List of 1960s down beat poll winners
This is a list of Down Beat magazine poll winners (readers and critics) in the 1960s .
1960
Critic Poll:
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Acoustic band: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Alto saxophone: Cannonball Adderley
- Tenor saxophone: Coleman Hawkins
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Flute: Frank Wess
- Drums: Max Roach
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Kenny Burrell
- Piano: Thelonious Monk
- Other instruments: Julius Watkins ( French Horn )
- Arranger: Duke Ellington
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Jimmy Rushing
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Dizzy Gillespie
- Big band dance orchestra: Les Brown
- Big band jazz orchestra: Count Basie
- Combo (instrumental): Dave Brubeck Quartet
- Vocal group: Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
- Alto saxophone: Cannonball Adderley
- Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Shelly Manne
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Barney Kessel
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Accordion: Art Van Damme
- Other instruments: Don Elliott , mellophone
- Composer and arranger: Gil Evans
- Male vocal artist: Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1961
Critic Poll:
- Hall of Fame: Coleman Hawkins
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Acoustic band: Modern Jazz Quartet
- Alto saxophone: Cannonball Adderley
- Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Flute: Frank Wess
- Drums: Max Roach
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery
- Piano: Thelonious Monk
- Other instruments: Julius Watkins (French Horn)
- Arranger: Duke Ellington
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Ray Charles
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Billie Holiday
- Big band dance orchestra: Les Brown
- Big band jazz orchestra: Count Basie
- Combo (instrumental): Modern Jazz Quartet
- Vocal group: Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
- Alto saxophone: Cannonball Adderley
- Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Max Roach
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instruments: John Coltrane , soprano saxophone
- Composer and arranger: Gil Evans
- Male vocal artist: Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1962
Critic poll: (in brackets artist deserving against recognition )
- Hall of Fame: Bix Beiderbecke
- Jazz Big Band: Duke Ellington ( Terry Gibbs )
- Jazz Combo: Miles Davis ( Al Gray , Billy Mitchell )
- Alto saxophone: Johnny Hodges ( Leo Wright )
- Tenor saxophone: Sonny Rollins ( Wayne Shorter )
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan ( Cecil Payne )
- Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie ( Don Ellis )
- Trombone: JJ Johnson ( David Baker )
- Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell ( Jimmy Hamilton )
- Flute: Frank Wess ( Eric Dolphy )
- Drums: Philly Joe Jones ( Roy Haynes )
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson ( Walt Dickerson )
- Bass: Ray Brown ( Art Davis )
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery ( Grant Green )
- Piano: Bill Evans (pianist) ( Cecil Taylor )
- Other instruments: John Coltrane ( Roland Kirk )
- Arranger / Composer: Duke Ellington ( Oliver Nelson )
- Vocal group: Lambert, Hendricks & Ross ( Staple Singers )
- Male vocal artist: Ray Charles ( Lightnin 'Hopkins )
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald ( Abbey Lincoln )
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Miles Davis
- Big band dance orchestra: Count Basie
- Big band jazz orchestra: Duke Ellington
- Combo (instrumental): Dave Brubeck
- Vocal group: Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Joe Morello
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instruments: Jimmy Smith , organ
- Composer and arranger: Gil Evans
- Male vocal artist: Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1963
Critic poll: (in brackets artist deserving against recognition )
- Hall of Fame: Jelly Roll Morton
- Jazz Big Band: Duke Ellington ( Gerald Wilson )
- Jazz Combo: Miles Davis ( Clark Terry , Bob Brookmeyer )
- Alto saxophone: Johnny Hodges ( Jackie McLean )
- Tenor saxophone: Sonny Rollins ( Dexter Gordon )
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan ( Jay Cameron )
- Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie ( Don Cherry )
- Trombone: JJ Johnson ( Roswell Rudd )
- Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell ( Phil Woods )
- Flute: Frank Wess ( Roland Kirk )
- Drums: Elvin Jones ( Pete LaRoca )
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson ( Dave Pike )
- Bass: Charles Mingus ( Gary Peacock )
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery ( Grant Green )
- Piano: Bill Evans (pianist) ( McCoy Tyner )
- Other instruments: John Coltrane ( Eric Dolphy )
- Arranger / Composer: Duke Ellington ( Gary McFarland )
- Vocal group: Lambert, Hendricks & Ross ( The Stars of Faith )
- Male vocal artist: Ray Charles ( Mark Murphy )
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald ( Sheila Jordan )
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Thelonious Monk
- Big band dance orchestra: Count Basie
- Big band jazz orchestra: Duke Ellington
- Combo (instrumental): Dave Brubeck
- Vocal group: Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Joe Morello
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Charlie Byrd
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk ( Manzello , Stritch ), Jimmy Smith , organ
- Composer and arranger: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Ray Charles
