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{{Short description|American jazz magazine (founded 1934)}}
{{Other uses|Downbeat (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox magazine
|title = DownBeat
|image_file = Down Beat.png
|editor =
|editor_title =
|previous_editor =
|staff_writer =
|frequency = Monthly
|total_circulation =
|circulation_year =
|category = [[Music magazine]]
|publisher =
|founded = {{start date and age|1934}}<ref>{{cite journal|first=Ron |last=Welburn|title=Jazz Magazines of the 1930s: An Overview of Their Provocative Journalism|journal=[[American Music (journal)|American Music]]|date=Autumn 1987|volume=5|issue=3|pages=255–270|doi=10.2307/3051735|jstor=3051735}}</ref>
|firstdate = 
|company = Maher Publications
|country = United States
|based = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
|language = English
|website = {{URL|downbeat.com}}
|issn = 0012-5768
}}
'''''DownBeat''''' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "[[jazz]], [[blues]] and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm that it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]. It is named after the "[[Upbeat and downbeat|downbeat]]" in music, also called "beat one", or the first beat of a musical measure.

''DownBeat'' publishes results of annual surveys of both its readers and critics in a variety of categories. The ''DownBeat'' Jazz Hall of Fame includes winners from both the readers' and critics' poll. The results of the readers' poll are published in the December issue, those of the critics' poll in the August issue. Since 2008, the Hall of Fame also includes winners from the Veterans Committee.

Popular features of ''DownBeat'' magazine include its "Reviews" section where jazz critics, using a '1-Star to 5-Star' maximum rating system, rate the latest musical recordings, vintage recordings, and books; articles on individual musicians and music forms; and its famous "Blindfold Test" column, in which a musician listens to records by other artists, tries to guess who they are, and rates them using the 5-star maximum rating system.

==History==
''DownBeat'' was established in 1934 in [[Chicago]], Illinois.<ref>{{cite book|first=Edward|last=Komara|title=Encyclopedia of the Blues|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-w-uGwm_LhcC&pg=PA757|access-date=July 7, 2016|year=2006|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-92699-7|page=756}}</ref> In September 1939, the magazine announced that its circulation had increased from "a few hundred five years ago to more than 80,000 copies a month", and that it would change from monthly to fortnightly from the following month.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=September 1939|title=A New Down Beat|magazine=DownBeat|volume=6|issue=9|page=12}}</ref> In Summer 1960 ''DownBeat'' launched the [[Japanese language|Japanese]] edition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Music: Shinu, Shinu, Shinu|url=https://time.com/archive/6832550/music-shinu-shinu-shinu/|access-date=April 17, 2025|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=September 12, 1960}}</ref> In 1972 the publisher of the magazine was Maher Publishers.<ref>{{cite web|first=Lucile |last=Perryman|title=Guide to Children's Magazines, Newspapers, Reference Books|url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED089288.pdf|publisher=[[Association for Childhood Education International]]|location=Washington DC|page=2|date=1972|access-date=September 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711075955/https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED089288.pdf|archive-date=July 11, 2020}}</ref> Starting in July 1979, ''DownBeat'' went to a monthly schedule for the first time since 1939.

