Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album
Portrait by Samara Joy is the most recent recipient.
Awarded forQuality performances in the vocal jazz music genre
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First award1977
Currently held bySamara Joy – Portrait (2026)
Websitegrammy.com

The Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works (songs or albums) in the vocal jazz music genre. Awards in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".

History

Until 2001 this award was titled the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. From 1981 to 1991 (except for 1985) this category was presented as separate awards for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female and Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male.

Since 2001, only the performing artist has been regarded a nominee. For a winning album, the producer(s) and engineer(s)/mixer(s) also receive a Grammy statuette.

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

Recipients

Two-time winner Ella Fitzgerald.
Two-time winner Al Jarreau.
Two-time winner Diana Krall.
Five-time winner Dianne Reeves.
Two-time winner Nancy Wilson.
Two-time winner Kurt Elling.
Two-time winner Gregory Porter.
Three-time winner Cécile McLorin Salvant.
Three-time winner Esperanza Spalding.

1970s

Year Work Artist
1977
 Fitzgerald and Pass... Again Ella Fitzgerald
More Sarah Vaughan Live in Japan Sarah Vaughan
Porgy and Bess Ray Charles and Cleo Laine
Quire Quire
Where Is Love? Irene Kral
1978
 Look to the Rainbow Al Jarreau
Amoroso João Gilberto
Carmen McRae at The Great American Music Hall Carmen McRae
Helen Merrill/John Lewis Helen Merrill
Kral Space Irene Kral
1979
 All Fly Home Al Jarreau
Gentle Rain Irene Kral
How Long Has This Been Going On Sarah Vaughan
The Main Man Eddie Jefferson
Together Again: For the First Time Mel Tormé
True to Life Ray Charles

1980s

Year Work Artist
1980
 Fine and Mellow Ella Fitzgerald
I Love Brazil! Sarah Vaughan
The Live-Liest Eddie Jefferson
Prez and Joe Joe Williams
Sneakin' Around Helen Humes
1985
 Nothin' but the Blues Joe Williams
An Evening at Charlie's Mel Tormé
Harlem Butterfly Lorez Alexandria
Ridin' High Sue Raney
You're Lookin' at Me Carmen McRae

1990s

Year Work Artist
1992
 He Is Christmas Take 6
"Ellington Medley" Mel Tormé
"Long 'Bout Midnight" Natalie Cole
The Offbeat of Avenues The Manhattan Transfer
You Won't Forget Me Shirley Horn
1993
 "Round Midnight" Bobby McFerrin
All the Way Jimmy Scott
Here's to Life Shirley Horn
"I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" Take 6
You Gotta Pay the Band Abbey Lincoln
1994
 Take a Look Natalie Cole
Light Out of Darkness Shirley Horn
Now and Then Ernestine Anderson
"The Pink Panther Theme" Bobby McFerrin
Swing That Music Bobby Short with Alden Barrett Quintet
1995
 Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday Etta James
Blue Light 'til Dawn Cassandra Wilson
I Love You, Paris Shirley Horn
Keeping Tradition Dee Dee Bridgewater
We'll Be Together Again Lena Horne
1996
 An Evening with Lena Horne Lena Horne
Close Your Eyes Kurt Elling
Love and Peace: A Tribute to Horace Silver Dee Dee Bridgewater
Quiet After the Storm Dianne Reeves
A Turtle's Dream Abbey Lincoln
1997
 New Moon Daughter Cassandra Wilson
All for You Diana Krall
Blues, Dues and Love News Ernestine Anderson
The Main Ingredient Shirley Horn
Shaking Free Nnenna Freelon
1998
 Dear Ella Dee Dee Bridgewater
Love Scenes Diana Krall
Loving You Shirley Horn
The Messenger Kurt Elling
Song for the Geese Mark Murphy
1999
 I Remember Miles Shirley Horn
Maiden Voyage Nnenna Freelon
My Buddy: Etta Jones Sings the Songs of Buddy Johnson Etta Jones
That Day... Dianne Reeves
This Time It's Love Kurt Elling

