Jazz Clarinetist of the Year

I’m amazed there is not more buzz about the Jazz Clarinetist of the Year Anat Cohen. The Jazz Journalist Association Jazz Awards were announced on June 14th, 2010.

Anat Cohen not only won this award this year, but she won in 2007, 2008, 2009 and now 2010. To see video of Anat Cohen playing clarinet, click here. Get ready for some exciting clarinet playing.

Finalists for the JJA Jazz Awards honor excellence in music-making and music documentation. These musicians are nominated by 60 professional Jazz Journalists Association member. In 2010, the nominations included 41 categories.

Following is a list of winners in past years. If you see “none” next to a year, either no-one was nominated and/or the clarinetist category was not developed.

2010 - Anat Cohen

Other nominees for 2010 were Don Byron, Evan Christopher, Eddie Daniels, and Ken Peplowski.

2009 - Anat Cohen

2008 - Anat Cohen

2007 - Anat Cohen

2006 - none

2005 - Don Byron

2004 - none

2003 - Marty Ehrlich

2002 - Don Byron

2001 – “Winds and Reeds of the Year” Marty Ehrlich (saxophones, clarinets, and flutes)

1997-2000 No evidence of wind or clarinet awards given these years. Go from this Jazz Clarinetist of the Year page and learn some roots of jazz clarinet playing via Benny Goodmen by clicking here.