Christian McBride, Kurt Elling Among Winners of the 2019 Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll

DownBeat revealed the results of its 84th Annual Readers Poll. Snarky Puppy topped the Jazz Group category, Cécile McLorin Salvant was voted top female vocalist, and Kurt Elling was voted top male vocalist. Along with the full list of winners, the December issue features tributes to the  artists who received posthumous honors this year: Roy Hargrove (1969–2018), who won the Trumpet category, and Dr. John (1941–2019) who received the Beyond Artist or Group award.

84th annual Downbeat Readers Poll Winners

Hall of Fame: Hank Mobley

Jazz Artist: Wayne Shorter

Jazz Group: Snarky Puppy

Big Band: Maria Schneider Orchestra

Jazz Album: Wayne Shorter, Emanon (Blue Note)

Historical Album: John Coltrane, Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album (Impulse!)

Trumpet: Roy Hargrove

Trombone: Trombone Shorty

Soprano Saxophone: Wayne Shorter

Alto Saxophone: Kenny Garrett

Tenor Saxophone: Chris Potter

Baritone Saxophone: Gary Smulyan

Clarinet: Anat Cohen

Flute: Hubert Laws

Piano: Herbie Hancock

Keyboard: Herbie Hancock

Organ: Joey DeFrancesco

Guitar: Pat Metheny

Bass: Christian McBride

Electric Bass: Marcus Miller

Violin: Regina Carter

Drums (TIE): Brian Blade and Jack DeJohnette

Percussion: Poncho Sanchez

Vibraphone: Stefon Harris

Miscellaneous Instrument: Béla Fleck (banjo)

Female Vocalist: Cécile McLorin Salvant

Male Vocalist: Kurt Elling

Composer: Maria Schneider

Arranger: Maria Schneider

Record Label: Blue Note

Blues Artist or Group: Buddy Guy

Blues Album: Buddy Guy, The Blues Is Alive And Well (RCA)

Beyond Artist or Group: Dr. John

Beyond Album: George Benson, Walking To New Orleans: Remembering Chuck Berry And Fats Domino (Provogue)

Full story at Downbeat.com