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1964
Critic poll: (in brackets artist deserving against recognition )
- Hall of Fame: Art Tatum
- Jazz Big Band: Duke Ellington ( Harry James )
- Jazz Combo: Thelonious Monk ( Art Farmer )
- Alto saxophone: Johnny Hodges ( Jimmy Woods )
- Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane ( Booker Ervin )
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan ( Charles Davis (saxophonist) )
- Trumpet: Miles Davis ( Carmell Jones )
- Trombone: JJ Johnson ( Grachan Moncur III )
- Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell ( Bill Smith )
- Flute: Frank Wess ( Yusef Lateef )
- Drums: Elvin Jones ( Tony Williams )
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson ( Bobby Hutcherson )
- Bass: Charles Mingus ( Steve Swallow )
- Guitar: Jim Hall ( Gábor Szabó )
- Piano: Bill Evans (pianist) ( Don Friedman )
- Organ: Jimmy Smith ( Freddie Roach )
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk ( Yusef Lateef )
- Arranger / Composer: Duke Ellington ( Gerald Wilson )
- Vocal group: Double Six of Paris ( Swingle Singers )
- Male vocal artist: Ray Charles ( Muddy Waters )
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald ( Jeanne Lee )
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Eric Dolphy
- Big band dance orchestra: Count Basie
- Big band jazz orchestra: Duke Ellington
- Combo (instrumental): Dave Brubeck
- Vocal group: Double Six of Paris
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Jimmy Giuffre
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Joe Morello
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Charles Mingus
- Guitar: Jim Hall
- Piano: Bill Evans (pianist)
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk ( Manzello , Stritch), John Coltrane , soprano saxophone
- Composer and arranger: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Ray Charles
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1965
Critic poll: (in brackets artist deserving against recognition )
- Hall of Fame: Earl Hines
- Jazz Big Band: Duke Ellington ( Johnny Dankworth )
- Jazz Combo: Miles Davis ( Al Cohn - Zoot Sims )
- Alto saxophone: Johnny Hodges ( Charlie Mariano )
- Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane ( Archie Shepp )
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney ( Jerome Richardson )
- Trumpet: Miles Davis ( Johnny Coles )
- Trombone: JJ Johnson ( Albert Mangelsdorff )
- Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell ( Paul Horn )
- Flute: Roland Kirk ( James Moody )
- Drums: Elvin Jones ( Alan Dawson , Dannie Richmond )
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson ( Gary Burton )
- Bass: Charles Mingus ( Ron Carter )
- Guitar: Jim Hall ( Bola Sete )
- Piano: Bill Evans (pianist) ( Andrew Hill )
- Organ: Jimmy Smith ( John Patton )
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk ( Stuff Smith )
- Arranger: Gil Evans ( Clare Fischer )
- Composer: Duke Ellington ( Ornette Coleman )
- Vocal group: Double Six of Paris
- Male vocal artist: Louis Armstrong ( Johnny Hartman )
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald ( Cleo Laine )
- Album of the year: John Coltrane A Love Supreme (Impulse!)
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: John Coltrane
- Jazz Musician of the Year: John Coltrane
- Album of the year: John Coltrane A Love Supreme
- Big band dance orchestra: Count Basie
- Big band jazz orchestra: Duke Ellington
- Combo (instrumental): Dave Brubeck
- Vocal group: Double Six of Paris
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Jimmy Giuffre
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Elvin Jones
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Charles Mingus
- Guitar: Jim Hall
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk ( Manzello , Stritch)
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Arranger: Gil Evans
- Male vocal artist: Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1966
Critic poll: (in brackets artist deserving against recognition )
- Hall of Fame: Charlie Christian
- Jazz Big Band: Duke Ellington ( Thad Jones , Mel Lewis )
- Jazz Combo: Miles Davis ( Denny Zeitlin )
- Alto saxophone: Johnny Hodges ( John Handy , John Tchicai )
- Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane ( Charles Lloyd )
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney ( Ronnie Cuber )
- Trumpet: Miles Davis ( Ted Curson )
- Trombone: JJ Johnson ( Buster Cooper )
- Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell ( Edmond Hall )
- Flute: Roland Kirk ( Charles Lloyd )
- Drums: Elvin Jones ( Sunny Murray )
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson ( Roy Ayers )
- Bass: Charles Mingus ( Richard Davis )
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery ( René Thomas )
- Piano: Earl Hines ( Jaki Byard )
- Organ: Jimmy Smith ( Larry Young )
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk (Manzello, Stritch) ( Jean-Luc Ponty )
- Arranger: Gil Evans ( Rod Levitt )
- Composer: Duke Ellington ( Carla Bley )
- Vocal group: Double Six of Paris
- Male vocal artist: Louis Armstrong ( Lou Rawls )
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald ( Carol Sloane )
- Album of the year: Ornette Coleman At the Golden Circle Vol. 1 (Blue Note)
- Reissue of the Year: Billie Holiday Golden Years Vol. 2 (Columbia)
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Bud Powell
- Jazz musician of the year: Ornette Coleman
- Album of the year: Ornette Coleman At the Golden Circle , Vol. 1
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Combo (instrumental): Miles Davis
- Vocal group: Double Six of Paris
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Elvin Jones
