); 6. Ray Anderson ("The Long Road" w/ BassDrumBone - Auricle); 7. Trombone Shorty (“Parking Lot Symphony” – Blue Note); 8. Deborah Weisz ("Lyric Fury" w/ Cynthia Hilts - Blond Coyote); 9. Nils Landgren (“Meet Me At The Movies” w/ Viktoria Tolstoy – ACT)

2017 Soprano Sax: 1. Jane Ira Bloom (“Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson” – Outline); 2. Hailey Niswanger (“Mae Sun Vol.1: Inter-Be” – Calmit Productions); 3. Dave Liebman ("Masters In Bordeaux" w/ Martial Solal - Sunnyside); 4. Michael Pedicin (“As It Should Be: Ballads 2” – Groundblue Records); 5. Sam Newsome (“Fire Dance” w/ Beata Pater – B&B Records); 6. Chris Potter (“The Dreamer Is The Dream” – ECM); 7. Chris Greene (“Boundary Issues” – Single Malt); 8. Norbert Stachel ("Out Of The Bag" w/ LehCats - 100% Vegan); 9. Harry Sokal (“I Remember Art” – Alessa Records); 10. Samuel Pompeo (Que Descaída" - P&MB); 11. Vincent Herring (“Hard Times” – Smoke Sessions);12. Gilad Atzmon (“Pasar Klewer” w/ Dwiki Dharmawan – Musikita/MoonJune); 13. Lisa Parrot ("Lyric Fury" w/ Cynthia Hilts - Blond Coyote); 14. Roscoe Mitchell (“Bells For The South Side” – ECM)

2017 Alto Sax: 1. Richie Cole (“Latin Lover” – RCPP); 2. Mark Lewis (“The New York Session" - Audio Daddio); 3. Dick Oatts ("Use Your Imagination" - SteepleChase); 4. Vincent Herring (“Hard Times” – Smoke Sessions); 5. Lee Konitz (“Frescalato” – Impulse!); 6. Bobby Watson (“Made In America” – Smoke Sessions); 7. David Binney (“Alive” w/ Vasil Hadzimanov Band – MoonJune); 8. Kuba Więcek ("Another Raindrop - Polish Jazz Vol. 78" - Polskie Nagrania/Warner Music Poland); 9. John O’Gallagher (“Live In Brooklyn” – Whirlpool Records); 10. Steve Wilson (“Sit Back, Relax & Unwind” – JMI); 11. Miguel Zenón (“Típico” – Miel Music)

2017 Tenor Sax: 1. Eric Alexander (“Song Of No Regrets” – HighNote); 2. Michael Pedicin (“As It Should Be – Ballads 2” – Groundblue Records); 3. Dave Liebman ("Masters In Bordeaux" w/ Martial Solal - Sunnyside); 4. Houston Person (“Rain Or Shine” – HighNote); 5. Charles Lloyd (“Passin’ Thru” – Blue Note); 6. Chris Potter (“The Dreamer Is The Dream” – ECM); 7. Rahsaan Barber (“The Music In The Night” – Jazz Music City); 8. Norbert Stachel ("Out Of The Bag" w/ LehCats - 100% Vegan); 9. Chris Greene (“Boundary Issues” – Single Malt); 10. Tim Armacost (“Time Being” – Whirlpool Records); 11. Ohad Talmor (“Subway Lines” w/ Talmor Irniger Counterpoints” – Fresh Sound); 12. Bill Evans ("Rise Above" - BE); 13. Chris Speed (“Vista Accumulation” w/ Matt Mitchell – Pi Recordings); 14. Harry Sokal (“I Remember Art” - Alessa Records)

2017 Baritone Sax: 1. B.J. Jansen (“Common Ground” – Ronin Jazz); 2. Jared Sims (“Change of Address” – Ropeadope); 3. Norbert Stachel ("Shades Of The Bay" - Cheeseburger Records); 4. Samuel Pompeo ("Que Descaída" - P&MB); 5. Gary Smulyan (“Royalty at Le Duc” – Groovin’ High/Sunnyside); 6. Ronnie Cuber (“6 Hours with Ronnie” w/ Kazimierz Jonkisz Energy – For-Tune); 7. Mats Gustafsson ‎(“Blow + Beat” w/ Alfred Vogel - Boomslang Records); 8. Lisa Parrott ("Lyric Fury" w/ Cynthia Hilts - Blond Coyote)