''DownBeat'' was named Jazz Publication of the Year in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021 by the [[Jazz Journalists Association]].<ref name="Wadada">{{cite web|title=Wadada Leo Smith Among Winners of 2017 JJA Awards |url=http://downbeat.com/news/detail/smith-tyner-downbeat-among-winners-of-2017-jja-awards |website=DownBeat |access-date=September 26, 2018|date=May 16, 2017}}</ref>

== ''DownBeat'' Jazz Hall of Fame ==
The ''DownBeat'' Jazz Hall of Fame's current membership, by year, is listed in the following table. The Readers' Poll began in 1952, the Critics' Poll in 1961, and the Veterans Committee Poll in 2008.<ref name="hall">{{cite web|title=DownBeat Archives|url=http://downbeat.com/archives/detail/downbeat-hall-of-fame|website=DownBeat|access-date=April 8, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|- 
! Year
! Readers Poll
! Critics Poll
! Veterans Committee Poll
|-
|1952||[[Louis Armstrong]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=758|title=1952 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306001708/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=758|archive-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|1953||[[Glenn Miller]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=759|title=1953 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205164412/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=759|archive-date=December 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1954||[[Stan Kenton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=760|title=1954 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205164639/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=760|archive-date=December 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1955||[[Charlie Parker]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=761|title=1955 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002016/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=761|archive-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|1956||[[Duke Ellington]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=762|title=1956 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002020/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=762|archive-date=March 6, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|1957||[[Benny Goodman]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=763|title=1957 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002029/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=763|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-t
|1958||[[Count Basie]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=764|title=1958 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205164112/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=764|archive-date=December 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1959||[[Lester Young]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=765|title=1959 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203445/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=765|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1960||[[Dizzy Gillespie]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=766|title=1960 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203351/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=766|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1961||[[Billie Holiday]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=769|title=1961 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203154/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=769|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Coleman Hawkins]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=687|title=1961 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155314/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=687|archive-date=September 30, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1962||[[Miles Davis]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=770|title=1962 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203141/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=770|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Bix Beiderbecke]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=688|title=1962 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1963||[[Thelonious Monk]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=771|title=1963 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203114/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=771|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Jelly Roll Morton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=689|title=1963 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203201/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=689|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1964||[[Eric Dolphy]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=772|title=1964 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002057/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=772|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Art Tatum]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=690|title=1964 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155018/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=690|archive-date=September 30, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1965||[[John Coltrane]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=773|title=1965 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002102/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=773|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Earl Hines]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=691|title=1965 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002107/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=691|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1966||[[Bud Powell]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=774|title=1966 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002121/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=774|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Charlie Christian]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=692|title=1966 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002149/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=692|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1967||[[Billy Strayhorn]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=775|title=1967 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002209/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=775|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Bessie Smith]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=693|title=1967 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002224/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=693|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1968||[[Wes Montgomery]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=776|title=1968 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210041/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=776|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Sidney Bechet]] & [[Fats Waller]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=694|title=1968 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002235/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=694|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1969||[[Ornette Coleman]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=777|title=1969 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002240/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=777|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Pee Wee Russell]] & [[Jack Teagarden]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=695|title=1969 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002246/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=695|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1970||[[Jimi