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Organ: Jimmy Smith
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk ( Manzello , Stritch)
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Arranger: Gil Evans
- Male vocal artist: Frank Sinatra
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1967
Critic poll: (in brackets artist deserving against recognition )
- Hall of Fame: Bessie Smith
- Jazz Big Band: Duke Ellington ( Don Ellis )
- Jazz Combo: Miles Davis ( Charles Lloyd )
- Alto saxophone: Ornette Coleman ( Charles McPherson )
- Tenor saxophone: Sonny Rollins ( Joe Henderson )
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney ( Pepper Adams )
- Trumpet: Miles Davis ( Jimmy Owens )
- Trombone: JJ Johnson ( Garnett Brown )
- Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell ( Perry Robinson )
- Flute: James Moody ( Jeremy Steig )
- Drums: Elvin Jones ( Milford Graves )
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson ( Tommy Vig )
- Bass: Richard Davis ( David Izenzon )
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery ( George Benson , Jimmy Raney )
- Piano: Earl Hines ( Keith Jarrett )
- Organ: Jimmy Smith ( Don Patterson )
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk (Manzello, Stritch) ( Michael White , viol)
- Arranger: Duke Ellington ( Thad Jones )
- Composer: Duke Ellington ( Herbie Hancock )
- Vocal group: Double Six of Paris
- Male vocal artist: Louis Armstrong ( Richard Boone )
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald ( Lorez Alexandria )
- Album of the year: Duke Ellington The popular Duke Ellington (RCA), Miles Davis, Miles Smiles (Columbia)
- Reissue of the year: Things ain't what they used to be , Ellington Groups-RCA (Hodges-Stewart)
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Billy Strayhorn
- Jazz musician of the year: Charles Lloyd
- Album of the year: Miles Davis Miles Smiles
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Combo (instrumental): Miles Davis
- Vocal group, rock band: The Beatles
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Buddy DeFranco
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Buddy Rich
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Ray Brown
- Guitar: Wes Montgomery
- Piano: Oscar Peterson
- Organ: Jimmy Smith
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk ( Manzello , Stritch)
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Arranger: Oliver Nelson
- Male vocal artist: Lou Rawls
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1968
Critic Poll:
- Hall of Fame: Sidney Bechet , Fats Waller
- Jazz Album of the Year: Duke Ellington Far East Suite
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Acoustic band: Miles Davis
- Alto saxophone: Johnny Hodges
- Tenor saxophone: Sonny Rollins
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell
- Flute: James Moody
- Drums: Elvin Jones
- Vibraphone: Milt Jackson
- Bass: Richard Davis
- Guitar: Kenny Burrell
- Piano: Bill Evans (pianist)
- Other instruments: Jean-Luc Ponty , violin
- Arranger: Duke Ellington
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Louis Armstrong , Ray Charles
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
- Blues group: Muddy Waters
- Reissue of the year: Johnny Hodges Hodge Podge
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Wes Montgomery
- Jazz Musician of the Year: Gary Burton
- Album of the year: Don Ellis Electric Bath
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Combo (instrumental): Miles Davis
- Rock / Pop / Blues band: The Beatles
- Alto saxophone: Paul Desmond
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Pee Wee Russell
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Elvin Jones
- Vibraphone: Gary Burton
- Bass: Richard Davis
- Guitar: Kenny Burrell
- Piano: Herbie Hancock
- Organ: Jimmy Smith
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk ( Manzello , Stritch)
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Arranger: Oliver Nelson
- Male vocal artist: Ray Charles
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
1969
Critic Poll:
- Hall of Fame: Pee Wee Russell , Jack Teagarden
- Jazz Album of the Year: Duke Ellington … And His Mother Called Him Bill
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Acoustic band: Miles Davis
- Alto saxophone: Johnny Hodges
- Tenor saxophone: Sonny Rollins
- Baritone saxophone: Harry Carney
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Jimmy Hamilton
- Flute: James Moody
- Drums: Elvin Jones
- Vibraphone: Bobby Hutcherson
- Bass: Richard Davis
- Guitar: Kenny Burrell
- Piano: Earl Hines
- Other instruments: Jean-Luc Ponty , violin
- Arranger: Duke Ellington
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Ray Charles
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald
- Blues group: Muddy Waters
- Reissue of the year: Louis Armstrong V.SOP Vol. 1
Reader poll:
- Hall of Fame: Ornette Coleman
- Jazz Musician of the Year: Miles Davis
- Album of the year: Miles Davis Filles de Killimanjaro
- Big band: Duke Ellington
- Combo (instrumental): Miles Davis
- Rock / Pop / Blues band: Blood, Sweat & Tears
- Alto saxophone: Cannonball Adderley
- Tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
- Baritone saxophone: Gerry Mulligan
- Soprano Saxophone: Joe Farrell
- Trumpet: Miles Davis
- Trumpet: JJ Johnson
- Clarinet: Jimmy Hamilton
- Flute: Herbie Mann
- Drums: Elvin Jones
- Vibraphone: Gary Burton
- Bass: Richard Davis
- Guitar: Kenny Burrell
- Piano: Herbie Hancock
- Organ: Jimmy Smith
- Other instruments: Roland Kirk ( Manzello , Stritch)
- Composer: Duke Ellington
- Arranger: Duke Ellington
- Male vocal artist: Ray Charles
- Female vocal artist: Ella Fitzgerald