
Danish Music Awards Jazz
Introduktion
The Danish Music Awards Jazz is the annual award ceremony that celebrates the Danish jazz scene and highlights the past year’s Danish jazz releases. In previous years, DMA Jazz was a joint event with organizations like IFPI, but since 2011, JazzDanmark has been solely responsible for organizing DMA Jazz.
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DMA Jazz 2024
Danish Music Awards Jazz is the year’s biggest celebration of Danish jazz. In December, Store VEGA will be packed to the brim with jazz lovers, musicians, industry professionals, and, of course, award ceremonies and musical performances to honor the past year in jazz.
Each year, DMA Jazz is complemented by a daytime industry-focused program, Jazz+, as well as a massive afterparty.
Awards
The categories at the Danish Music Awards Jazz are:
Main Categories – all releases are considered:
- Jazz Release of the Year (8 nominees)
- Jazz Composer of the Year (8 nominees)
- Musician of the Year (8 nominees)
Special Categories – specific characteristics apply:
- New Jazz Artist of the Year (5 nominees)
- Single of the Year (5 nominees)
- Alternative Jazz Release of the Year (5 nominees)
Live Awards:
- Live Act of the Year (3 nominees)
- Venue of the Year (3 nominees)
All 8 winners receive the iconic statuette, the DMA bird, and all awards are presented at the annual DMA Jazz show, organized by JazzDanmark. The show also includes a special award: the P8 Jazz Prize – Fire Soul of the Year, nominated by P8 Jazz listeners and selected by the P8 editorial team.
Nominees and winners in the main and special categories are selected by a rotating 9-person academy. The two live categories are handled by a specially appointed live academy.
Criteria for a release to be nominated:
- The bandleader or the majority of the participants on the record must be Danish, which means being born or permanently residing in Denmark, or having a significant connection to Denmark.
- The release must have been published within a specified period for the given year.

JazzDanmark’s director, Eva Frost, and communications & deputy director, Agnete Seerup, at DMA Jazz 2023. Photo: Peter von Freiesleben

A sold out Store VEGA at DMA Jazz 2024. Photo: Peter von Freiesleben
Categories
- Eight nominees.
- All releases are eligible.
- Must be exceptional and present as a cohesive work.
- Emphasis may be placed on overall musical quality, originality, compositions, production, and instrumental and/or vocal performances.
- Can represent any jazz subgenre.
- Eight nominees.
- All releases with original compositions are eligible.
- Awarded to a composer behind a release that features original compositions.
- The release must be outstanding and present as a cohesive work.
- Evaluated primarily based on compositional quality and originality.
- Eight nominees.
- All releases are eligible. The academy nominates four musicians each.
- Awarded to a musician for an extraordinary performance on a single release. Both instrumentalists and vocalists are considered.
- Evaluation may consider both technical skill and uniqueness.
- Five nominees.
- Must be exceptional and present as a cohesive work.
- Awarded to a release that features stylistic elements either partially or entirely outside traditional jazz or stands out from the overall field.
- Recognizes a release considered musically challenging, containing genre hybrids, or difficult to categorize.
- This may include a release that, beyond jazz, incorporates unconventional or experimental genre elements, as well as more established genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, or ambient.
- Five nominees.
- The release must be a debut featuring a musician as bandleader and/or a new, exceptional band.
- Special emphasis is placed on the musician or band setting promising directions for the future.
- Five nominees.
- Only tracks released separately as singles are eligible, with a maximum of one track per release.
- Celebrates an outstanding single that stands on its own, without needing to be part of a full-length release.
- The track must function as an exceptional standalone piece, even if it is also part of a full-length release.
- Three nominees.
- Awarded to a band or musician who has made a significant impact on the live scene over the year.
- Consideration may be given to a particularly notable or impressive level of activity in Denmark or abroad.
- Specific exceptional live performances may also be taken into account.
- The award can go to a band or musician who takes live jazz into uncharted territory, or to a band or musician who masters the traditional jazz concert format with exceptional skill.