Hendrix]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=778|title=1970 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002308/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=778|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Johnny Hodges]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=696|title=1970 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002315/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=696|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1971||[[Charles Mingus]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=779|title=1971 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002320/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=779|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Roy Eldridge]] & [[Django Reinhardt]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=697|title=1971 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002334/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=697|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1972||[[Gene Krupa]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=780|title=1972 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517143629/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=780|archive-date=May 17, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Clifford Brown]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=698|title=1972 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235603/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=698|archive-date=December 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1973||[[Sonny Rollins]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=781|title=1973 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616024405/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=781|archive-date=June 16, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Fletcher Henderson]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=699|title=1973 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002424/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=699|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1974||[[Buddy Rich]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=782|title=1974 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616024445/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=782|archive-date=June 16, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Ben Webster]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=700|title=1974 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517143544/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=700|archive-date=May 17, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1975||[[Cannonball Adderley]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=783|title=1975 Down Beat Readers Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=May 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616024804/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=783|archive-date=June 16, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Cecil Taylor]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=701|title=1975 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517143601/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=701|archive-date=May 17, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1976||[[Woody Herman]]||[[Joe "King" Oliver|King Oliver]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=702|title=1976 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517143620/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=702|archive-date=May 17, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1977||[[Paul Desmond]]||[[Benny Carter]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=703|title=1977 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517143624/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=703|archive-date=May 17, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1978||[[Joe Venuti]]||[[Rahsaan Roland Kirk]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=704|title=1978 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1979||[[Ella Fitzgerald]]||[[Lennie Tristano]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=705|title=1979 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1980||[[Dexter Gordon]]||[[Max Roach]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=706|title=1980 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1981||[[Art Blakey]]||[[Bill Evans]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=707|title=1981 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1982||[[Art Pepper]]||[[Fats Navarro]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=708|title=1982 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1983||[[Stéphane Grappelli]]||[[Albert Ayler]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=709|title=1983 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1984||[[Oscar Peterson]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeatjazz.com/default.asp?sect=news&subsect=news_detail&nid=1079|title=Oscar Peterson Dies at Age 82|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207192403/http://www.downbeatjazz.com/default.asp?sect=news&subsect=news_detail&nid=1079|archive-date=December 7, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>||[[Sun Ra]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=710|title=1984 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930154944/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=710|archive-date=September 30, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1985||[[Sarah Vaughan]]||[[Zoot Sims]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=711|title=1985 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002444/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=711|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1986||[[Stan Getz]]||[[Gil Evans]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=712|title=1986 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002449/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=712|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1987||[[Lionel Hampton]]||[[Johnny Dodds]], [[Thad Jones]], [[Teddy Wilson]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=713|title=1987 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002454/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=713|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1988||[[Jaco Pastorius]]||[[Kenny Clarke]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=714|title=1988 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002541/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=714|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1989||[[Woody Shaw]]||[[Chet Baker]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=715|title=1989 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002552/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=715|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1990||[[Red Rodney]]||[[Mary Lou Williams]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=716|title=1990 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1991||[[Lee Morgan]]||[[John Carter (jazz musician)|John Carter]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=717|title=1991 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155324/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=717|archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref>
|-
|1992||[[Maynard Ferguson]]||[[James P. Johnson]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=718|title=1992 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002614/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=718|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1993||[[Gerry Mulligan]]||[[Ed Blackwell]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=719|title=1993 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002622/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=719|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1994||[[Dave Brubeck]]||[[Frank Zappa]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=720|title=1994 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216121831/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=720|archive-date=February 16, 2009}}</ref>
