In the Rising Star series Timo Lassy, Linda Fredriksson and Raoul Björkenheim also made it to the lists.
The 70th Annual DownBeat International Critics Poll has made history with pianist Jon Batiste being the first artist to ever be named Jazz Artist and Beyond Artist of the Year. We Are, Batiste’s award-winning album, was also named Beyond Album of the Year.
Finnish jazz also made history when Mikko Innanen won the Rising Star vote as the first Finnish musician in the baritone saxophone category. Fellow saxophonists Timo Lassy and Linda Fredriksson also made it to the same list this year. In Rising Star's guitar series, Raoul Björkenheim also joined the famous list.
Read the entire list of winners on DownBeat's website here.
Photo: Jon Batiste © Stu Brinin