The German Jazz Prize ceremony 2023 was held at the Metropol Theater in Bremen. A full list of the winners in all 31 categories is below together with the “Laudatio” for the evening’s biggest prize, Artist of the Year. That prize went to Sanni Est, a Brazilian artist based in Berlin. We also include the full list of jury members.
The most emotional moment came at the end when Joachim Kühn and Rolf Kühn’s widow Melanie accepted the lifetime achievement award after a heartfelt speech from Till Broenner. She held the trophy aloft and simply said “This is for you Rolf.”
Both of the live event prizes went to Cologne. There was a live performance by a group involving Terri Lyne Carrington and Lakecia Benjamin. The continuously performing onstage band did well (photo below).
FULL LIST OF GERMAN JAZZ PRIZE WINNERS
A. ARTISTS
- VOCAL: Natalie Greffel
- WOODWINDS: Volker Holly Schlott
- BRASS: Matthias Schriefl
- PIANO/ KEYBOARDS : Elias Stemeseder
- GUITAR: Kurt Rosenwinkel
- BASS: LISA WULFF
- DRUMS/ PERCUSSION: Günter Baby Sommer
- SPECIAL INSTRUMENTS : Rabih Abou-Khalil
- ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Sanni Est
(LAUDATIO: Sanni Est is an outstanding artist whose music transcends boundaries and genres, challenging notions of knowledge, reason, normativity and beauty. Trained in classical singing and semiotics, Sanni Est’s music today sounds like a futuristic form of jazz that allows people to experience and listen to jazz beyond the jazz scene. As a singer, performer and transmedia artist, Sanni Est is a true Gesamtkunstwerk. Her live shows and the way she communicates to her audience are particularly impressive.”) - BAND OF THE YEAR: Insomnia Brass Band
- LARGE ENSEMBLE: Potsa Lotsa XL
- WIND INSTRUMENTS INTERNATIONAL: Lakecia Benjamin
- PIANO/ KEYBOARDS INTERNATIONAL: Jason Moran
- STRING INSTRUMENTS INTERNATIONAL: Jeff Parker
- DRUMS/ PERCUSSION INTERNATIONAL: Makaya McCraven
- ARTIST OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL: Moor Mother
- James Brandon Lewis Quartet
B. RECORDING/PRODUCTION
- INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM: Melt Trio – Consumer
- VOCAL ALBUM – LUAH – MO VI MENTO
- DEBUT ALBUM: InEvitable – InEvitable
- BROADCAST PRODUCTION: Martin Auer – Hörspiel | “Die Ballade von Robin Hood” by John von Düffel
- INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM INTERNATIONAL: Wadada Leo Smith / Andrew Cyrille / Qasim Naqvi – Two Centuries (Red Hook Records)
- VOCAL ALBUM INTERNATIONAL: Cécile McLorin Salvant – Ghost Song
- DEBUT ALBUM INTERNATIONAL: Vicente Hansen Atria – Orlando Furioso
C. LIVE
25: VENUE OF THE YEAR: Loft Köln
- FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR: Cologne Jazzweek
D. COMPOSITION/ ARRANGEMENT
- COMPOSITION: Heidi Bayer – Cookie Dough
- ARRANGEMENT
Diego Pinera – Bartók
E. SPECIAL PRIZES OF THE JURY
29. JOURNALISTIC ACHIEVEMENT: Julia Neupert, Franziska Buhre – Jazz-Frauen. Wegbereiterinnen im Off
30. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Rolf & Joachim Kühn
31. SPECIAL PRIZE OF THE JURY: Queer Cheer Community for “Jazz” and Improvised Music
JURY MEMBERS
Niklas Alt. Owner of Donau115
Nabil Atassi. Broadcaster
Aida Baghernejad. Journalist
Jean-Paul Bourelly. Guitarist and producer
Fola Dada. Singer / Educator
Bülent Yeylan. Comedian
Nate Chinen. Critic/ Author
Uwe Hager. Producer
Jana Herzen. Motema Music
Rabih Lahoud. Singer composer
Erik Leuthäuser. Singer / Arranger
Luciano Linzi. Venue director
Stefanie Marcus. Traumton Records
Peter Margasak. Journalist. Concert producer
Lena Müller. Booking Agent
Akua Naru, Artist producer
Angelika Niescier. Saxophonist composer
Matti Nives. We Jazz
Catherine Nuyt. Label manager
Aaron Parks. Pianist composer
Rio Sakairi. Venue manager
Tobias Schuster. Booking agent
Darrel Sheinman. Gearbox Records London
Thomas Siffling. Musician. Club manager
Tinka Steinhoff. Booking agent
Katea Stitt. Radio host and tour manager
Victoriah Szirmai. Critic
Mousse T. Music producer
Tokunbo. Singer songwriter
Jeanne-Marie Varain. Festival manager
Jolanda Vujasinovic. Artist manager
The German Jazz Prize is funded and produced by Initiative Musik gGmbH