- Three nominees.
- Awarded to an organizer, concert club, festival, or venue that has made a special contribution to jazz over the year.
- Consideration may be given to a program of particularly high quality or with a unique vision.
- Recognition may also be given for bringing jazz to new stages or audiences or through particularly fruitful collaborations.
Former DMA Jazz winners
Jazz Release of the Year
- 1991 – Thomas Blachman: Love Boat (Righttone)
- 1992 – Thomas Clausen: Café Noir (Inter Music)
- 1993 – Palle Mikkelborg: Anything But Grey (Columbia)
- 1994 – Jan Kaspersen Quintet: Heavy Smoke (Olufsen)
- 1995 – Blachman Meets Al Agami & Remee: The Style and Invention Album (Mega Records)
- 1996 – Jens Winther Group: Planets (Stunt)
- 1997 – Alex Riel: The Riel Deal (Stunt)
- 1998 – Once Around The Park: Unity (Family Records)
- 1999 – Hans Ulrik: Jazz & Mambo (Stunt)
- 2000 – Lars Møller Group: Kaleidoscope (Naxos)
- 2001 – Mads Vinding Trio: Six Hands, Three Minds, One Heart (Stunt)
- 2002 – Fredrik Lundin Overdrive: Choose Your Boots (Stunt)
- 2003 – Jakob Dinesen: Everything Will Be All Right (Stunt)
- 2004 – Carsten Dahl: Solo Piano (Stunt)
- 2005 – Fredrik Lundin Overdrive: Plays The Music of Leadbelly; Belly-Up (Stunt)
- 2006 – Jakob Bro: Sidetracked (Loveland)
- 2007 – Lovedale: Grill Music (ILK)
- 2008 – Rosendal/Earle/Templeton: Tide (Stunt)
- 2009 – Jens Søndergaard & Kenny Werner: A Time For Love (Stunt)
- 2010 – Jakob Bro: Balladeering (Loveland Records)
- 2011 – Carsten Dahl: Effata (Storyville)
- 2012 – Peter Danstrup/Reptiles: Beautiful Untrue Things (Gateway)
- 2013 – Emil de Waal+ Gustav Ljunggren & Søren Kjærgaard feat. Elith “Nulle” Nykjær: S.t. (EDW)
- 2014 – 3xHess: Music For Mum & Dad (Gateway)
- 2015 – Jakob Bro: Gefion (ECM)
- 2016 – Jakob Buchanan: Buchanan Requiem (Buchanan Records)
- 2017 – Nicolai Munch-Hansen og Peter Laugesen: Det flimrende lys over Brabrand sø (Stunt)
- 2018 – Frands Rifbjerg Quintet: Songs and Melodies (Gateway)
- 2019 – Simon Toldam Trio: Omhu (ILK Music)
- 2020 – Maluba Orchestra: Maluba Orchestra (Sundance Music & Stunt Records)
- 2021 – Makiko Hirabayashi: Weavers (Enja Records)
- 2022 – Jeppe Gram – The Doldrums (Storyville Records)
- 2023 – Selvhenter – MESMERIZER (Hands in the Dark)
New Jazz Act of the Year
- 2002 – Jacob Anderskov Trio: Doctor Structure (Scraggly Records)
- 2003 – Jakob Bro Beautiful Day: Beautiful Day (Music Mecca)
- 2004 – Stefan Pasborg & Liudas Mockuna: Toxikum (TBC Records/ILK)
- 2005 – Christoffer Møller: SAN (Cope Records)
- 2006 – Mikkel Hess – Hess is more: Tip Top Dynamo (Music For Dreams)
- 2007 – Simon Toldam og Prügelknabe: Simon Toldam og Prügelknabe (ILK)
- 2008 – Jonas Müller: East African Prayer (ILK)
- 2009 – Mads la Cour: À la Cour (Stunt Records)
