"This Year's Grammy's Jazz Winners"By KJazz Intern Luis Castilla" />
"This Year's Grammy's Jazz Winners"
By KJazz Intern Luis Castilla
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Jazz had a strong presence at the 69th Annual GRAMMY Awards, with honors spanning classic big band and trio recordings to more experimental, genre-blending projects. The winners connected established figures like Christian McBride and Chick Corea with newer voices such as Samara Joy and Nate Smith, pointing to a musical landscape shaped by both tradition and evolution.
Samara Joy won Best Jazz Vocal Album for 2024’s Portrait. The album was recorded live with her touring band at Van Gelder Studio. Portrait features a set of jazz standards and classic repertoire, arranged for a small ensemble and captured mostly in a few takes. Joy sings throughout in close coordination with the band, emphasizing group play rather than a solo-driven approach.
Pianist Sullivan Fortner won Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Southern Nights, recorded with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Marcus Gilmore. The album grew out of a week-long residency at New York’s Village Vanguard in July 2023 where Fortner brought the trio together for the first time. The nine-track set includes Fortner’s original “9 Bar Tune,” a rendition of Allen Toussaint’s “Southern Nights,” Cole Porter’s “I Love You” and energetic interpretations of Clifford Brown’s “Daahoud” and Woody Shaw’s “Organ Grinder.”
The GRAMMY for Best Jazz Performance went to “Windows – Live” by Chick Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade. This track is from the posthumously released Trilogy 3, honoring Corea’s legacy after his death in 2021. “Windows – Live” is a live trio performance of one of Corea’s classic compositions, featuring piano, bass and drums. Corea is joined by longtime collaborators McBride and Blade.
McBride also won Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for Without Further Ado, Vol. 1 with his Big Band. The album blends jazz, R&B, and pop, featuring guest performances from Samara Joy, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dianne Reeves, José James, and Sting. The 17-piece ensemble delivers tight, lively arrangements that highlight both the band’s energy and the soloists’ performances.
Drummer and composer Nate Smith won Best Alternative Jazz Album for Live-Action. The album blends jazz with funk, R&B and electronic music, featuring rich layers and improvisational interplay. The result is a genre-crossing sound that reflects Smith’s adventurous approach and the evolution of jazz.
Outside the jazz categories, blues guitarist Buddy Guy won Best Traditional Blues Album for Ain’t Done with the Blues. One of the greats of the genre, Guy blends traditional blues with guest appearances from Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Joe Bonamassa and Peter Frampton. The album ranges from raw electric blues to soulful, gospel-tinged tracks highlighting Guy’s expressive guitar work and his enduring influence on music.
These wins highlight the scope and vitality of contemporary jazz and blues. From established legends to rising talents, the awards reflect a scene that honors tradition while embracing innovation, showing how artists continue to push the boundaries of their genres.
Tribute to Willie Colón