2000s

Year Work Artist
2000
 When I Look in Your Eyes Diana Krall
Bridges Dianne Reeves
Heart of a Woman Etta James
It's All About Love Carla Cook
Traveling Miles Cassandra Wilson
2001
 In the Moment — Live in Concert Dianne Reeves
Live at Yoshi's Dee Dee Bridgewater
Live in Chicago Kurt Elling
Merry-Go-Round Freddy Cole
Soulcall Nnenna Freelon
2002
 The Calling Dianne Reeves
Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane Karrin Allyson
Flirting with Twilight Kurt Elling
The Mose Chronicles: Live in London, Vol. 1 Mose Allison
You're My Thrill Shirley Horn
2003
 Live in Paris Diana Krall
Ask a Woman Who Knows Natalie Cole
Brazilian Duos Luciana Souza
Etta Jones Sings Lady Day Etta Jones
For Ella Patti Austin
2004
 A Little Moonlight Dianne Reeves
Man in the Air Kurt Elling
May the Music Never End Shirley Horn
Nature Boy: The Standards Album Aaron Neville
North and South Luciana Souza
2005
 R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) Nancy Wilson
Accentuate the Positive Al Jarreau
American Song Andy Bey
The Dana Owens Album Queen Latifah
Twentysomething Jamie Cullum
2006
 Good Night, and Good Luck Dianne Reeves
Blueprint of a Lady: Sketches of Billie Holiday Nnenna Freelon
Duos II Luciana Souza
I'm with the Band Tierney Sutton
J'ai deux amours Dee Dee Bridgewater
2007
 Turned to Blue Nancy Wilson
Easy to Love Roberta Gambarini
Footprints Karrin Allyson
From This Moment On Diana Krall
Live at Jazz Standard with Fred Hersch Nancy King
2008
 Avant Gershwin Patti Austin
Music Maestro Please Freddy Cole
Nightmoves Kurt Elling
On the Other Side Tierney Sutton
Red Earth Dee Dee Bridgewater
2009
 Loverly Cassandra Wilson
Breakfast on the Morning Tram Stacey Kent
Distances Norma Winstone
If Less Is More...Nothing Is Everything Kate McGarry
Imagina: Songs of Brazil Karrin Allyson

2010s

Year Work Artist
2010
 Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman Kurt Elling
Desire Tierney Sutton
No Regrets Randy Crawford and Joe Sample
So in Love Roberta Gambarini
Tide Luciana Souza
2011
 Eleanora Fagan (1915–1959): To Billie with Love from Dee Dee Dee Dee Bridgewater
Ages Lorraine Feather
Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B Freddy Cole
Water Gregory Porter
When Lights Are Low Denise Donatelli
2012
 The Mosaic Project Terri Lyne Carrington & Various Artists
American Road Tierney Sutton
The Gate Kurt Elling
The Music of Randy Newman Roseanna Vitro
'Round Midnight Karrin Allyson
2013
 Radio Music Society Esperanza Spalding
1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project Kurt Elling
The Book of Chet Luciana Souza
Live Al Jarreau and Metropole Orchestra
Soul Shadows Denise Donatelli
2014
 Liquid Spirit Gregory Porter
After Blue Tierney Sutton
Attachments Lorraine Feather
WomanChild Cécile McLorin Salvant
The World According to Andy Bey Andy Bey
2015
 Beautiful Life Dianne Reeves
I Wanna Be Evil: With Love to Eartha Kitt René Marie
Live in NYC Gretchen Parlato
Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro Billy Childs and Various Artists
Paris Sessions Tierney Sutton
2016
 For One to Love Cécile McLorin Salvant
Find a Heart Denise Donatelli
Flirting with Disaster Lorraine Feather
Jamison Jamison Ross
Many a New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein Karrin Allyson
2017
 Take Me to the Alley Gregory Porter
Harlem on My Mind Catherine Russell
Sound of Red René Marie
The Sting Variations The Tierney Sutton Band
Upward Spiral Branford Marsalis Quartet with Kurt Elling
2018
 Dreams and Daggers Cécile McLorin Salvant
Bad Ass and Blind Raul Midón
The Journey The Baylor Project
Porter Plays Porter Randy Porter Trio with Nancy King
A Social Call Jazzmeia Horn
2019
 The Window Cécile McLorin Salvant
If You Really Want Raul Midón with the Metropole Orkest conducted by Vince Mendoza
My Mood Is You Freddy Cole
The Questions Kurt Elling
The Subject Tonight Is Love Kate McGarry, Keith Ganz and Gary Versace