|-
|1995||[[J. J. Johnson]]||[[Julius Hemphill]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=721|title=1995 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1996||[[Horace Silver]]||[[Artie Shaw]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=722|title=1996 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|1997||[[Nat King Cole]]||[[Tony Williams (drummer)|Tony Williams]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=723|title=1997 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002845/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=723|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1998||[[Frank Sinatra]]||[[Elvin Jones]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=724|title=1998 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002850/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=724|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1999||[[Milt Jackson]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/232889|title=BMI Scores in Year End Jazz Polls|date=December 1999|publisher=bmi.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>||[[Betty Carter]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=725|title=1999 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203121/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=725|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|2000||[[Clark Terry]]||[[Lester Bowie]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=726|title=2000 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616024024/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=726|archive-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|2001||[[Joe Henderson]]||[[Milt Hinton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=727|title=2001 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306002854/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=727|archive-date=March 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|2002||[[Antonio Carlos Jobim]]||[[John Lewis (pianist)|John Lewis]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=728|title=2002 Down Beat Critics Poll|publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=November 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155659/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=stories&subsect=story_detail&sid=728|archive-date=September 30, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|2003||[[Ray Brown (musician)|Ray Brown]]||[[Wayne Shorter]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233766|title=BMI Dominates Downbeat Critics Poll|date=June 26, 2003|publisher=bmi.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|2004||[[McCoy Tyner]]||[[Roy Haynes]]
|-
|2005||[[Herbie Hancock]]||[[Steve Lacy (saxophonist)|Steve Lacy]]
|-
|2006||[[Jimmy Smith (musician)|Jimmy Smith]]||[[Jackie McLean]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/537459|title=BMI Jazz Greats Sweep 'Downbeat' Critics Poll|date=November 11, 2008|publisher=bmi.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|2007||[[Michael Brecker]]||[[Andrew Hill (jazz musician)|Andrew Hill]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/535262|title=BMI Jazz Giants Score in Down Beat 2007 Critics Poll|date=July 27, 2007|publisher=bmi.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>
|-
|2008||[[Keith Jarrett]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/537459|title=BMI Jazz Composers Top 'Downbeat' Readers Poll|date=November 11, 2008|publisher=bmi.com|access-date=November 14, 2008}}</ref>||[[Joe Zawinul]]||[[Jo Jones]], [[Jimmie Lunceford]], [[Erroll Garner]], [[Harry Carney]], [[Jimmy Blanton]]
|-
|2009||[[Freddie Hubbard]]||[[Hank Jones]]||[[Oscar Pettiford]], [[Tadd Dameron]]
|-
|2010||[[Muhal Richard Abrams]]||[[Chick Corea]]||[[Baby Dodds]], [[Chick Webb]], [[Philly Joe Jones]], [[Billy Eckstine]]
|-
|2011||[[Ahmad Jamal]]||[[Abbey Lincoln]]||[[Paul Chambers]]
|-
|2012||[[Ron Carter]]||[[Paul Motian]]||[[Gene Ammons]], [[Sonny Stitt]]
|-
|2013||[[Pat Metheny]]||[[Charlie Haden]]||[[Robert Johnson]]
|-
|2014||[[B.B. King]]||[[Jim Hall (musician)|Jim Hall]]||[[Bing Crosby]], [[Dinah Washington]]
|-
|2015||[[Tony Bennett]]||[[Lee Konitz]]||[[Muddy Waters]]
|-
|2016||[[Phil Woods]]||[[Randy Weston]]||[[Hoagy Carmichael]]
|-
|2017||[[Wynton Marsalis]]<ref name="Hall">{{cite web|title=Marsalis, Krall, Corea Among DownBeat Readers Poll Winners|url=http://wyntonmarsalis.org/news/entry/marsalis-krall-corea-among-downbeat-readers-poll-winners|website=wyntonmarsalis.org|access-date=November 16, 2017|language=en}}</ref>||[[Don Cherry (trumpeter)|Don Cherry]]||[[Eubie Blake]], [[George Gershwin]], [[Herbie Nichols]]
|-
|2018||[[Ray Charles]]||[[Benny Golson]]<ref name="BGolson">{{cite magazine |last= Panken|first=Ted |date=August 2018 |title=Benny Golson |magazine= DownBeat}}</ref>||[[Marian McPartland]]
|-
|2019||[[Hank Mobley]]||[[Nina Simone]]||[[Scott LaFaro]], [[Joe Williams (jazz singer)|Joe Williams]]
|-
|2020||[[George Benson]]||[[Jimmy Heath]]||[[Mildred Bailey]], [[Carmen McRae]]
|-
|2021||[[Roy Hargrove]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://downbeat.com/?/news/detail/downbeat-86th-annual-readers-poll-winners |title=Down Beat Readers Poll|date=November 23, 2021 |publisher=downbeat.com|access-date=December 26, 2021}}</ref>||[[Carla Bley]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://downbeat.com/news/detail/bley-corea-schneider-top-critics-poll |title=Down Beat Critics Poll|date=July 13, 2021 }}</ref>||[[Booker Little]], [[Yusef Lateef]]
|-
|2022
|[[Kenny Barron]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=DownBeat December 2022 Readers Poll |url=https://archive.maherpublications.com/view/480689468/2/?sharedOn= |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=archive.maherpublications.com}}</ref>
|[[Geri Allen]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=DownBeat August 2022 Critics Poll Results |url=https://archive.maherpublications.com/view/331464720/2/?sharedOn= |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=archive.maherpublications.com}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|[[Pharoah Sanders]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=DownBeat 2023 Readers poll|date=November 22, 2023 |url=https://downbeat.com/news/detail/pharoah-sanders-enters-the-downbeat-hall-of-fame|access-date=January 2, 2024}}</ref>||[[Alice Coltrane]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Alice Coltrane Hall of Fame|url=https://downbeat.com/news/detail/alice-coltrane-hall-of-fame |website=downbeat.com |date=July 27, 2023 |access-date=January 2, 2024}}</ref>|| [[Red Norvo]], [[Mario Bauza]]
|-
|2024
|[[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]]<ref>{{cite web|title=John McLaughlin-Hall of Fame|date=November 7, 2024 |publisher=DownBeat|url=https://downbeat.com/news/detail/john-mclaughlin-hall-of-fame|access-date=November 10, 2024}}</ref>
|[[Charles Lloyd (jazz musician)|Charles Lloyd]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Charles Lloyd sweeps 72nd annual DownBeat Critics Poll|website=DownBeat|url=https://downbeat.com/?/news/detail/yuletide-music-roundup/P2}}</ref>
|-
|2025
|[[Jack DeJohnette]]<ref>{{cite news|publisher=DownBeat|title=Jack DeJohnette enters Hall of Fame|date=December 2025}}</ref>
|[[Anthony Braxton]]<ref>{{cite news|publisher=DownBeat|title=Anthony Braxton enters Hall of Fame|date=August 2025}}</ref>
|[[Tito Puente]]<ref>{{cite news|publisher=DownBeat|title=Tito Puente enters Hall of Fame|date=August 2025}}</ref>
|}

==Awards==
=== Album of the Year ===
====Critics' Poll====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Musician!! Label
|-
| 1965 || ''[[A Love Supreme]]'' || [[John Coltrane]] || [[Impulse! Records|Impulse!]]
