Album of the Year 2021
- “Chilombo” —Jhené Aiko
- “Black Pumas” (Deluxe Edition) — Black Pumas
- “Everyday Life” — Coldplay
- “Djesse Vol. 3″ — Jacob Collier
- “Women in Music Pt. III” — Haim
- “Future Nostalgia” — Dua Lipa
- “Hollywood’s Bleeding” — Post Malone
- “Folklore” — Taylor Swift
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
- GUINEVERE
Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, soloist
Track from: Axiom - PACHAMAMA
Regina Carter, soloist
Track from: Ona (Thana Alexa) - CELIA
Gerald Clayton, soloist - ALL BLUES
Chick Corea, soloist
Track from: Trilogy 2 (Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade) - MOE HONK
Joshua Redman, soloist
Track from: RoundAgain (Redman Mehldau McBride Blade)
Best Jazz Vocal Album
- ONA
Thana Alexa - SECRETS ARE THE BEST STORIES
Kurt Elling Featuring Danilo Pérez - MODERN ANCESTORS
Carmen Lundy - HOLY ROOM: LIVE AT ALTE OPER
Somi With Frankfurt Radio Big Band - WHAT’S THE HURRY
Kenny Washington
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
- ON THE TENDER SPOT OF EVERY CALLOUSED MOMENT
Ambrose Akinmusire - WAITING GAME
Terri Lyne Carrington And Social Science - HAPPENING: LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD
Gerald Clayton - TRILOGY 2
Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade - ROUNDAGAIN
Redman Mehldau McBride Blade
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
- DIALOGUES ON RACE
Gregg August - MONK’ESTRA PLAYS JOHN BEASLEY
John Beasley - THE INTANGIBLE BETWEEN
Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band - SONGS YOU LIKE A LOT
John Hollenbeck With Theo Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, Gary Versace And The Frankfurt Radio Big Band - DATA LORDS
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Best Latin Jazz Album
- TRADICIONES
Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra - FOUR QUESTIONS
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra - CITY OF DREAMS
Chico Pinheiro - VIENTO Y TIEMPO – LIVE AT BLUE NOTE TOKYO
Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Aymée Nuviola - TRANE’S DELIGHT
Poncho Sanchez
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
- AXIOM
Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah - CHRONOLOGY OF A DREAM: LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD
Jon Batiste - TAKE THE STAIRS
Black Violin - AMERICANA
Grégoire Maret, Romain Collin & Bill Frisell - LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Snarky Puppy
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
- BLUE UMBRELLA
(Burt Bacharach &) Daniel Tashian
- TRUE LOVE: A CELEBRATION OF COLE PORTER
Harry Connick, Jr.
- AMERICAN STANDARD
James Taylor
- UNFOLLOW THE RULES
Rufus Wainwright
- JUDY
Renée Zellweger
Best R&B Performance
- LIGHTNING & THUNDER
Jhené Aiko Featuring John Legend
- BLACK PARADE
Beyoncé
- ALL I NEED
Jacob Collier Featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign
- GOAT HEAD
Brittany Howard
- SEE ME
Emily King
Best Progressive R&B Album
- CHILOMBO
Jhené Aiko
- UNGODLY HOUR
Chloe X Halle
- FREE NATIONALS
Free Nationals
- F*** YO FEELINGS
Robert Glasper
- IT IS WHAT IT IS
Thundercat
Best R&B Song
- BETTER THAN I IMAGINE
Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello)
- BLACK PARADE
Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim "Kaydence" Krysiuk & Rickie "Caso" Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
- COLLIDE
Sam Barsh, Stacey Barthe, Sonyae Elise, Olu Fann, Akil King, Josh Lopez, Kaveh Rastegar & Benedetto Rotondi, songwriters (Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG)
- DO IT
Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Anton Kuhl, Victoria Monét, Scott Storch & Vincent Van Den Ende, songwriters (Chloe X Halle)
- SLOW DOWN
Nasri Atweh, Badriia Bourelly, Skip Marley, Ryan Williamson & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Skip Marley & H.E.R.)
Best R&B Album
- HAPPY 2 BE HERE
Ant Clemons
- TAKE TIME
Giveon
- TO FEEL LOVE/D
Luke James
- BIGGER LOVE
John Legend
- ALL RISE
Gregory Porter