Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
Sure, the jazz awards may not have been on the national telecast. But there were jazz Grammys presented on Wednesday at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ annual ceremony, which took place in Los Angeles.
The jazz and blues winners included:
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
The Way Up: Pat Metheny Group (Nonesuch)
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Good Night, And Good Luck: Dianne Reeves (Concord Jazz)
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
“Why Was I Born?”: Sonny Rollins, soloist, from Without A Song - The 9/11 Concert (Milestone)
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Beyond The Sound Barrier: Wayne Shorter Quartet (Verve)
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Overtime: Dave Holland Big Band (Sunnyside/Dare2)
Best Latin Jazz Album
Listen Here!: Eddie Palmieri (Concord Picante)
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
“Caravan”: Les Paul, from American Made, World Played (Capitol Records)
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
The Art Of Romance: Tony Bennett (RPM Records/Columbia Records)
Best Traditional Blues Album
80: B.B. King & Friends (Geffen)
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Cost Of Living: Delbert McClinton (New West Records)
Best Instrumental Composition
“Into The Light”: Billy Childs, composer (Billy Childs Ensemble), from Lyric (Lunacy Music/ArtistShare)
Best Instrumental Arrangement
“The Incredits”: Gordon Goodwin, arranger, from The Incredibles - Soundtrack (Walt Disney Records)
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
“What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?”: Billy Childs, Gil Goldstein and Heitor Pereira, arrangers (Chris Botti & Sting) (Columbia Records)
Best Historical Album
The Complete Library Of Congress Recordings By Alan Lomax:Jelly Roll Morton (Rounder Records)
For a complete list of winners, go to grammy.com.
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
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