|-
| 1966 || ''[[At the Golden Circle Stockholm|At the Golden Circle, Vol. 1]]'' || [[Ornette Coleman]] Trio || [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]]
|-
| 1967 || ''[[The Popular Duke Ellington]]'' || [[Duke Ellington]] || [[RCA Records|RCA]]
|-
| 1968 || ''[[The Far East Suite]]''|| Duke Ellington || Bluebird/RCA
|-
| 1969 ||  ''[[...And His Mother Called Him Bill]]'' || Duke Ellington || Bluebird/RCA
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Bitches Brew]]'' || [[Miles Davis]] || [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
|-
| 1971 || ''[[New Orleans Suite]]'' || Duke Ellington || [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
|-
| 1972 || ''The You and Me That Used to Be'' || [[Jimmy Rushing]] || RCA
|-
| rowspan=2| 1973 <br /><small>''   (tie)''</small> || ''[[Constellation (Sonny Stitt album)|Constellation]]'' || [[Sonny Stitt]] || [[Cobblestone Records|Cobblestone]] 
|- 
|''[[Sahara (McCoy Tyner album)|Sahara]]'' || [[McCoy Tyner]] || [[Milestone Records|Milestone]]
|- 
| 1974 || ''[[Solo Concerts: Bremen/Lausanne|Solo Concerts]]'' || [[Keith Jarrett]] ||[[ECM Records|ECM]]
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Silent Tongues]]'' || [[Cecil Taylor]]||  [[Freedom Records|Freedom]]
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Oscar Peterson and Dizzy Gillespie]]'' || [[Oscar Peterson]] & [[Dizzy Gillespie]] || [[Pablo Records|Pablo]]
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Creative Orchestra Music 1976]]''  || [[Anthony Braxton]] || [[Arista Records|Arista]]
|-
| rowspan=5 | 1978 <br /><small>''   (tie)''</small>|| ''[[Insights (album)|Insights]]'' || [[Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band]] || RCA  
|-
|''[[Dancing in Your Head]]'' || [[Ornette Coleman]] || [[Horizon Records|Horizon]] 
|- 
|''[[Sophisticated Giant]]'' || [[Dexter Gordon]] || Columbia
|- 
|''[[Homecoming: Live at the Village Vanguard]]'' || [[Dexter Gordon]] || Columbia
|- 
|''[[Nonaah]]'' || [[Roscoe Mitchell]] || [[Nessa Records|Nessa]] 
|- 
| 1979 || ''[[Cumbia & Jazz Fusion]]''  || [[Charles Mingus]] || Atlantic
|-
| 1980 || ''[[Air Lore]]'' ||[[Air (free jazz trio)|Air]] || Arista/Novus
|-
| 1981 || ''[[Full Force (Art Ensemble of Chicago album)|Full Force]]'' || [[Art Ensemble of Chicago]] || ECM
|-
| 1982 || | ''[[Playing (album)|Playing]]'' || [[Old and New Dreams]]|| ECM
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Blues Forever]]'' || [[Muhal Richard Abrams]] || [[Black Saint Records|Black Saint]]
|-
| 1984 || ''[[The Ballad of the Fallen]]''  || [[Charlie Haden]] || ECM
|-
| 1985 || ''That's the Way I Feel Now''  || Various || [[A&M Records|A&M]]
|-
| 1986 || ''The African Flower'' || [[James Newton]] ||Blue Note
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Song X]]''  || [[Pat Metheny]] & [[Ornette Coleman]] || [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
|-
| 1988 || ''[[In All Languages]]''  || Ornette Coleman || [[Caravan of Dreams]]
|-
| 1989 ||  ''[[Audio-Visualscapes]]'' || [[Jack DeJohnette]] || Impulse!