- 2010 – August Rosenbaum: Beholder (Gateway)
- 2011 – Orpheus: A Less Known Hero (Gateway)
- 2012 – Mads Mathias: Free Falling (Calibrated)
- 2013 – Aske Drasbæk: Old Ghost (Gateway)
- 2014 – Bangin’ Bülows Nice Jazz Quartet: Bangin’ Bülows Nice Jazz Quartet (egen udgivelse)
- 2015 – Horse Orchestra: Horse Orchestra: Living The Dream (Barefoot Records)
- 2016 – Kathrine Windfeld Big Band: Aircraft (Gateway)
- 2017 – Sonja LaBianca: About Room/Room to be/Rooms (Eget Værelse)
- 2018 – Aloft Quartet: First Year (AMP)
- 2019 – Svaneborg Kardyb: Knob (egen udgivelse)
- 2020 – Nikola Bankov: Bright Future (AMP Music & Records)
- 2021 – Maraton: Maraton (Barefoot Records)
- 2022 – ALAWARI – ALAWARI (April Records)
- 2023 – Nana Rashid – Music for Betty (April Records)
Experimental Release of the Year
Formerly “Experiment of the Year”, “Danish Crossover Release of the Year” and “Danish Special Release of the Year”.
- 2005 – Autofant (Henrik Sundh/KrestenOsgood/Johan Segerberg): Family (ILK/DZO Records)
- 2006 – Jakob Bro: Sidetracked (Loveland Records)
- 2007 – Simon Toldam og Prügelknabe: Simon Toldam og Prügelknabe (ILK)
- 2008 – Martin Lutz Group: Where Are The Trumpets (Calbrated)
- 2009 – Grammofunch (Jeppe Gram/Rune Funch): Grammofunch (Blackout Music)
- 2010 – Girls in Airports: Girls in Airports (Gateway Music)
- 2011 – Pasborg’s Odessa 5: X-tra Large (Stunt Records)_
- 2012 – Jakob Davidsens Kammeratorkester: Jakob Davidsens Kammeratorkester (Gateway Music)
- 2013 – Bro/Knak: Bro/Knak (Loveland Records)
- 2014 – Maria Faust: Sacrum Facere (Barefoot Records)
- 2015 – Horse Orchestra: Living The Dream (Barefoot Records)
- 2016 – Boujeloud: Candy Prince (Boujeloud)
- 2017 – Kalaha: Masala (Rump Recordings)
- 2018 – August Rosenbaum: Vista (Tambourhinoceros)
- 2019 – Jesper Zeuthen, Jacob Anderskov, Anders Vestergaard – Out of the Spectacle (ILK Music)
- 2020 – Maria Faust Sacrum Facere: ORGAN (Sundance Music & Stunt Records)
- 2021 – Aar og Dag – Tifold af Fri Form og Fælles Motiv (Aar og Dag)
- 2022 – Jeppe Zeeberg – Conventional (Selvudgivet)
- 2023 – SVIN – Introducing SVIN (Tonzonen Records)
Danish Vocal Release of the Year
- 2005 – Tys Tys / Maria Laurette Friis: Go Get Some (ILK/Loretta Records)
- 2006 – Sekten / Qarin Wikström: Annars Är Det Tyst (ILK)
- 2007 – Caroline Henderson: Love or Nothing (Stunt Records)
- 2008 – Sinne Eeg: Waiting for Dawn (Calibrated)
- 2009 – Sidsel Storm: Sidsel Storm (Calibrated)
- 2010 – Sinne Eeg: Don’t Be So Blue (Red Dot Music)
- 2011 – IKI: IKI nine voices, no rules (ILK)
- 2012 – INDRA: In Between (Bendra Records)
- 2013 – Søren Ulrik Thomsen og Det Glemte Kvarter: Rystet Spejl (Gyldendal Lyd)
- 2014 – Sinne Eeg: Face The Music (Stunt Records)
- 2015 – Sinne Eeg og Thomas Fonnesbæk: Eeg Fonnesbæk (Stunt Records)
