Alumni and Faculty Recognized by Jazz Journalists Association
Linda May Han Oh won Bassist of the Year at the 2021 JJA Jazz Awards.
Image by Shervin Lainez
The Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) recognized several Berklee alumni and faculty with JJA Jazz Awards this year. The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice led the field, as Terri Lyne Carrington, the institute’s founder and artistic director, won the awards for Musician of the Year and Drummer of the Year. The awards follow Carrington's recent Grammy nomination and election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Kris Davis, the institute's associate program director of creative development, won Pianist of the Year, and Linda May Han Oh, ensemble director and associate professor, won Bassist of the Year.
Bill Frisell ’77 ’17H won Guitarist of the Year and Duo/Trio of the Year (with bassist Thomas Morgan). Anat Cohen ’98 was named Clarinetist of the Year and also won for Mid-Size Ensemble of the Year as a member of the supergroup Artemis, which includes Melissa Aldana B.M. ’09, Ingrid Jensen B.M. ’89, and Noriko Ueda ’97. Branford Marsalis ’80 ’06H won Soprano Saxophonist of the Year.
Below is the full list of Berklee alumni and faculty 2021 JJA Jazz Award Winners, as listed in order of presentation on the JJA Jazz Awards website:
Musician of the Year
Terri Lyne Carrington ’83 ’03H, founder and artistic director, Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice
Mid-Size Ensemble of the Year
Artemis (Anat Cohen ’98, Melissa Aldana B.M. ’09, Ingrid Jensen B.M. ’89, Noriko Ueda ’97)
Duo/Trio of the Year
Bill Frisell ’77 and Thomas Morgan
Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
Branford Marsalis ’80 ’06H
Clarinetist of the Year
Anat Cohen ’98
Guitarist of the Year
Bill Frisell ’77
Bassist of the Year
Linda May Han Oh, associate professor and ensemble director, Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice
Pianist of the Year
Kris Davis, associate program director of creative development, Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice
Drummer of the Year
Terri Lyne Carrington ’83 ’03H, founder and artistic director, Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice
