The Ben Webster Prize is an annual jazz award set up by the Ben Webster Foundation to honour Danish and American jazz musicians as well as other professionals active in the promotion of jazz in those countries.[1] The American jazz musician Ben Webster spent his last ten years in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he became an active part of the city's thriving jazz scene. After his death, the Ben Webster Foundation was set up to channel his annual royalties to musicians in Denmark and America. The Ben Webster Prize is part of this effort.
The prize is handed out at an award ceremony in connection with a special concert which has taken place at various jazz venues, including the Jazzhus Montmartre, Huset, the Lake Pavilion, Copenhagen Jazzhouse, the Queen's Hall at the Royal Danish Library, Freetown Christiania's Jazzklub, Sofies Kælderen and Tivoli Gardens. The winner currently receives DKK 25,000.[1]
| Year | Recipient[2] | Instrument | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Saxophones, clarinet | ||
| 1978 | Saxophone | ||
| 1979 | trombone | ||
| 1980 | Guitar | ||
| 1981 | Arranger, bandleader | ||
| 1982 | Double bass Double bass | ||
| 1983 | Percussion Saxophone | ||
| 1984 | Trumpet | ||
| 1985 | Piano Vocalist | ||
| 1986 | Piano | ||
| 1987 | Trumpet | ||
| 1988 | Guitar | ||
| 1989 | Piano | ||
| 1990 | Piano | ||
| 1991 | Drums Saxophone | ||
| 1992 | Piano | ||
| 1993 | Violin Violin | ||
| 1994 | Piano, arranger Saxophone | ||
| 1995 | Trumpet | ||
| 1996 | Guitar | ||
| 1997 | Drums Piano | ||
| 1998 | Drums Trumpet | ||
| 1999 (90 Years Honorary Prize) | Drums Double bass Piano | ||
| 2000 | Piano | ||
| 2001 | Saxophone Television producer | ||
| 2002 | Saxophone Bandleader | ||
| 2003 | Tenor saxophone | ||
| 2004 | jazz photographer | ||
| 2005 | Alto saxophone, flute | ||
| 2006 | Drums | ||
| 2007 | Saxophone | ||
| 2008 | Piano Double bass | ||
| 2009 | Double bass | ||
| 2010 | Drums | ||
| 2011 | Double bass | ||
| 2012 | Piano, Bandleader | ||
| 2013 | Keyboards | ||
| 2014 | Vocalist | ||
| 2015 | Keyboards | ||
| 2016 | Piano | ||
| 2017 | Harmonica | ||
| 2018 | Piano Tenor saxophone | ||
| 2019 | Kasper Tranberg | Trumpet | |
| 2020 | Frands Rifbjerg | Drums | |
| 2021 | Anders "AC" ChristensenThomas Fonnesbæk | Double bassDouble bass | |
| 2022[3] | Kathrine Windfeld | Composer, piano, arranger, bandleader | |
| 2023 | Zier Romme LarsenEmil de Waal | PianoDrums, bandleader |