- 2016 – Eivør, Peter Jensen & DR Big Band: At The Heart of A Selkie (TUTL Records)
- 2017 – Kira Skov og Maria Faust: In the Beginning (Stunt)
- 2018 – Kira Skov: The Echo Of You (Stunt)
- 2019 – Søren Siegumfeldts String Swing with Meschiya Lake – This is Meschiya Lake (Stunt)
- 2020 – Sinne Eeg & The Danish Radio Big Band: We’ve Just Begun (Sundance Music & Stunt Records)
- 2021 – Astrid Engberg: Tulpa (Creak Inc. Records)
- 2022 – Tone of Voice Orchestra – Tone of Voice Orchestra (Stunt/Sundance)
- 2023 – Marcela Lucatelli / Lars Pilgaard / Anders Vestergaard – Necromancy (Abstract Tits Records)
Jazz Composer of the Year
- 2008 – Peter Rosendal: Tide (Stunt Records)
- 2009 – Jonas Westergaard: Helgoland (Stunt Records)
- 2010 – Prisen blev ikke uddelt p.g.af prisbegrænsninger ved fælles DMA for de rytmiske genrer
- 2011 – Helle Hansen: Uncommon Ground (Gateway Music)
- 2012 – Peter Danstrup: Beautiful Untrue Things (Gateway Music)
- 2013 – Jacob Anderskov: Granular Alchemy (ILK)
- 2014 – Maria Faust: Sacrum Facere (ILK)
- 2015 – Claus Waidtløw: Playhouse (Gateway)
- 2016 – Jakob Buchanan: Buchanan Requiem (Buchanan Records)
- 2017 – Kira Skov og Maria Faust: In the Beginning (Stunt)
- 2018 – Fredrik Lundin: 5 Go Adventuring Again (Stunt Records)
- 2019 – Nikolaj Svaneborg og Jonas Kardyb: Knob (egen udgivelse)
- 2020 – Laurits Hyllested: Darling River (AMP Music & Records)
- 2021 – Jesper Thorn: Boy (Moveable Records)
- 2022 – Horse Orchestra – The Milkman Cometh (Selvudgivet)
- 2023 – Karmen Rõivassepp & Aarhus Jazz Orchestra – Ambivalence (Jæger Community)
Children’s Jazz Award
Since 2023 a collaboration with LMS – Levende Musik i Skolen, moved to Tivoli Jazzpris in 2024.
- 2011 – Sandberg Explorer
- 2012 – Benita Haastrup
- 2013 – Six City Stompers
- 2014 – Jazz Five
- 2015 – Univers på Vers – Anders Jakobsen
- 2016 – Jazz Five
- 2017 – Æsken
- 2018 – Flensborg/Venndt Duo
- 2019 – Thomas Ousager – Trommerum Expressen
- 2020 – Jorden Rundt med Malene Kjærgård
- 2021 – De Onde
- 2022 – Casper Mikkelsen & En FanJAZZtisk Trommerejse
- 2023 – Musiksanseriet
Cross-Disciplinary Release of the Year
- 2021 – All Too Human – Because You’re Worth It (ILK Music)
- 2022 – Lars Greve – En verden, der melder sig (Selvudgivet)
- 2023 – Aske Zidore & Anders Lauge Meldgaard – Sange fra i dag (Anyines / År & Dag)
Single of the Year
Formerly “Track of the Year”
- 2022 – Horse Orchestra – Montag ist vielleicht der lustigste Tag (Selvudgivet)
- 2023 – Tigeroak – Living and Living (April Records)
JazzDanmark Prisen
Concert Experience of the Year for an extraordinary concert format.
- 2017 – Mandagsklubben på 5e
- 2018 – Krydsfelt – På Tværs af Musikken med Mads Mathias og Joakim Moesgaard
- 2019 – Aarhus Jazz Orchestra for We, Robots. Koncert og seminar om kunstig intelligens.
