Each year, the Golden Ear Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the previous year in Seattle jazz. With the pandemic, the continued fight for racial justice, and threats to American democracy, 2020 has been a difficult and very different year. We acknowledge the heavy toll that shuttered venues and restrictions on live performances have taken on our community. Many artists have struggled to perform and create under these challenging circumstances, and we thank all the artists for everything they’ve contributed to the Seattle jazz community this past year. Furthermore, we want to thank everyone who sent in nominations this year.
Now, we look forward to hearing from you. Vote online at earshot.org below, by email to vote@earshot.org, or mail your selections to Earshot Jazz, 3417 Fremont Ave N, #221, Seattle, WA 98103. Ballots are due March 1.
The ballot listed here on this page is for reference, to vote by Google form click on the Vote Now button below.
2020 Golden Ear Awards Ballot
NW Recording of the Year
Sundae + Mr. Goessl, Fun & Fancy
Duende Libre, The Dance She Spoke
Ray Larsen, Songs to Fill the Air
Thomas Marriott, Trumpet Ship
Ryan Burns, Postponed Parade
Other________________________
NW Acoustic Jazz Ensemble of the Year
Jacob Zimmerman Trio
Thomas Marriott Quintet
Sundae + Mr. Goessl
Bill Anschell Trio
EarthtoneSkytone
Other________________________
Emerging Artist of the Year
Josh Hou
Abbey Blackwell
Tony Lefaive
Dylan Hayes
Xavier Lecouturier
Other________________________
Alternative Jazz Group of the Year
Bad News Botanists
RAE
Ryan Burns
Electric Circus
Amy Denio
Other________________________
NW Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year
Neil Welch
Alex Dugdale
James Falzone
Kate Olson
Ray Larsen
Other________________________
NW Vocalist of the Year
Kate Voss
Johnaye Kendrick
Ayesha Brooks
Elnah Jordan
Chava Mirel
Other________________________
NW Concert of the Year (live or livestream)
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, “Tribute to Billie Holiday” at Benaroya Hall (02/01/2020)
Ahamefule J. Oluo: Music from Susan, streamed at the Earshot Jazz Festival (10/18/2020)
Marc Seales Quintet at Jazz Alley (02/24/2020)
Cuong Vu and Ted Poor at Cry & Roar X, Café Racer (01/24/2020)
Bad Luck fundraiser for Wa Na Wari streamed via Live Concerts Stream (08/25/2020)
Other________________________
Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame
Steve Kim
Robin Holcomb
Jim Knodle
Hans Teuber
Moc Escobedo
Other________________________
Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame Inductees
1990
Ernestine Anderson
Al Hood
Chuck Metcalf
Floyd Standifer
1991
Buddy Catlett
Don Lanphere
1992
Jabo Ward
Jim Wilke
1993
Fred Greenwell
Melody Jones
1994
Clarence Acox
Bud Young
1995
Jerome Gray
1996
Norm Bobrow
William O. (Bill) Smith
1997
Lola Pedrini
Bill Ramsay
1998
Jan Stentz
Leon Vaughn
1999
Vonne Griffin
Red Kelly
2000
Bud Shank
Chuck Stentz
2001
John Dimitriou
Julian Priester
2002
Paul de Barros
2003
Ronnie Pierce
Jay Thomas
2004
Gaye Anderson
Hadley Caliman
Robert Knatt
2005
Gary Steele
Mack Waldron
Woody Woodhouse
2006
Jim Knapp
KPLU
2007
John Bishop
Dean Hodges
2008
KBCS 91.3
Phil Sparks
2009
Marc Seales
Stuart Dempster
2010
Chuck Deardorf
Wayne Horvitz
2011
Overton Berry
Jeff Johnson
Jovino Santos Neto
2012
Scott Brown
Dave Peck
2013
Bill Frisell
Bert Wilson
2014
Amy Denio
Greta Matassa
2015
Ruby Bishop
Sonny Booker
Randy Halberstadt
2016
Bill Anschell
Jay Clayton
2017
Patty Padden
Skerik
2018
Bob Hammer
Helen and David Marriott Sr.
Wally Shoup
2019
Michael Brockman
Suzanne Weghorst
Gary Bannister