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. 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, , the Queen's Hall at the Royal Danish Library, Freetown Christiania's Jazzklub, Sofies Kælderen and Tivoli Gardens. The winner currently receives DKK 30.000.Announced on award show May 2026 in Copnhagen
Winners Year Recipient Instrument 1977 Jesper Thilo Saxophones, clarinet 1978 Simon Spang-Hansen Saxophone 1979 Erling Kroner trombone 1980 Ole Molin Guitar 1981 Ernie Wilkins Arranger, bandleader 1982 Jesper LundgaardMads Vinding Double bassDouble bass 1983 Marilyn MazurBent Jædig PercussionSaxophone 1984 Allan Botschinsky Trumpet 1985 Jørgen EmborgCæcilie Norby PianoVocalist 1986 Ole Kock Hansen Piano 1987 Jens Winther Trumpet 1988 Doug Raney Guitar 1989 Thomas Clausen Piano 1990 Ben Besiakov Piano 1991 Jonas Johansen Tomas Franck DrumsSaxophone 1992 Søren Kristiansen Piano 1993 Kristian JørgensenFinn Ziegler ViolinViolin 1994 Niels Jørgen SteenChristina Nielsen Piano, arrangerSaxophone 1995 Henrik Bolberg Trumpet 1996 Jacob Fischer Guitar 1997 Svend-Erik NørregaardCarsten Dahl DrumsPiano 1998 Benita HaastrupThomas Fryland DrumsTrumpet 1999 (90 Years Honorary Prize) Alex RielNiels-Henning Ørsted PedersenOlivier Antunes DrumsDouble bassPiano 2000 Horace Parlan Piano 2001 Pernille BevortPer Møller Hansen SaxophoneTelevision producer 2002 Christina von BülowJens Klüver SaxophoneBandleader 2003 Bob Rockwell Tenor saxophone 2004 Jan Persson jazz photographer 2005 Jan zum Vohrde Alto saxophone, flute 2006 Morten Lund Drums 2007 Fredrik Lundin Saxophone 2008 Niels Lan DokyChris Minh Doky PianoDouble bass 2009 Lennart Ginman Double bass 2010 Kresten Osgood Drums 2011 Bo Stief Double bass 2012 Jan Kaspersen Piano, Bandleader 2013 Jacob Christoffersen Keyboards 2014 Sinne Eeg Vocalist 2015 Uffe Steen Keyboards 2016 Heine Hansen Piano 2017 Mathias Heise Harmonica 2018 Henrik GundeJan Harbeck PianoTenor saxophone 2019 Kasper Tranberg Trumpet2020Frands RifbjergDrums2021Anders "AC" Christensen Thomas FonnesbækDouble bass Double bass2022Kathrine WindfeldComposer, piano, arranger, bandleader2023Zier Romme Larsen Emil de WaalPiano Drums, bandleader2024Cornelia NilssonDrums2025Rasmus Sørensen Anders MogensenPiano Drums2026Lotte AnkerSaxophone
Ben Webster's Prize of Honour 1984 - Børge Roger Henrichsen 1989 - Papa Bue 1995 - Ole Fessor Lindgreen 1996 - Svend Asmussen 2002 - Hugo Rasmussen 2003 - Arnvid Meyer 2006 - Ed Thigpen 2007 - Erik Moseholm 2009 - Lars Thorborg 2010 - Ray Pitts 2011 - Anders Stefansen 2012 - Klaus Albrectsen 2013 - Palle Mikkelborg 2014 - Tove Enevoldsen 2015 - Vincent Nilsson 2016 - Ole Streenberg 2017 - Jens Søndergaard 2019 - Pierre Dørge - Finn Odderskov 2020 - Elith "Nulle" Nykjær 2022 - Ann Farholt, Ole Olsen, Henrik Bay, Leonardo Pedersen, Mikkel Find, Jens Jefsen, Kjeld Lauritsen, Niels "Flipper" Stuart 2023 - Gorm Valentin 2024 - Cim Meyer and Kjeld Frandsen 2025 - Peter Jensen and Jens Sjølund 2026 - Ayi Solomon and Jens Jørgen Gjedsted
See also Danish jazz
References