# Ben Webster Prize

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, 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.

## 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 Lundgaard Mads Vinding | Double bass Double bass |
| 1983 | Marilyn Mazur Bent Jædig | Percussion Saxophone |
| 1984 | Allan Botschinsky | Trumpet |
| 1985 | Jørgen Emborg Cæcilie Norby | Piano Vocalist |
| 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 | Drums Saxophone |
| 1992 | Søren Kristiansen | Piano |
| 1993 | Kristian Jørgensen Finn Ziegler | Violin Violin |
| 1994 | Niels Jørgen Steen Christina Nielsen | Piano, arranger Saxophone |
| 1995 | Henrik Bolberg | Trumpet |
| 1996 | Jacob Fischer | Guitar |
| 1997 | Svend-Erik Nørregaard Carsten Dahl | Drums Piano |
| 1998 | Benita Haastrup Thomas Fryland | Drums Trumpet |
| 1999 (90 Years Honorary Prize) | Alex Riel Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Olivier Antunes | Drums Double bass Piano |
| 2000 | Horace Parlan | Piano |
| 2001 | Pernille Bevort Per Møller Hansen | Saxophone Television producer |
| 2002 | Christina von Bülow Jens Klüver | Saxophone Bandleader |
| 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 Doky Chris Minh Doky | Piano Double 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 Gunde Jan Harbeck | Piano Tenor saxophone |
| 2019 | Kasper Tranberg | Trumpet |
| 2020 | Frands Rifbjerg | Drums |
| 2021 | Anders "AC" Christensen Thomas Fonnesbæk | Double bass Double bass |
| 2022 | Kathrine Windfeld | Composer, piano, arranger, bandleader |
| 2023 | Zier Romme Larsen Emil de Waal | Piano Drums, bandleader |

## 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