The Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement (and its subsequent name changes) has been awarded since 1963. The award is presented to the arranger(s) of the music. Only songs or tracks are eligible, no longer works (e.g. albums). The performing artist does not receive a Grammy, except if they are also the arranger.
There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:
- From 1963 to 1981 the award was known as Best Instrumental Arrangement
- From 1982 to 1983 it was awarded as Best Arrangement on an Instrumental Recording
- From 1984 to 1994 it was awarded as Best Arrangement on an Instrumental
- From 1995 to 2014 it was again awarded as Best Instrumental Arrangement
- Since 2015 it has been awarded as Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella, which also includes vocal arrangements for a cappella performances.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
Recipients
1960s
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|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=7, style="text-align:center;"|1963<br />
| Henry Mancini
| "Baby Elephant Walk"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Robert Farnon
| Sensuous Strings of Robert Farnon
| Robert Farnon and His Orchestra
|-
| Joe Harnell
| "Fly Me to the Moon Bossa Nova"
| Joe Harnell and His Orchestra
|-
| Quincy Jones
| The Quintessence
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Nelson Riddle
| Route 66 Theme
| Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra
|-
| Dave Rose
| "The Stripper"
| Dave Rose
|-
| Eddie Sauter
| "Focus"
| Stan Getz
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1964<br />
| Quincy Jones
| "I Can't Stop Loving You"
| Count Basie
|-
| Robert N. Enevoldsen
| "Gravy Waltz"
| Steve Allen
|-
| Marty Gold and Peter Nero
| "Mountain Greenery"
| Peter Nero
|-
| Claus Ogerman
| "More"
| Kai Winding
|-
| Joe Sherman
| "Washington Square"
| The Village Stompers
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=7, style="text-align:center;"|1965<br />
| Henry Mancini
| "The Pink Panther Theme"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Bob Florence
| "The Song Is You"
| Bob Florence
|-
| Richard Hayman
| "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
| Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops
|-
| Quincy Jones
| "Golden Boy" (String Version)
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Anita Kerr
| "Sugar Lips"
| Al Hirt
|-
| Hugo Montenegro
| "The Long Ships"
| Hugo Montenegro
|-
| Billy Strayhorn
| "A Spoonful of Sugar"
| Duke Ellington
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|1966<br />
| Herb Alpert
| "A Taste of Honey"
| Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
|-
| Bob Florence
| "Mission to Moscow"
| Si Zentner
|-
| Neal Hefti
| "Girl Talk"
| Neal Hefti
|-
| Horst Jankowski
| "Walk in the Black Forest"
| Horst Jankowski
|-
| Johnny Mandel
| "The Shadow of Your Smile"
| Robert Armbruster
|-
| Jack Mason
| "A Hard Day's Night"
| Arthur Fiedler conducting The Boston Pops
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1967<br />
| Herb Alpert
| "What Now My Love"
| Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
|-
| John Barry
| "Born Free"
| John Barry
|-
| Bob Florence
| "Michelle"
| Bud Shank
|-
| Neal Hefti
| "Batman Theme"
| Neal Hefti
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "Arabesque"
| Henry Mancini
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|1968<br />
| Burt Bacharach
| "Alfie"
| Burt Bacharach
|-
| Burt Bacharach
| "Casino Royale"
| Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass
|-
| Hutch Davie
| "Music to Watch Girls By"
| Bob Crewe Generation
|-
| Bill Holman
| "Norwegian Wood"
| Buddy Rich
|-
| Claus Ogerman
| "Wave"
| Antônio Carlos Jobim
|-
| Bill Reddie
| "West Side Story Medley"
| Buddy Rich
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1969<br />
| Mike Post
| "Classical Gas"
| Mason Williams
|-
| Al Capps
| "Baroque-A-Nova"
| Mason Williams
|-
| Michel Legrand
| "The Windmills of Your Mind"
| Michel Legrand
|-