- 2020 – Mai Seidelin og Johan Bylling Lang for Copenhagen Harbour Parade
- 2021 – Meutiviti for Impro Fauna
- 2022 – Hess Is More for Apollonian Circles
- 2023 – Bazarjazz for Bazarjazz sæson 2023
P8 Prisen – Enthusiast of the Year
- 2017 – Tove Enevoldsen, Paradise Jazz
- 2018 – Ilse Vestergaard, Aarhus Jazz Festival
- 2019 – Karsten Bech, Jazz i Trekanten
- 2020 – Nana Pi Aabo Larsen, IMPRO CAMP etc.
- 2021 – Niels Overgaard, Jazznyt
- 2022 – Anders Ørbæk, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra
- 2023 – Michael Charles Gaunt, Østersøjazz Festival.
Jazz Grant – Musician of the Year
Moved to Tivoli Jazzpris in 2023
- 2020 – Anton Eger
- 2021 – Jeppe Gram
- 2022 – Kjeld Lauritsen
- 2023 – Ida Duelund
Jazz Grant – Ensemble of the Year
Moved to Tivoli Jazzpris in 2023
- 2020 – All Too Human
- 2021 – Simon Toldam Trio
- 2022 – Bévort 3
- 2023 – Selvhenter
Danish Music Awards Blues
- Since 2012, JazzDanmark and ROSA have awarded a DMA statuette for Danish Blues Release of the Year. Since then, more awards have been added, and DMA Blues has become its own show at Ridehuset in Randers.
- DMA Blues 2024 is organized by JazzDanmark, Tempi, ROSA, DMF – Danish Musicians’ Union, and Turbinen with support from Randers Festuge and the Danish Arts Foundation’s Project Support Committee for Music.
2013:
Thorbjørn Risager: Dust & Scratches (Cope Records)
2014:
Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado: Too Many Roads (Cope Records)
2015:
Mike Andersen: Home (Nordic Music Society)
2016:
Big Creek Slim: Keep My Belly Full (Straight Shooter)
2017:
Big Creek Slim: Good Mill Blues (Straight Shooter)
Blues Liveprisen: Uffe Steen
2018:
Trainman Blues: Trainman Blues (Straight Shooter)
Blues Liveprisen: Shades of Blue
Årets Hoochie Coochie Man: Koncertarrangør Peter Astrup
2019:
Big Creek Slim: First Born
Blues Liveprisen: Grarup Allstars
Årets Hoochie Coochie Man: Musiker, sangskriver, producer, koncertarrangør, pladeselskabsmand og allround blues-iværksætter Peter Nande
2020:
HP Lange Big Gumbo: I Feel Fine
Blues Liveprisen: Mike Andersen
2021:
Årets Danske Bluesudgivelse: Trainman Blues: Shadows & Shapes
Blues Liveprisen: Trainman Blues
“Ud Af Det Blå”-prisen: Oscar Mukherjee
Årets Hoochie Coochie Man/Woman: Roskilde Festivalens booking-gruppe
2022:
Årets Danske Bluesudgivelse: Mike Andersen: Raise Your Hand
Blues Liveprisen: Mike Andersen
“Ud Af Det Blå”-prisen: Lasse Storm
Årets Hoochie Coochie Man/Woman: Rasmus Vinther fra Mojo Blues Bar
2023:
“Ud Af Det Blå”-prisen: Katrine Schmidt
Årets Danske Bluesudgivelse: Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado: Navigation Blues
Blues Liveprisen 2023: Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado
Årets Hoochie Coochie Man: Laust ‘Krudtmejer’ Nielsen
Årets Hoochie Coochie Woman: Sahra da Silva
2024:
Blues Liveprisen 2024: Sahra da Silva
Årets Danske Bluesudgivelse 2024: Aegteskab for albummet “Aegteskab”
Ud Af Det Blå-prisen 2024: Joachim Svensmark
Årets Hoochie Coochie Man/Woman 2024: Charlie Tambaur
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