Oct 28, 2025 10:47 AM
In Memoriam: Jack DeJohnette, 1942–2025
Jack DeJohnette, a bold and resourceful drummer and NEA Jazz Master who forged a unique vocabulary on the kit over his…
Terri Lyne Carrington, who topped three categories in the 2020 DownBeat Critics Poll, is the first female instrumentalist to win the Jazz Artist of the Year category.
(Photo: John Watson)Trailblazing drummer and bandleader Terri Lyne Carrington has made history numerous times in her career, and the results of the 68th Annual DownBeat Critics Poll are yet another example. Carrington was a triple winner in the poll, becoming the first female instrumentalist to win the Jazz Artist category. Her 2019 release, Waiting Game (Motéma), was voted the top Jazz Album. She recorded the double-disc set with her band Social Science, which topped the Jazz Group category.
“As a musician, producer, educator and activist, Terri Lyne Carrington is an amazing force in the jazz community,” said DownBeat Editor Bobby Reed. “Her skills as a bandleader are evidenced not only by the incredible music on Waiting Game, but also by the many accolades she has received. We are proud to present her with three DownBeat Critics Poll awards to add to her growing collection of honors.”
Among the other artists winning multiple categories in the poll is Maria Schneider, who topped the Composer and Arranger categories, as well as the Big Band category, for her namesake orchestra. Reedist Shabaka Hutchings topped the category Rising Star–Jazz Artist, and his band Shabaka and the Ancestors topped the category Rising Star–Jazz Group. Makaya McCraven won the categories Rising Star–Drums and Rising Star–Producer.
There was a tie in the Piano category this year, with Kenny Barron receiving the same number of votes as Kris Davis.
Other winners in the 2020 Critics Poll include Cécile McLorin Salvant (Female Vocalist), Gregory Porter (Male Vocalist), Rudresh Mahanthappa (Alto Saxophone), Jaimie Branch (Rising Star–Trumpet), Lakecia Benjamin (Rising Star–Alto Saxophone) and Sasha Berliner (Rising Star–Vibraphone).
The Historical Album of the Year is John Coltrane’s Blue World (Impulse), which includes 27 minutes of previously unheard music. Recorded in 1964, the album features bassist Jimmy Garrison, drummer Elvin Jones and pianist McCoy Tyner, who died March 6 at age 81.
The Blues Album of the Year is singer-guitarist Robert Cray’s That’s What I Heard (Nozzle/ThirtyTigers), and the Beyond Album of the Year is guitarist Bill Frisell’s Harmony.
The August issue of DownBeat includes the full results of the poll, along with features on poll winners Ambrose Akinmusire (Trumpet), Joey DeFrancesco (Organ), Steve Swallow (Electric Bass) and others. A complete list of winners is below. Subscribe to DownBeat here to ensure that you get a copy of the August issue.
Winners from the 2019 poll can be found here. DB
2020 DownBeat Critics Poll
Hall of Fame: Jimmy Heath
Hall of Fame: Carmen McRae
Hall of Fame: Mildred Bailey
Jazz Artist: Terri Lyne Carrington
Jazz Album: Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science, Waiting Game (Motéma)
Historical Album: John Coltrane, Blue World (Impulse)
Jazz Group: Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science
Big Band: Maria Schneider Orchestra
Trumpet: Ambrose Akinmusire
Trombone: Wycliffe Gordon
Soprano Saxophone: Jane Ira Bloom
Alto Saxophone: Rudresh Mahanthappa
Tenor Saxophone: Charles Lloyd
Baritone Saxophone: James Carter
Clarinet: Anat Cohen
Flute: Nicole Mitchell
Piano: Kenny Barron and Kris Davis (TIE)
Keyboard: Herbie Hancock
Organ: Joey DeFrancesco
Guitar: Mary Halvorson
Bass: Christian McBride
Electric Bass: Steve Swallow
Violin: Regina Carter
Drums: Brian Blade
Percussion: Zakir Hussain
Vibraphone: Stefon Harris
Miscellaneous Instrument: Tomeka Reid (cello)
Female Vocalist: Cécile McLorin Salvant
Male Vocalist: Gregory Porter
Composer: Maria Schneider
Arranger: Maria Schneider
Record Label: ECM
Producer: Manfred Eicher
Blues Artist or Group: Gary Clark Jr.
Blues Album: Robert Cray, That’s What I Heard (Nozzle/Thirty Tigers)
Beyond Artist or Group: Dr. John
Beyond Album: Bill Frisell, Harmony (Blue Note)
Rising Star Categories
Rising Star–Jazz Artist: Shabaka Hutchings
Rising Star–Jazz Group: Shabaka & The Ancestors
Rising Star–Big Band: Ralph Peterson’s Gen-Next Big Band
Rising Star–Trumpet: Jaimie Branch
Rising Star–Trombone: Nick Finzer
Rising Star–Soprano Saxophone: Yuval Cohen
Rising Star–Alto Saxophone: Lakecia Benjamin
Rising Star–Tenor Saxophone: James Brandon Lewis
Rising Star–Baritone Saxophone: Josh Sinton
Rising Star–Clarinet: Aurora Nealand
Rising Star–Flute: Anna Webber
Rising Star–Piano: Aaron Diehl
Rising Star–Keyboard: Zaccai Curtis
Rising Star–Organ: Akiko Tsuruga
Rising Star–Bass: Ben Street
Rising Star–Electric Bass: Tal Wilkenfeld
Rising Star–Violin: Sarah Bernstein
Rising Star–Drums: Makaya McCraven
Rising Star–Percussion: Chad Taylor
Rising Star–Vibraphone: Sasha Berliner
Rising Star–Miscellaneous Instrument: Brandee Younger (harp)
Rising Star–Female Vocalist: Veronica Swift
Rising Star–Male Vocalist: Leslie Odom Jr.
Rising Star–Composer: JD Allen
Rising Star–Arranger: Sullivan Fortner
Rising Star–Producer: Makaya McCraven
Jack DeJohnette boasted a musical resume that was as long as it was fearsome.
Oct 28, 2025 10:47 AM
Jack DeJohnette, a bold and resourceful drummer and NEA Jazz Master who forged a unique vocabulary on the kit over his…
“Think of all the creative people I’m going to meet and a whole other way of thinking about music and a challenge of singing completely different material than I would have sung otherwise to my highest level in dedication to the moment,” Elling says about his Broadway run.
Sep 9, 2025 1:18 PM
Kurt Elling was back at home in Chicago, grabbing some family time in a late-June window between gigs. Sporting a smile…
Pat Metheny will perform with his Side-Eye III ensemble at Big Ears 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee, next March.
Sep 9, 2025 12:19 PM
Big Ears has announced the lineup for its 2026 festival, which will take place March 26–29 and include 250…
“[That’s] the thing of the beboppers,” Bradford said. “These guys were important for not only playing that wonderful music, but they knew a sort of social stance, you see?”
Sep 9, 2025 1:07 PM
It was a calm, balmy, near-perfect evening in Westwood, California, not far from UCLA, in the expansive courtyard at…
Esperanza Spalding closed an audacious Chicago Jazz Festival set with “Endangered Species.”
Sep 9, 2025 11:50 AM
The 45th Chicago Jazz Festival kicked off its headline events with two erudite individuals, Esperanza Spalding and…