|-
| 1990 || ''[[In East Berlin]]'' || [[Cecil Taylor]] || [[FMP/Free Music Production|FMP]]
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Dream Keeper]]'' || [[Charlie Haden]] ||Blue Note
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn|Lush Life]]''  || [[Joe Henderson]] || [[Verve Records|Verve]]
|-
| 1993 || ''[[So Near, So Far (Musings for Miles)]]'' || Joe Henderson || Verve
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Always Say Goodbye]]'' || Charlie Haden || Verve
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Rush Hour (Joe Lovano album)|Rush Hour]]'' || [[Joe Lovano]] & [[Gunther Schuller]] || Verve
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Keith Jarrett at the Blue Note]]'' || [[Keith Jarrett]] Standards Trio || ECM
|-
| 1997 ||  ''[[Sound Museum: Hidden Man]]'' || Ornette Coleman Quartet || Harmolodic/Verve
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Nashville (Bill Frisell album)|Nashville]]'' || [[Bill Frisell]] || [[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]]
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Gershwin's World]]'' || [[Herbie Hancock]] ||Verve
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Soul on Soul]]'' || [[Dave Douglas (trumpeter)|Dave Douglas]] || RCA
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Dusk (Andrew Hill album)|Dusk]]'' || [[Andrew Hill (jazz musician)|Andrew Hill]] || [[Palmetto Records|Palmetto]]
|-
| 2002 ||  ''[[Not for Nothin']] ''  || [[Dave Holland (bassist)|Dave Holland]] || ECM
|-
| 2003 ||  ''[[Footprints Live!]]''  || [[Wayne Shorter]] Quartet || Verve
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Extended Play: Live at Birdland]]''  || Dave Holland Quintet || ECM
|-
| 2005 ||  ''[[Concert in the Garden]]'' ||[[Maria Schneider (musician)|Maria Schneider]]  ||[[ArtistShare]]
|-
| 2006 ||  ''[[Time Lines]]''  || [[Andrew Hill (jazz musician)|Andrew Hill]] || Blue Note
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Sound Grammar]]'' ||  [[Ornette Coleman]] || Sound Grammar
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Sky Blue (Maria Schneider album)|Sky Blue]]''  || Maria Schneider || ArtistShare
|-
| 2009 || ''Road Shows, Vol. 1''  || [[Sonny Rollins]] || Doxy/[[EmArcy Records|EmArcy]]
|-
| 2010 ||  ''[[Historicity (album)|Historicity]]'' || [[Vijay Iyer]] || [[ACT Music|ACT]]
|-
| 2011 ||  ''[[Ten (Jason Moran album)|Ten]]'' ||  [[Jason Moran (musician)|Jason Moran]] || Blue Note
|-
| 2012 ||  ''[[Accelerando (album)|Accelerando]]'' || Vijay Iyer || ACT
|-
| 2013 ||  ''[[Without a Net (Wayne Shorter album)|Without a Net]]'' || [[Wayne Shorter]] Quartet || Blue Note
|-
| 2014 || ''WomanChild''  || [[Cécile McLorin Salvant]] || [[Mack Avenue Records|Mack Avenue]]
|-
| 2015 ||  ''Bird Calls'' || [[Rudresh Mahanthappa]] || ACT
|-
| 2016 || ''[[The Epic (album)|The Epic]]'' || [[Kamasi Washington]] || [[Brainfeeder]]
|-
| 2017 || ''[[America's National Parks (album)|America's National Parks]]'' || [[Wadada Leo Smith]] || [[Cuneiform Records|Cuneiform]] 
|-
| 2018 || ''[[Dreams and Daggers]]'' || [[Cécile McLorin Salvant]] || Mack Avenue
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Emanon (Wayne Shorter album)|Emanon]]'' || [[Wayne Shorter]] || Blue Note
|-
| 2020 || ''Waiting Game'' || [[Terri Lyne Carrington]] || [[Motema Music]]
|-
| 2021 || ''[[Data Lords]]'' || [[Maria Schneider (musician)|Maria Schneider]] Orchestra || [[ArtistShare]]
|-
|2022  ||''Jesup Wagon'' || [[James Brandon Lewis]] and the Red Lily Quintet || Tao Forms
|-
|2023  ||''Amaryllis & Belladonna'' ||[[Mary Halvorson]]||Nonesuch
|-
|2024  ||''[[The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow]]'' ||[[Charles Lloyd (jazz musician)|Charles Lloyd]]||Blue Note
|-
|2025  ||''Breaking Stretch'' ||[[Patricia Brennan (musician)|Patricia Brennan]]||Pyroclastic Records
|}

