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Michael Dease wins Jazz Journalists’ Trombonist of the Year Award

Jeremy Smith 222 Views ,  ,  , 

On June 1, 2026, the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) announced the winners of the latest performance and recording awards with highlights in three brass categories – trumpet, trombone, and brass specialist. For Trombonist of the Year, the 2026 Award went to Michael Dease.

Since 1996, professional journalist members of the JJA have made open nominations in a first-selection round. Those who received the most nominations advanced to the finalists’ ballot, and JJA’s professional members voted on them to arrive at these honorees. Finalists for the trombone category included Jacob Garchik, Ryan Keberle, and Steve Turre.

This is Dease’s first JJA award as Trombonist of the Year, having received multiple finalist nominations over the last several years.

Click this link for a complete list of 2026 winners and honorees.

Jeremy Smith

Jeremy E. Smith is the Founder and Editor of Last Row Music. He received music degrees from Grace College, Carnegie Mellon University, and The Ohio State University. Currently, Jeremy is the bass trombonist of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra and performs throughout Ohio, where he lives with his wife and two sons. Smith is a member of the International Trombone Association and the Jazz Journalists Association.

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