Gerald Clayton and Roberta Gambarini Big Winners At 58th Downbeat Critics Poll

July 18th, 2010

Hugely talented pianist Gerald Clayton and sensational singer Roberta Gambarini have both received a 1st place in their respective categories - Clayton winning 'Rising Star Pianist' and Gambarini 'Rising Star Vocalist' – at this year's 58th Downbeat Critics Poll. Initiated in 1961 the Downbeat poll is one of the longest running and most prestigious awards in the jazz world - especially as the winners are selected by votes from the world's leading jazz critics.

Other Emarcy artists were well represented across all categories while Gerald Clayton made a big impact with his debut album Two Shade and Roberta Gambarini's reputation  has been growing since her since her work with the late great Hank Jones on You Are There, and in concerts with trumpeter Roy Hargrove, as well as her solo album So In Love.

The full list of Universal and Emarcy artists is as follows:
 
Historical Release:
1st Place: Ella Fitzgerald, Twelve Nights in Hollywood (Verve)
3rd Place: Louis Armstrong, Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions
4th Place: Tony Bennett & Bill Evans, The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings (Concord)
5th Place: John Coltrane, Side Steps (Concord)
6th Place: Billie Holiday, Complete Commodore & Decca Masters
 
Rising Star Jazz Artist:
6th Place: Miguel Zenon (Marsalis Music)  
7th Place: Christian Scott (Concord)
11th Place: Julian Lage
 
Big Band:
3rd place: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
8th Place: Roy Hargrove Big Band  
11th Place: Dave Holland Big Band (Dare2)
 
Trumpet:
2nd Place: Wynton Marsalis    
6th Place: Roy Hargrove
7th Place: Nicholas Payton (Concord)
 
Rising Star Trumpet:
2nd Place: Christian Scott (Concord)
 
Rising Star Trombone:
11th Place: Troy Andrews (Verve)
 
Soprano Saxophone:
1st Place: Wayne Shorter (Verve)
2nd Place: Branford Marsalis (Marsalis Music)
 
Alto Saxophone:
6th Place: Miguel Zenon (Marsalis Music)
 
Rising Star Tenor Saxophone:
12th Place: Hakon Kornstad (Jazzland)
 
Baritone Saxophone:
2nd Place: James Carter
 
Rising Star Baritone Saxophone:
8th Place: James Carter
Rising Star Piano:
1st Place: Gerald Clayton
9th Place: Taylor Eigsti (Concord)
 
Electric Keyboard/Synthesizer:
2nd Place: Chick Corea (Verve)
5th Place: John Medeski (Indirecto Records)
 
Organ:
4th Place: John Medeski (Indirecto Records)
 
Guitar:
4th Place: John Scofield
 
Rising Star Guitar:
4th Place: Julian Lage
 
Acoustic Bass:
2nd Place: Dave Holland
4th Place: Charlie Haden
5th Place: John Patitucci (Concord)  
 
Electric Bass:
5th Place: John Patitucci (Concord)   
7th Place: Richard Bona                 
 
Electric Bass Rising Star:
3rd Place: Richard Bona            
 
Drums:
5th Place: Brian Blade (Verve)
 
Vibes:
1st Place: Gary Burton (Concord)
 
Male Vocalist:
1st Place: Kurt Elling (Concord)
5th Place: Bobby McFerrin    
 
Rising Star Male Vocalist:
3rd Place: Jamie Cullum (Verve)
5th Place: Jose James (Verve)
8th Place: Curtis Stigers (Concord)
 
Female Vocalist:
3rd place: Dee Dee Bridgewater
4th Place: Luciana Souza
7th Place: Roberta Gambarini
8th Place: Claudia Acuna (Marsalis Music)
9th Place: Diana Krall (Verve)
10th Place: Abbey Lincoln (Verve)
12th Place: Karrin Allyson (Concord)
13th Place: Melody Gardot (Verve)
 
Rising Star Female Vocalist:

1st Place: Roberta Gambarini
4th Place: Luciana Souza
8th Place: Claudia Acuna (Marsalis Music)
9th Place: Melody Gardot (Verve)
 
Composer:
2nd Place: Wayne Shorter (Verve)
5th Place: Dave Holland
 
Miscellanious Instruments:
1st Place: Bela Fleck – Banjo (Rounder)
2nd Place: Toots Thielemans – Harmonica      
3rd Place: Richard Galliano – Accordian          
 
Arranger:
7th Place: Vince Mendoza
10th Place: Dave Holland
12th Place: Claus Ogerman (Verve)
 
Producer:
2nd place: Michael Cuscuna       
9th Place: Branford Marsalis (Marsalis Music)
 
Rising Star Producer:
1st Place: Branford Marsalis (Marsalis Music)
 
Record Label:
9th Place: Concord
 
Blues Artist/Group:
2nd Place: B.B. King (MCA)
 
Beyond Artist/Group:
2nd Place: Medeski, Martin & Wood (Indirecto Records)
8th Place: Caetano Veloso                     
 
Blues Album:
4th Place: Corey Harris, blu. Black (Concord)
 
Beyond Album:
1st Place: Bela Fleck, Throw Down Your Heart (Rounder)
1st Place: Caetano Veloso, Zii e Zie                    
6th Place: Medeski, Martin & Wood, Radiolarians (Indirecto Records)