2017 Male Singer: 1. Theo Bleckmann (“Elegy” – ECM); 2. Gregory Porter (“Nat King Cole & Me” – Blue Note); 3. Bobby McFerrin (“The Musician” w/ Chick Corea – Concord); 4. John Pizzarelli (“Sinatra & Jobim @ 50” – Concord); 5. Bob Merrill (“Tell Me Your Troubles – Songs by Joe Bushkin” – Accurate); 6. Curtis Stigers (“One More For The Road” with the Danish Radio Big Band – Concord); 7. Boris Savoldelli (“Pasar Klewer” w/ Dwiki Dharmawan - Musikita/MoonJune)

2017 Female Singer: 1. Beata Pater (“Fire Dance” – B&B Records); 2. Diana Krall (“Turn Up The Quiet” - Verve); 3. Dee Dee Bridgewater (“Memphis… Yes, I’m Ready” – Okeh); 4. Sylvia Brooks (“The Arrangement” – SB); 5. Lisa Lindsley (“Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” – Take One Music); 6. Heather Masse ("August Love Song" w/ Roswell Rudd - Red House); 7. Sofie Norling (“Traces” w/ David’s Angels – Kopasetic); 8. Sarah Partridge (“Bright Lights & Promises: Redefining Janis Ian” (Origin); 9. Jean Baylor (“The Journey” w/ The Baylor Project – Be A Light); 10. Vikotoria Tolstoy (“Meet Me At The Movies” – ACT); 11. Barbara Morrison ("I Wanna Be Loved" - Savant); 12. Tali Atzmon (“Talinka” – Fanfare/MoonJune); 13. Laurie Dapice ("Parting The Veil" - LD); 14. Fay Claassen (“Luck Child” – Challenge); 15. Cécile McLorin Savant (“Dreams And Daggers” – Mack Avenue); 16. Lizz Wright (“Grace” – Concord); 17. Julie Benko (“Introducing Julie Benko” – JB); 18. Carrie Furniss (“Sonder” w/ Chris McCarthy – RPR)

2017 Instrumental Group: 1. Larry Coryell’s 11th House (“Seven Secrets” – Savoy Jazz); 2. John McLaughlin & 4th Dimension (“Live @ Ronnie Scott’s” – Abstract Logix); 3. José Neto Band (“Other Shore” – Caravela Music); 4. Machine Mass (“Plays Hendrix” – MoonJune); 5. Zhonguy (“Zhongyu” – MoonJune); 6. Chris Greene Quartet (“Boundary Issues” – Single Malt Recordings); 7. The MUH Trio ("Prague After Dark" - JMood Records); 8. Cynthia Hilts ("Lyric Fury" - Blond Coyote); 9. Hailey Niswanger's Mae Sun ("Vol.1: Inter-Be" - Mae Sun Music); 10. LehCats ("Out Of The Bag" - 100% Vegan)

2017 Big Band/Jazz Orchestra: 1. Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge (“Whispers on the Wind” – Mama Records); 2. WDR Big Band Cologne (“Homecoming” – Sunnyside); 3. Pacific Mambo Orchestra (“Live From Stern Grove Festival” – Pacific Mambo Records); 4. Alan Ferber Big Band (“Jigsaw” – Sunnyside); 5. The Brett Gold New York Jazz Orchestra (“Dreaming Big” – Gold Fox Records); 6. Rainer Tempel Bigband (“Sophistication” – Neuklang); 7. The Danish Radio Big Band (“Charlie Watts Meets The Radio Danish Big Band” – Impulse!); 8. Eve Risser White Desert Orchestra (“Les Deux Versants Se Regardent” – Clean Feed); 9. Christian McBride Big Band (“Bringin’ It” – Mack Avenue); 10. John Beasley’s Monk’estra (“John Beasley Presents Monk’estra Vol. 2” – Mack Avenue); 11. Jihye Lee Orchestra (“April” – Joun Music)

2017 Composer: 1. Hermeto Pascoal (“Natureza Universal” – Natura Musical); 2. Anders Bergcrantz (“Soulfully Yours” – Vanguard Music Boulevard); 3. Carlos Franzetti (“Luminosa” – Sunnyside); 4. Vince Mendoza (“Homecoming” – Sunnyside); 5. Hugo Fattoruso (“Tercer Viaje” – Beans Records); 6. Brett Gold (“Dreaming Big” w/ The Brett Gold New York Jazz Orchestra” – Gold Fox Records); 7. Cynthia Hilts ("Lyric Fury" - Blond Coyote); 8. Chuck Owen ("Whispers on the Wind" - Mama Records); 9. Alan Ferber (“Jigsaw” – Sunnyside); 10. Eva Kesselring (“Flying Curly” w/ Eva Kess Group – Unit); 11. Rainer Tempel (“Sophistication” – Neuklang); 12. Tom Coppola (“Island Dreams” w/ TOCO); 13. Alex Danson (“Fire Dance” w/ Beata Pater – B&B Records); 14. Jihye Lee (“April” w/ Jihye Lee Orchestra – Joun Music); 15. Jane Ira Bloom ("Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson" - Outline); 16. José Neto (“Other Shore” – Caravela Music); 17. Johnnie Valentino ("As It Should Be: Ballads 2" w/ Michael Pedicin - Groundblue Records)

