thumb | right | alt=Paul McCartney, former recipient of the award | Paul McCartney, former award recipient
The Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals (including its previous names) has been awarded since 1963. The award is presented to the arranger of the music, not to the performer, unless the performer is also the arranger.
There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:
- From 1963 to 1964 the award was known as Best Background Arrangement
- In 1965 it was awarded as Best Accompaniment Arrangement for Vocalist(s) or Instrumentalist(s)
- From 1966 to 1967 it was awarded as Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist or Instrumentalist
- In 1968 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)/Best Background Arrangement
- From 1969 to 1978 and in 1981 it was awarded as Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
- From 1979 to 1980 it was awarded as Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)
- From 1982 to 1994 and from 1998 to 1999 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)
- From 1995 to 1997 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals
- From 2000 to 2014 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
- Since 2015, it has been awarded as Best Arrangement, Instruments And Vocals, which also includes vocal arrangements.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
Recipients
{| class="wikitable" width=100%
|- bgcolor="#bebebe"
! width="5%" | Year
! width="15%" | Arranger(s)
! width="15%" | Work
! width="15%" | Performing (non-winning) artist(s)
! width="35%" class=unsortable|Nominees<br /><small>(Non-nominated) Performers are in parentheses</small>
! width="5%" class=unsortable|Ref.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1963
|Marty Manning
|"I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
|Tony Bennett
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1964
|Henry Mancini
|"Days of Wine and Roses"
|Henry Mancini
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1965
|Peter Matz
|"People"
|Barbra Streisand
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1966
|Gordon Jenkins
|"It Was a Very Good Year"
|Frank Sinatra
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1967
|Ernie Freeman
|"Strangers in the Night"
|Frank Sinatra
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1968
|Jimmie Haskell
|"Ode to Billie Joe"
|Bobbie Gentry
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1969
|Jimmy L. Webb
|"MacArthur Park"
|Richard Harris
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1970
|Fred Lipsius
|"Spinning Wheel"
|Blood, Sweat & Tears
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1971
| Ernie Freeman, Art Garfunkel, Jimmie Haskell, Larry Knechtel & Paul Simon
|"Bridge Over Troubled Water"
|Simon and Garfunkel
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1972
|Paul McCartney
|"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"
|Paul & Linda McCartney
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1973
|Michel Legrand
|"What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?"
|Sarah Vaughan
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1974
|George Martin
|"Live and Let Die"
|Paul McCartney & Wings
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1975
|Joni Mitchell & Tom Scott
|"Down to You"
|Joni Mitchell
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1976
|Ray Stevens
|"Misty"
| Ray Stevens
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1977
|James William Guercio & Jimmie Haskell
|"If You Leave Me Now"
|Chicago
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1978
|Ian Freebairn-Smith
|"Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)"
|Barbra Streisand
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1979
|Maurice White
|"Got to Get You into My Life"
|Earth, Wind & Fire
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1980
|Michael McDonald
|"What a Fool Believes"
|The Doobie Brothers
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1981
|Christopher Cross & Michael Omartian
|"Sailing"
|Christopher Cross
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1982
|Jerry Hey & Quincy Jones
|"Ai No Corrida"
|Quincy Jones
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1983
|Jerry Hey & David Paich, Jeff Porcaro
|"Rosanna"
|Toto
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1984
|Nelson Riddle
|"What's New?"
