Bennett, Corea Among Winners in 2015 DownBeat Readers Poll
Posted
10/26/2015
The results of the 80th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll are in. Tony
Bennett has been elected into the DownBeat Hall of Fame, and the
ever-youthful singer also topped the Male Vocalist category.
Pianist/keyboardist Chick Corea topped the categories Jazz Artist and Jazz Album, for Trilogy (Stretch/Concord), a live three-CD set recorded with his trio (bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade).
Snarky Puppy earned its first win in a DownBeat poll by topping the Jazz
Group category. McBride is the winner of the Bass category, Chris
Potter won the Tenor Saxophone category and the Jazz at Lincoln Center
Orchestra topped the Big Band category.
Other winners include Wynton Marsalis (Trumpet), Trombone Shorty
(Trombone), Hubert Laws (Flute), Stanley Clarke (Electric Bass), Jack
DeJohnette (Drums), Poncho Sanchez (Percussion), and Diana Krall (Female
Vocalist).
Wayne Shorter topped the Soprano Saxophone category, and a reissue of his classic album Speak No Evil (Blue Note) was the winner for top Historical Album.
The readers’ choice for top Blues Album was Eric Clapton’s The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale
(Bushbranch/Surfdog). The album, which is an all-star tribute to
Clapton’s friend and collaborator JJ Cale (1938–2013), includes
contributions from Derek Trucks, Mark Knopfler and John Mayer.
The Beyond Album of the Year honors went to Black Messiah (RCA), by hip-hop artist D’Angelo, and guitarist Jeff Beck won the category Beyond Artist or Group.
With 28,496 voters casting ballots, the 2015 poll generated the largest
voter turnout in the history of the DownBeat Readers Poll.
“The results of this year’s poll reflect the tremendous diversity and
depth of talent in today’s jazz scene,” said DownBeat Publisher Frank
Alkyer. “As one of the greatest vocalists ever, Tony Bennett belongs in
the Hall of Fame alongside the artists who inspired him, including
Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. Tony also won the Male Vocalist
category, and when readers open up the December issue, they’ll see that
Tony’s latest album, The Silver Lining, is the subject of a 5-star review.
“While Tony is a veteran who is still making fantastic music, other
winners in the Readers Poll are young musicians whose careers are on the
rise,” Alkyer added. “Having seen Snarky Puppy play the jazz festival
circuit over the past few years, I’m thrilled that the band won the Jazz
Group category.
“Looking at the results of the poll, with winners like Snarky Puppy,
Trombone Shorty and Anat Cohen, we know that the future of jazz is in
great hands. Everyone here at DownBeat is grateful to our passionate,
knowledgeable readers for making our 80th Readers Poll one to remember.”
The December issue of DownBeat contains the complete results in all 34
Readers Poll categories, highlighting more than 650 artists. The poll
results include 90 of the year’s top albums in Jazz, Blues and Beyond.
Additionally, the December issue includes features on poll winners such
as Bennett, Corea, Laws and Snarky Puppy. It also includes a special
centennial salute to Frank Sinatra, who was born on Dec. 12, 1915.
To order a digital and/or print subscription to DownBeat, including the December issue, click https://subforms.com/downbeat/subscribe/index.asp" rel="nofollow - here . To purchase just the December print edition, click https://subforms.com/downbeat/store/product.asp?id=190" rel="nofollow - here .
The list of winners is below:
80th ANNUAL DOWNBEAT READERS POLL WINNERS
Hall of Fame: Tony Bennett
Jazz Artist: Chick Corea
Jazz Album: Chick Corea Trio, Trilogy (Stretch/Concord)
Historical Album: Wayne Shorter, Speak No Evil (Blue Note)
Jazz Group: Snarky Puppy
Big Band: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Trumpet: Wynton Marsalis
Trombone: Trombone Shorty
Soprano Saxophone: Wayne Shorter
Alto Saxophone: Ornette Coleman
Tenor Saxophone: Chris Potter
Baritone Saxophone: Gary Smulyan
Clarinet: Anat Cohen
Flute: Hubert Laws
Piano: Herbie Hancock
Keyboard: Herbie Hancock
Organ: Joey DeFrancesco
Guitar: Pat Metheny
Bass: Christian McBride
Electric Bass: Stanley Clarke
Violin: Regina Carter
Drums: Jack DeJohnette
Percussion: Poncho Sanchez
Vibraphone: Gary Burton
Miscellaneous Instrument: Béla Fleck (banjo)
Female Vocalist: Diana Krall
Male Vocalist: Tony Bennett
Composer: Maria Schneider
Arranger: Maria Schneider
Record Label: Blue Note
Blues Artist or Group: B.B. King
Blues Album: Eric Clapton & Friends, The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale (Bushbranch/Surfdog)
Beyond Artist or Group: Jeff Beck
Beyond Album: D’Angelo, Black Messiah (RCA)
from www.downbeat.com
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