DownBeat 2026
July 27, 202674th Annual Critics Poll 2026
Jazzword Ballot
Ken Waxman JazzWord.com
Toronto, Ont.
Hall of Fame
Peter Brötzmann 5 pts
Roscoe Mitchell 3 pts
Paul Bley 2 pts
Artist of the Year
James Brandon Lewis 5 pts
Patricia Brennan 3 pts
Elliott Sharp 2 pts
Album of the Year
Camila Nebbia/James Banner/Max Andrzejewski, Presencia (Ears&Eyes) 5 pts
Patricia Brennan, Of The Near And Far (Pyroclastic) 3 pts
Sven-Åke Johansson, Two Days At Café Oto (Otoroku) 2 pts
Historical Jazz Album of the Year
Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Vibrations In The Village: Live At The Village Gate (Resonance) 5 pts
Charles Mingus, Mingus At Monterey (Candid) 3 pts
Derek Bailey/John Stevens The Duke of Wellington (Confront Core) 3 pts
Group of the Year
James Brandon Lewis Quartet 4 pts
Spinifex 3 pts
Rodigo Amado The Bridge 3pts
Large Ensemble of the Year
Fire! Orchestra 4 pts
Orchestre National de Jazz (France) pts
Sun Ra Arkestra 2 pts
Trumpeter of the Year
Birgit Ulher 4 pts
Luis Vincente 3 pts
Alex Dörner 3pts
Trombonist of the Year
Samuel Blaser 4 pts
Joe Fielder 4pts
Steve Swell 2 pts
Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
Alexandra Grimal 3 pts
Christine Abdelnour 3pts
Evan Parker 2 pts
Alto Saxphonist of the Year
Maria Faust 4 pts
Mette Rasmussen 3pts
Tim Berne 3 pts
Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
Ivo Perelman 4 pts
Jon Irabagon 3 pts
James Brandon Lewis 3 pts
Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
Mats Gustafsson 5 pts
Alex Harding 3 pts
Vinny Golia 2pt
Clarinetist of the Year
Francois Houle 4 pts
Rudi Mahall 3 pts
Jeff Ledewrer 3 pts
Flutist of the Year
Michel Edelin 4 pt
Nicole Mitchel 4 pts
Robert Dick 2 pts
Pianist of the Year
Sylvie Courvoisier 2 pts
Myra Melford 3 pts
Matt Mitchell 3 pts
Keyboardst of the Year
Pat Thomas 4 pts
Leo Genovese 2 pt
Criag Taborn 2 pts
Organist of the Year
Alexander Hawkins 4 pts
Kit Downes 4 pts
Guitarist of the Year
Fred Frith 4
Gord Grdina 3
Ava Mendoza 3
Bassist of the Year
Joëlle Léandre 5 pts
Barry Guy 3 pts
Joe Fonda 2 pts
Electric Bassist of the Year
Rich Brown 5 pts
Violinist of the Year
Carlos Zingaro 4pts
Jason Kao Hwang 3 pts
Mat Maneri 3 pts
Drummer of the Year
Arkady Gotesman 4 pts
Chad Taylor 3 pts
Tim Daisy 3 pts
Percussionist of the Year
Harris Eisenstadt 4 pts
Hamid Drake 4 pts
Edward Perraud 2 pts
Vibraphonist of the Year
Christopher Dell 4 pts
Jason Adasiewicz 3 pts
Patricia Brennen 3 pts
Rising Star Vibraphonist of the Year
Yuhan Su 3 pts
Beyond Instrumentist of the Year
Urs Leimgruber (sopranino) 4 pts
Liudas Mockunas (bass saxophone) 3 pts
Udo Schindler (contrabass clarinet) 3 pts
Composer of the Year
Anthony Braxton 4
Satoko Fujii 3
Henry Threadgill 3
Arranger of the Year
John Hollenbeck 3 pts
Satoko Fujii 3 pts
Allen Lowe 3 pts
Rising Star Large Ensemble of the Year
Silke Eberhard Potsa Lotsa XL 5 pts
Webber/Morris Big Band 4 pts
Daniele Cavallanti & The Songlines Band 1 pt
Rising Star Trumpet of the Year
Charlotte Keeffe 5 pts
Lina Allemano 4 pts
Aymeric Avice 1 pt
Rising Star Trombonist of the Year
Matthias Müller 5 pts
Matthias Muche 5 pts
Rising Star Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
Camila Nebbia 5 pts
Hery Paz 3 pts
Rising Star Alto Saxophonist of the Year
Angelika Niescier 3 pts
Jošt Drašler 3 pts
José Soares 3 pts
Rising Star Baritone saxophonist of the Year
Amalie Dahl 4pts
Rising Star Clarinetist of the Year
Tom Jackson 4 pts
Michael Thieke 4 pts
Ned Rothenberg 2 pts
Rising Star Flutist of the Year
João Pedro Brandão 4 pts
Ketija Ringa-Karahona 4pts
Rising Star Pianist of the Year o
Alexander Hawkins 5 pts
Alexis Marcello 3 pt
Marta Warelis 2pts
Rising Star Keyboardist of the Year
Elias Stemeseder 3 pts
Philip Zoubek 3 pts
Rising Star Guitarist of the Year
Brandon Seabrook 3
Gašper Piano 2
Quentin Stokar 2
Rising Star Bassist of the Year
Brandon Lopez 3 pts
Luke Stewart 3 pts
João Madeira 3 pts
Rising Star violinist of the Year
Gabby Fluke-Mogul 2 pts
Mia Zabelka 5 pts
Rising Star Drummer of the Year
Sun Mi-Hong 3
Maria Portugal 4
Sofia Borges 3
Rising Beyond Instrumentist of the Year
Jacqueline Kerrod (harp) 3 pts
Etienne Nillesen (snare drum) 3 pts
Rising Star Composer of the Year
Joel Harrison 3 pts
Eve Risser 3pts
Anna Webber 3pts