2017 Arranger: 1. Hermeto Pascoal (“Natureza Universal” – Natura Musical); 2. Carlos Franzetti ("Luminosa" w/ Allison Brewster Franzetti - Sunnyside); 3. Brett Gold (“Dreaming Big” w/ The Brett Gold New York Jazz Orchestra – Gold Fox); 4. Vince Mendoza (“Homecoming” – Sunnyside); 5. Chuck Owen ("Whispers on the Wind" - Mama Records); 6. Alan Ferber (“Jigsaw” – Sunnyside); 7. Jihye Lee ("April" - Joun Music); 8. Cynthia Hilts ("Lyric Fury" - Blond Coyote)

2017 New Talent: Kuba Więcek - alto sax ("Another Raindrop - Polish Jazz Vol. 78" - Polskie Nagrania/Warner Music Poland)

2017 Engineer: 1. Jim Anderson (“Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson” w/ Jane Ira Bloom – Outline); 2. Mike Marciano/Paul Wickliffe (“Dreaming Big” w/ The Brett Gold New York Jazz Orchestra – Gold Fox); 3. Jan Holzner (“Luminosa” w/ Carlos Franzetti & Allison Brewster Franzetti – Sunnyside); 4. Dan Feiszli (“Fire Dance” w/ Beata Pater – B&B Records); 5. Steve Mandel (“Sit Back, Relax & Unwind” w/ Steve Wilson – JMI); 6. Max Ross ("The New York Session" w/ Mark Lewis - Audio Daddio); 7. Randall Crafton ("Akua's Dance" w/ Akua Dixon - Akua's Music)

The Best 25 Instrumental Albums

Anders Bergcrantz: “Soulfully Yours” (Vanguard Music Boulevard) CD & Vinyl

Carlos Franzetti & Allison Brewster Franzetti: “Luminosa” (Sunnyside) CD

Hugo Fattoruso & Tomohiro Yahiro (Dos Orientales): “Tercer Viaje” (Beans Records) CD

Ahmad Jamal: “Marseille” (Jazz Village/Jazz Book) CD

Jane Ira Bloom: “Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson” (Outline) 2-CD set

Hermeto Pascoal & Big Band: “Natureza Universal” (Natura Musical) CD

Dwiki Dharmawan: "Pasar Klewer" (Musikita/MoonJune) 2-CD set

Hugo Fattoruso & Leo Maslíah: "Montevideo Ambiguo" (Montevideo Music Group) CD

Akua Dixon: "Akua's Dance" (Akua's Music) CD
LehCats: "Out Of The Bag" (100% Vegan) CD

Mark Whitfield: “Grace” (Marksman Productions) CD

Dusan Jevtovic: “No Answer” (MoonJune) CD

John Stein: “Color Tones” (Whaling City Sound) CD

Steve Wilson: “Sit Back, Relax & Unwind” (JMI) Vinyl

Mauricio Zottarelli: “Upside Down Looking Up” (MZ) CD

Pacific Mambo Orchestra: “Live From Stern Grove Festival” (Pacific Mambo Records) CD

Matt Cappy: “Church And State” (Ropeadope) CD

Lupa Santiago & Anders Vestergard Quartet: “Inside Turnabout” (Drumvoice Records) CD
Hailey Niswanger: "Mae Sun Vol.1: Inter-Be" (Mae Sun Music) CD

Chris Greene Quartet: “Boundary Issues” (Single Malt) CD

Mike Longo Trio: “Only Time Will Tell” (CAP) CD

The Brett Gold New York Jazz Orchestra: “Dreaming Big” (Gold Fox Records)

Larry Coryell’s 11th House: “Seven Secrets” (Savoy Jazz)

John Abercrombie Quartet: “Up And Coming” (ECM)

Machine Mass: “Plays Hendrix” (MoonJune) CD

The Best 15 Vocal Albums

Jimmy Scott: “I Go Back Home – Soundtrack” (Eden River Records)

Beata Pater: “Fire Dance” (B&B Records)

Diana Krall: “Turn Up The Quiet” (Verve)

Sylvia Brooks: “The Arrangement” (SB)

Theo Bleckmann: “Elegy” (ECM)

Sarah Partridge: “Bright Lights & Promises: Redefining Janis Ian” (Origin)

Lisa Lindsley: "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" (Take One Music)

David’s Angels: "Traces" (Kopasetic)

Talinka: “Talinka” (Fanfare/MoonJune)