|Linda Ronstadt
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1985
|David Foster & Jeremy Lubbock
|"Hard Habit to Break"
|Chicago
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1986
|Nelson Riddle
|"Lush Life"
|Linda Ronstadt
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1987
|David Foster
|"Somewhere"
|Barbra Streisand
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1988
|Frank Foster
|"Deedles' Blues"
|Diane Schuur & the Count Basie Orchestra
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1989
|Jonathan Tunick
|"No One Is Alone"
|Cleo Laine
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1990
|Dave Grusin
|"My Funny Valentine"
|Michelle Pfeiffer
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1991
|Glen Ballard, Jerry Hey, Quincy Jones & Clif Magness
|"The Places You Find Love"
|Siedah Garrett & Chaka Khan
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1992
|Johnny Mandel
|"Unforgettable"
|Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1993
|Johnny Mandel
|"Here's to Life"
|Shirley Horn
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1994
|David Foster & Jeremy Lubbock
|"When I Fall in Love"
|Céline Dion & Clive Griffin
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1995
|Hans Zimmer & Lebo M
|"Circle of Life"
|Carmen Twillie featuring Lebo M
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1996
|Rob McConnell
|"I Get a Kick Out of You"
|Mel Tormé with Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1997
|Alan Broadbent & David Foster
|"When I Fall in Love"
|Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1998
|Slide Hampton
|"Cotton Tail"
|Dee Dee Bridgewater
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|1999
|Herbie Hancock, Robert Sadin & Stevie Wonder
|"St. Louis Blues"
|Herbie Hancock
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2000
| Alan Broadbent
| "Lonely Town"
| Charlie Haden Quartet West featuring Shirley Horn
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2001
| Vince Mendoza
| "Both Sides Now"
| Joni Mitchell
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2002
| Paul Buckmaster
| "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)"
| Train
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2003
| Dave Grusin
| "Mean Old Man"
| James Taylor
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2004
| Vince Mendoza
| "Woodstock"
| Joni Mitchell
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2005
| Victor Vanacore
| "Over the Rainbow"
| Ray Charles & Johnny Mathis
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"| 2006
| Billy Childs, Gil Goldstein and Heitor Pereira
| "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?"
| Chris Botti & Sting
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2007
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "For Once in My Life"
| Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2008
| John Clayton
| "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die"
| Queen Latifah
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2009
| Nan Schwartz
| "Here's That Rainy Day"
| Natalie Cole
|
|style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2010
| Claus Ogerman
| "Quiet Nights"
| Diana Krall
|
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2011
| Christopher Tin
| "Baba Yetu"
| Christopher Tin, Soweto Gospel Choir and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
|
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2012
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)"
| Tony Bennett & Queen Latifah
|
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2013
| Thara Memory & Esperanza Spalding
| "City of Roses"
| Esperanza Spalding
|
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2014
| Gil Goldstein
| "Swing Low"
| Bobby McFerrin & Esperanza Spalding
|
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2015
| Billy Childs
| "New York Tendaberry"
| Billy Childs featuring Renée Fleming & Yo Yo Ma
|style="font-size:smaller"|
- Jeremy Fox – "All My Tomorrows" (Jeremy Fox featuring Kate McGarry)
- Vince Mendoza – "Goodnight America" (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
- Gordon Goodwin – "Party Rockers" (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band)
- Pete McGuinness – "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?" (The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra)
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2016
| Maria Schneider
| "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)"
| David Bowie
|style="font-size:smaller"|
- Shelly Berg – "Be My Muse" (Lorraine Feather)
- Patrick Williams – "52nd & Broadway" (Patrick Williams featuring Patti Austin)