=== Lifetime Achievement Award ===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* 1981 [[John H. Hammond]]<ref name="avakian">{{cite web |title=In Memoriam: Producer George Avakian |url=http://downbeat.com/news/detail/george-avakian-record-innovator |website=DownBeat |access-date=September 26, 2018 |language=en |date=December 4, 2017}}</ref>
* 1982 [[George Wein]]
* 1983 [[Leonard Feather]]<ref name="feather">{{cite web |last1=Heckman |first1=Don |title=Leonard Feather; Jazz Critic, Composer |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-23-mn-41941-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 26, 2018 |date=September 23, 1994}}</ref>
* 1984 [[Billy Taylor]]
* 1985 [[Lawrence Berk]]
* 1986 [[Orrin Keepnews]]
* 1987 [[David Baker (composer)|David Baker]]<ref name="baker">{{cite news |title=Baker Wins Downbeat's 1987 Lifetime Award |work=[[The Indianapolis Star]] |date=July 25, 1987 |location=Indianapolis, Indiana |page=12}}</ref>
* 1988 John Conyers Jr.
* 1989 [[Norman Granz]]
* 1990 [[Rudy Van Gelder]]
* 1991 [[Bill Cosby]]
* 1992 [[Rich Matteson]]
* 1993 [[Gunther Schuller]]<ref name="Pincus2002">{{cite book|last=Pincus|first=Andrew L.|title=Musicians with a Mission: Keeping the Classical Tradition Alive|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=szmBNRH93BcC&pg=PA109|access-date=September 26, 2018|year=2002|publisher=UPNE|isbn=978-1-55553-516-2|pages=109–}}</ref>
* 1994 [[Marian McPartland]]
* 1995 [[Willis Conover]]
* 1996 [[Chuck Suber]]
* 1997 [[William P. Gottlieb]]
* 1998 [[Bruce Lundvall]]
* 1999 [[Sheldon Meyer]]
* 2000 [[George Avakian]]
* 2001 [[Milt Gabler]]
* 2002 
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005 [[Creed Taylor]]<ref name="creed">{{cite web |last1=Panken |first1=Ted |title=The Right Groove - "DownBeat" Lifetime Achievement Award |url=https://openmusiclibrary.org/article/676045/ |website=Open Music Library |access-date=September 26, 2018}}</ref>
* 2006 [[Claude Nobs]]
* 2007 [[Dan Morgenstern]]
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010 [[Manfred Eicher]]<ref name="manfred">{{cite web |last1=Ricci |first1=Michael |title=Manfred Eicher Wins Downbeat Lifetime Achievement Award |url=https://news.allaboutjazz.com/manfred-eicher-wins-downbeat-lifetime-achievement-award.php |website=All About Jazz |access-date=September 26, 2018 |date=April 4, 2010}}</ref>
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017 [[George Avakian]]<ref name="avakian" />
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022 [[Gretchen Valade]]
* 2023 [[Randall Kline]]{{div col end}}

== See also ==
* The [[Mary Lou Williams]] Women in Jazz Award
* [[International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE)]]
* [[BBC Jazz Awards]]
* [[NEA Jazz Masters]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.downbeat.com/ ''Down Beat'' website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040705094852/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=about_04 "About ''Down Beat'': A History As Rich As Jazz"]
*The [http://www.jazzhouse.org/ Jazz Journalists Association] Lifetime Achievement Award
*[[Nesuhi Ertegun]], [http://www.jalc.org/halloffame/ Jazz Hall of Fame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223102006/http://www.jalc.org/halloffame/ |date=December 23, 2010 }}
*[http://www.visionfestival.org/ Arts For Art] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501123848/http://www.visionfestival.org/ |date=May 1, 2012 }} Lifetime Achievement Award
*[https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/kevin-maher NAMM Oral History Interview with Kevin Maher] January 25, 2014

[[Category:Blues music magazines]]
[[Category:Jazz awards]]
[[Category:Jazz magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1934]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Chicago]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Music magazines published in the United States]]