1981: Steve Houghton, Leon Breeden, and Buddy Baker
1982: Zoot Sims and the Mitchell-Ruff Duo
1983: Slide Hampton and “Fire and Ice”
1984: Bobby McFerrin and Rayburn Wright
1985: Art Blakey, Bob Brookmeyer, Jim Hall, Jerry Coker, and The Hi-Lo’s
1986: Gerry Mulligan, Bobby McFerrin, Gene Bertoncini, and Michael Moore
1987: Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, and Dianne Reeves
1988: Wynton Marsalis, J.J. Johnson, and Cheryl Barnes
1989: Michael Brecker and Diane Schuur
1990: Benny Golson, Marlena Shaw, John Abercrombie, Peter Erskine, Marc Johnson, Tim Hagans, and John Fedchock
1991: Chick Corea Elektric Band and Marlena Shaw
1992: New York Voices and Jack DeJohnette Trio
1993: Bobby Watson and Moore by Four
1994: Joe Henderson Trio and Jon Hendricks & Co.
1995: Cassandra Wilson and John Harmon
1996: Joe Lovano, Gunther Schuller, Janis Siegel, and Fred Hersch
1997: Diana Krall, Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton, and Jimmy Heath
1998: New York Voices and Marcus Roberts
1999: Kevin Mahogany and Arturo Sandoval
2000: Dave Holland Quintet, Nancy King, and Steve Christofferson
2001: Bobby McFerrin and Uri Caine
2002: Wayne Shorter, Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, and Dianne Reeves
2003: Kurt Elling, Lars Jansson, and the Mingus Big Band
2004: Eliane Elias Trio, Marc Johnson, and Tim Hagans
2005: Jane Monheit, Kenny Wheeler, Matt Harris, Steve Houghton and Clay Jenkins
2006: Jon Hendricks and LHR Redux, Wycliffe Gordon, and Chris Vadala
2007: Patricia Barber and the Branford Marsalis Quintet
2008: New York Voices and Ingrid Jensen
2009: Steve March Tormé, Brian Lynch, Joel Frahm, Geoffrey Keezer, Ike Sturm and Zach Harmon
2010: Luciana Souza and Conrad Herwig
2011: Tierney Sutton Band and John & Gerald Clayton
2012: Kurt Elling and Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra
2013: Kate McGarry and The Yellowjackets
2014: Terri Lyne Carrington’s Mosaic Project and Peter Erskine
2015: Cyrille Aimée and Rufus Reid Quartet
2016: Luciana Souza and Children of the Light: Danilo Perez, Brian Blade and John Patitucci
2017: Lizz Wright and Storms/Nocturnes Trio: Geoffrey Keezer, Joe Locke and Tim Garland
2018: Regina Carter Quartet and Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
2019: The Miguel Zenón Quartet
2021: Dave Rivello and Ike Sturm + HEART, featuring guest Donny McCaslin
2022: Samara Joy and Liam Teague
2023: Alicia Olatuja Quintet and Magos Herrera Quartet