AKRON, Ohio – The highly-anticipated results of the 80th Annual DownBeat Magazine Readers Poll were revealed yesterday. With 28,496 voters casting ballots, the 2015 poll generated the largest voter turnout in the poll’s history.
 
Categories for the Readers Poll include the most popular artists, albums, and labels in the jazz & blues genres. Among the #1 winners include three artists whom are set to perform at Akron’s premier live jazz venue, BLU Jazz+ this Fall: baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan (November 7), organist Joey DeFrancesco (November 12), and tenor saxophonist Chris Potter (December 3, 4).
 
“The results of this year’s poll reflect the tremendous diversity and depth of talent in today’s jazz scene,” said DownBeat Publisher Frank Alkyer.
 
The upcoming December issue of DownBeat will contain the complete results in all 34 Readers Poll categories, highlighting more than 650 artists. The poll results will also include 90 of the year’s top albums in Jazz, Blues and Beyond.
 
For a complete list of winners, visit DownBeat’s website.
 
To order a digital and/or print subscription to DownBeat, including the December issue, click here.