Bob Merrill: “Tell Me Your Troubles – Songs By Joe Bushkin” (Accurate)

The Baylor Taylor Project: “The Journey” (Be A Light)

Laurie Dapice: "Parting The Veil" (LD)

Julie Benko: “Introducing Julie Benko” (JB)

Viktoria Tolstoy: “Meet Me At The Movies” (ACT)

Curtis Stigers with the Danish Radio Big Band: “One More For The Road” (Concord)

The Best DVDs/Blu-rays

Cesar Camargo Mariano: “Joined” (Clef Records) DVD

Chick Corea: “The Musician” (Concord) Blu-ray + 3 CDs

"I Called Him (Lee) Morgan" (FilmRise) DVD/Blu-ray Movie
"Chasing Trane - The John Coltrane Documentary" (Impulse!) Movie, DVD
"Sound of Redemption - The Frank Morgan Story" (Kino Lorber) Movie, DVD
Roby Lakatos & Biréli Lagrène: "Tribute To Stéphane & Django" (Avanti) DVD
Nat King Cole: "How High The Moon - The Lost Tapes" (Deutsche Austrophon) DVD
Sonny Rollins: "Saxophone Colossus" (Mug-Shot) DVD, reissue
Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson: "Historic Jazz Videos 1927-1954" (Zyx) 4-DVD set

Andreas Schaerer: “The Big Wig – Hildegard Lernt Fliegen meets the Orchestra of the Lucerne Festival Academy” (ACT) DVD + CD

The Best Historical Albums/Reissues (no box sets)

Hermeto Pascoal: “Viajando Com O Som – The Lost ’76 Vice-Versa Studio Session” (Far Out) CD

Jaco Pastorius: “Truth, Liberty & Soul – Live In NYC: The Complete 1982 NPR Jazz Alive! Recording” (Resonance) 2-CD set/3-Vinyl Set

Sidney Bechet & Martial Solal: “Together” (Jazz Image) CD

Freddie Hubbard: “The CTI Years” (Hi Hat) 2-CD set

CTI All Stars: “CTI Summer Jazz At The Hollywood Bowl” (CTI/King) 2-CD set

CTI All Stars: “California Concert” (CTI/King) 2-CD set

Freddie Hubbard: “1973 - Live in Zonderschot” (Cortizona) Vinyl

Thelonious Monk: “Les Liaison Dangereuses 1960” (Sam Records)

Wynton Kelly Trio & Wes Montgomery: “Smokin’ In Seattle” (Resonance)

Dave Liebman & Joe Lovano: “Compassion – The Music Of John Coltrane” (Resonance) CD

Antonio José: “Um Mito – Uma Coruja Branca” (Carmo) CD

George Benson: “Pacific Fire” (CTI/King) CD

Joe Farrell: “Canned Funk” (CTI/King) CD

Chet Baker, Jim Hall & Hubert Laws: “Studio Trieste” (CTI/King) CD

Nat King Cole Trio: “Zurich 1950” (TCB) CD

Maria de Fátima Fattoruso: “Bahia Com H” (Sondor/Think! Records) CD

Albert Ayler Quartet: “Copenhagen Live 1964” (Hatology) CD

Ray Barretto: “La Cuna” (CTI) Vinyl

Top Box Sets/Compilations

Chick Corea: “The Musician” (Concord) 3CDs + 1 Bluray

Miles Davis: “Legendary Albums” (Sony/Zeit) 10 Vinyls

Herbie Hancock: “5 Original Albums” (Blue Note) 5 CDs

In memoriam: Larry Coryell, Grady Tate, Jon Hendricks, Al Jarreau, Pete Turner, Chuck Stewart, Laudir de Oliveira, Tommy LiPuma, John Abercrombie, Wilson das Neves, Ben Riley, Allan Holdsworth, Chiquito Braga, Dave Valentin, Breno Sauer, Delmar Brown, Kevin Mahogany, Sunny Murray, Horace Parlan, Buck Hill, Mickey Roker, Nat Hentoff, Michael White, Svend Asmussen, Chuck Loeb, Geri Allen, Muhal Richard Abrams, Daniel Pezotti, Leon Ware, Arthur Blythe, Joe Fields, Jaki Liebezeit, Butch Trucks, Michael Naura, Hannes Anrig, Rolf Bänninger, Orlandivo, Clyde Stubblefield, Misha Mengelberg, Adolf Georg Klapproth, Rudy Lawless, Jim Czak, Günter Bochow, Chuck Berry, Gérard Terronès, James Cotton, Bill Bell, Roy Fisher, Buck Hill, Avo Uvezian, Steve Schwartz, Bob Erdos, Ekkehard Jost, Morris “Butch” Stewart, Steve Getz, Candinho, Celia, Walter Becker