2020s

Year Work Artist
2020
 12 Little Spells Esperanza Spalding
Alone Together Catherine Russell
Love & Liberation Jazzmeia Horn
ScreenPlay The Tierney Sutton Band
Thirsty Ghost Sara Gazarek
2021
 Secrets Are the Best Stories Kurt Elling featuring Danilo Pérez
Holy Room: Live at Alte Oper Somi with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band conducted by John Beasley
Modern Ancestors Carmen Lundy
ONA Thana Alexa
What's the Hurry Kenny Washington
2022
 Songwrights Apothecary Lab Esperanza Spalding
Flor Gretchen Parlato
Generations The Baylor Project
SuperBlue Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter
Time Traveler Nnenna Freelon
2023
 Linger Awhile Samara Joy
The Evening: Live at APPARATUS The Baylor Project
Fade to Black Carmen Lundy
Fifty The Manhattan Transfer with the WDR Funkhausorchester
Ghost Song Cécile McLorin Salvant
2024
 How Love Begins Nicole Zuraitis
Alive at the Village Vanguard Fred Hersch and Esperanza Spalding
For Ella 2 Patti Austin featuring Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
Lean In Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke
Mélusine Cécile McLorin Salvant
2025
 A Joyful Holiday Samara Joy
Journey in Black Christie Dashiell
Milton + Esperanza Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding
My Ideal Catherine Russell and Sean Mason
Wildflowers, Vol. 1 Kurt Elling and Sullivan Fortner
2026
 Portrait Samara Joy
Elemental Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap
Fly Michael Mayo
Live at Vic's Las Vegas Nicole Zuraitis, Dan Pugach, Tom Scott, Idan Morim, Keyon Harrold and Rachel Eckroth
We Insist 2025! Terri Lyne Carrington and Christie Dashiell featuring Weedie Braimah, Milena Casado, Morgan Guerin, Simon Moulier and Matthew Stevens

Artists with multiple wins

Artists with multiple nominations

References

General
Specific
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  2. ↑ "Overview". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  3. ↑ "19th Annual GRAMMY Awards | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  4. ↑ "20th Annual GRAMMY Awards | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
  5. ↑ "21st Annual GRAMMY Awards | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
  6. ↑ "22nd Annual GRAMMY Awards | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  7. ↑ "27th Annual GRAMMY Awards | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  8. ↑ "The Grammy Nominations". Los Angeles Times. January 9, 1992. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  9. ↑ "The 35th Grammy Awards Nominations : General Categories". Los Angeles Times. January 8, 1993. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  10. ↑ "36th Grammy Nominees". The Baltimore Sun. Tribune Company. January 7, 1994. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
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  12. ↑ "THE 38TH ANNUAL GRAMMY NOMINATIONS : The Complete List of Nominees". Los Ángeles Times. Tribune Company. January 5, 1996. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Pumpkins A Smash With 7 Grammy Nominations". Chicago Tribune. January 8, 1997. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  14. ↑ "40th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations Coverage". Digital Hit. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  15. ↑ "41st Annual Grammy Awards Nominations Coverage". Digital Hit. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  16. ↑ "42nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominations Coverage". Digital Hit. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  17. ↑ "43rd Annual Grammy Awards Nominations Coverage". Digital Hit. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
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  19. ↑ "Grammys 2003: complete list". FoxNews. January 3, 2003. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
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  21. ↑ "47th Annual GRAMMY Awards | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  22. ↑ "Complete list of Grammy Award nominations". USA Today. December 8, 2005.
  23. ↑ "Grammys 2007: list (part 1)". Variety. February 7, 2007.
  24. ↑ "50th annual Grammy Awards nominations". Variety. 6 December 2007.
  25. ↑ "Grammys 2009 - Nominees and Winners". Music Lovers Group. February 9, 2009.
  26. 1 2 "2011 Grammy Awards- complete list of nominees". LA Daily News. Los Angeles Newspaper Group. February 12, 2010. Archived from the original on December 27, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
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  29. ↑ "2014 Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-12-08.
  30. ↑ List of Nominees 2015
  31. ↑ "58th Grammy Nominees". Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  32. ↑ List of Nominees 2017
  33. ↑ Grammy.com, 28 November 2017
  34. ↑ Grammy.com, 7 December 2018
  35. ↑ "2019 Grammy Winners & Nominees". Grammy. January 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  36. ↑ 2021 Nominations List
  37. ↑ Grammy.com, 23 November 2021
  38. ↑ "Grammy Awards 2023: The Full List of Nominees". The New York Times. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  39. ↑ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  40. ↑ "2025 GRAMMYs: See The OFFICIAL Full Nominations List". www.grammy.com. 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  41. ↑ "2026 GRAMMYS: See The Full Nominations List | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2025-11-12.