- Otmaro Ruiz – "Garota de Ipanema" (Catina DeLuna featuring Otmaro Ruiz)
- Jimmy Greene – "When I Come Home" (Jimmy Greene & Javier Colon)
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2017
| Jacob Collier
| "Flintstones"
| Jacob Collier
|style="font-size:smaller"|
- Gordon Goodwin – "Do You Hear What I Hear" (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band featuring Take 6)
- John Daversa – "Do You Want To Know a Secret" (John Daversa featuring Renee Olstead)
- Alan Broadbent – "I'm a Fool to Want You" (Kristin Chenoweth)
- Billy Childs & Larry Klein – "Somewhere (Dirty Blvd)" (Lang Lang featuring Lisa Fischer & Jeffrey Wright)
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2018
| Randy Newman
| "Putin"
| Randy Newman
|style="font-size:smaller"|
- Justin Hurwitz – "Another Day of Sun" (The La La Land Cast)
- Jorge Calandrelli – "Every Time We Say Goodbye" (Clint Holmes featuring Jane Monheit)
- Joel McNeely – "I Like Myself" (Seth MacFarlane)
- Shelly Berg, Gregg Field, Gordon Goodwin & Clint Holmes – "I Loves You Porgy/There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York" (Clint Holmes featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater & The Count Basie Orchestra)
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2019
| Randy Waldman
| "Spiderman Theme"
| Randy Waldman featuring Take 6 & Chris Potter
| style="font-size:smaller"|
- Matt Rollings & Kristin Wilkinson – "It Was A Very Good Year" (Willie Nelson)
- Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis – "Jolene" (Dan Pugach)
- Vince Mendoza – "Mona Lisa" (Gregory Porter)
- Gonzalo Grau – "Niña" (Magos Herrera & Brooklyn Rider)
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2020
| rowspan="2"|Jacob Collier
| "All Night Long"
| Jacob Collier featuring Jules Buckley, Take 6 & the Metropole Orkest
|style="font-size:smaller"|
- Geoff Keezer – "Jolene" (Sara Gazarek)
- Cyrille Aimée & Diego Figueiredo – "Marry Me A Little" (Cyrille Aimée)
- Vince Mendoza – "Over the Rainbow" (Trisha Yearwood)
- Esperanza Spalding – "12 Little Spells (Thoracic Spine)"
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2021
| "He Won't Hold You"
| Jacob Collier featuring Rapsody
|style="font-size:smaller"|
- John Beasley & Maria Mendes – "Asas Fechadas" (Maria Mendes featuring John Beasley & the Metropole Orkest)
- Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor – "Desert Song" (Säje)
- Alan Broadbent & Pat Metheny – "From This Place" (Pat Metheny & Meshell Ndegeocello)
- Talia Billig, Nic Hard & Becca Stevens – "Slow Burn" (Becca Stevens featuring Jacob Collier, Mark Lettieri, Justin Stanton, Jordan Perlson, Nic Hard, Keita Ogawa, Marcelo Woloski & Nate Werth)
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2022
| rowspan=2|Vince Mendoza
| "To The Edge of Longing (Edit Version)"
| The Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Vince Mendoza & Julia Bullock
|style="font-size:smaller"|
- Ólafur Arnalds – "The Bottom Line" (Ólafur Arnalds & Josin)
- Tehillah Alphonso – "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Tonality & Alexander Lloyd Blake)
- Jacob Collier – "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)"
- Cody Fry – "Eleanor Rigby"
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|2023
| "Songbird (Orchestral Version)"
| Christine McVie
|style="font-size:smaller"|
- Louis Cole - "Let It Happen" (Louis Cole)
- Jacob Collier - "Never Gonna Be Alone" (Jacob Collier ft. Lizzy McAlpine & John Mayer)
- Sullivan Fortner - "Optimistic Voices/No Love Dying" (Cécile McLorin Salvant)
- Nathan Schram & Becca Stevens - "2 + 2 = 5 (Arr. Nathan Schram)" (Becca Stevens & Attacca Quartet)
|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2024
| Erin Bentlage, Jacob Collier, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor
| "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning"
| säje featuring Jacob Collier
|
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" |2025
| Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor
| "Alma"
| säje featuring Regina Carter
|
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
! style="text-align: center;" |2026
|Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick, Nate Smith & Amanda Taylor
|"Big Fish"
|Nate Smith ft. Säje
|
- <small>Nelson Riddle - "How Did She Look?" (Seth MacFarlane)</small>
- <small>Jacob Collier - "Keep An Eye On Summer" (Jacob Collier)</small>
- <small>Clyde Lawrence, Gracie Lawrence & Linus Lawrence - "Something In The Water (Acoustic-ish)" (Lawrence)</small>
- <small>Cody Fry - "What A Wonderful World" (Cody Fry)</small>
| style="text-align: center;" |
|-
|}