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