Congratulations to Darcy James Argue, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Mary Halvorson, and Ambrose Akinmusire, who have all been nominated in the Jazz Journalists Association's 2024 JJA Jazz Awards.

Darcy James Argue has been nominated for four JJA Jazz Awards: Composer of the Year and Arranger of the Year, Large Ensemble of the Year for Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, and Record of the Year for the group's Nonesuch debut album, Dynamic Maximum Tension. The album pays homage to some of Argue’s key influences with original songs dedicated to R. Buckminster Fuller, Alan Turing, and Mae West. Dynamic Maximum Tension’s eleven tracks also include a response to Duke Ellington’s “Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue,” titled “Tensile Curves,” among other originals.

Cécile McLorin Salvant, who can be heard on the Dynamic Maximum Tension track "Mae West: Advice," is up for three awards of her own: Jazz Musician of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Record of the Year for her second Nonesuch album, Mélusine. The album is a mix of originals and interpretations of songs dating as far back as the 12th century, mostly sung in French along with Occitan, English, and Haitian Kreyòl. They tell the folk tale of Mélusine, a woman who turns into a half-snake each Saturday after a childhood curse by her mother. Sullivan Fortner, who performs throughout Mélusine, has been nominated for Pianist of the Year, as has Aaron Diehl, who is on two album tracks. A photo of Salvant singing by Ursula Las has also been nominated for Photo of the Year.

Mary Halvorson is nominated for Guitarist of the Year. Her new album, Cloudward, features eight new compositions she performs with her sextet Amaryllis—the improvisatory band that performed on her acclaimed 2022 albums Amaryllis and Belladonna: Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Nick Dunston (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Jacob Garchik (trombone), and Adam O’Farrill (trumpet). Laurie Anderson is featured on the track "Incarnadine." Jacob Garchik, who is also part of Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, is up for Trombonist of the Year.

Ambrose Akinmusire is nominated for Trumpeter of the Year. "This is my reaction to being assaulted by information," Akinmusire says of his Nonesuch debut album, Owl Song, featuring a trio with two musicians he has long admired, guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Herlin Riley. "A quiet rush of gorgeous sound where space, tone and beauty come together in one of the most impactful albums of 2023," says DownBeat. "This is one of the most interesting recordings to come along in a very long time by one of the most interesting artists of our time."

Nominees were chosen by the votes of the Professional Journalist Members of the Jazz Journalists Association. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 8. For more information and to see the complete list of nominees, visit jjajazzawards.org.