Kurt Elling: DownBeat Critics Poll Male Vocalist of the Year

Once again, the critics have chosen Kurt as the top male vocalist in the 59th annual DownBeat Critics Poll!
Kurt has been named the DownBeat Critics Poll Male Vocalist of the Year for twelve consecutive years, from 2000 through 2011, and was also awarded Talent Deserving Wider Recognition from 1997 to 2000.

Frank Alkyer, DownBeat’s publisher, remarked,

The DownBeat Critics Poll is the most comprehensive poll in the jazz world, with 63 separate categories. The 80 critics who voted in this year’s poll really dug in to address what’s happening in every style and on every instrument, including vocals, in jazz.

Congratulations to all of the 2011 winners, and especially to Kurt!

Coming up soon: Voting in the DownBeat Readers Poll. Stay tuned . . .