| Hugo Montenegro
| "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"
| Hugo Montenegro
|-
| Don Sebesky
| "Scarborough Fair"
| Wes Montgomery
|-
|}
1970s
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|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=4, style="text-align:center;"|1970<br />
| Henry Mancini
| "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Arthur Ferrante and Lou Teicher
| "Midnight Cowboy"
| Ferrante & Teicher
|-
| Dick Halligan
| "Variations on a Theme by Eric Satie"
| Blood, Sweat & Tears
|-
| Quincy Jones
| "Walking in Space"
| Quincy Jones
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|1971<br />
| Henry Mancini
| "Theme from Z"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Miles Davis
| "Bitches Brew"
| Miles Davis
|-
| Quincy Jones
| "Gula Matari"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Lalo Schifrin
| "Theme from Medical Center"
| Various Artists
|-
| Fred Selden
| "The Magic Bus Ate My Doughnut"
| Don Ellis
|-
| Tom Sellers
| "Overture from Tommy"
| The Assembled Multitude
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1972<br />
| Johnny Allen and Isaac Hayes
| "Theme from Shaft"
| Isaac Hayes
|-
| Michel Colombier
| "Earth"
| Michel Colombier
|-
| Michel Legrand
| "Theme from Summer of '42"
| Michel Legrand
|-
| Joshua Rifkin
| "Nightingale II"
| Joshua Rifkin
|-
| Don Sebesky
| "The Rite of Spring"
| Hubert Laws
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1973<br />
| Don Ellis
| "Theme from The French Connection"
| Don Ellis Big Band
|-
| Richard Carpenter
| "Flat Baroque"
| The Carpenters
|-
| Quincy Jones
| "Money Runner"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "Theme from The Mancini Generation"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Don Sebesky
| "Lonely Town"
| Freddie Hubbard
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1974<br />
| Quincy Jones
| "Summer in the City"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Spain"
| Chick Corea and Return to Forever
|-
| Lee Holdridge
| "Prologue/Crunchy Granola Suite"
| Neil Diamond
|-
| Bill Holman
| "The Daily Dance"
| Stan Kenton and His Orchestra
|-
| Bob James
| "Easy Living/Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do"
| Grover Washington Jr.
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1975<br />
| Patrick Williams
| "Threshold"
| Patrick Williams
|-
| rowspan=2| Les Hooper
| "Circumvent"
| Les Hooper
|-
| "Look What They've Done"
| Les Hooper Big Band
|-
| Bob James
| "Night on Bald Mountain"
| Bob James
|-
| Don Sebesky
| "Firebird/Bird of Fire"
| Don Sebesky
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|1976<br />
| Pete Clarence Carpenter and Mike Post
| "The Rockford Files"
| Mike Post
|-
| Randy Brecker
| "Some Skunk Funk"
| Brecker Brothers
|-
| Alan Broadbent
| "Children of Lima"
| Woody Herman
|-
| Thad Jones
| "Living for the City"
| Thad Jones and Mel Lewis
|-
| Ron McClure
| "No Show"
| Blood, Sweat & Tears
|-
| Herbert W. Spencer
| "Theme from Jaws"
| John Williams
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1977<br />
| Chick Corea
| "Leprechaun's Dream"
| Chick Corea
|-
| Stanley Clarke
| "Life Is Just a Game"
| Stanley Clarke
|-
| Bob James
| "Westchester Lady"
| Bob James
|-
| Henry Mancini, Herbert W. Spencer, John Williams and Albert Woodbury
| "The Disaster Movie Suite"
| Henry Mancini conducting London Symphony
|-
| Claus Ogerman
| "Saudades do Brasil"
| Antonio Carlos Jobim
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1978<br />
| Harry Betts, Perry Botkin Jr. and Barry De Vorzon
| "Nadia's Theme (The Young and the Restless)"
| Barry De Vorzon
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Musicmagic"
| Chick Corea and Return to Forever
|-
| Bob James
| "Scheherezade"
| Hubert Laws
|-
| Joe Sample
| "Free as the Wind"
| The Crusaders
|-
| Herbert W. Spencer
| "Roots Mural Theme"
| Quincy Jones
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1979<br />
| Robert Freedman and Quincy Jones
| "The Wiz Main Title — Overture, Part One"
| Various Artists
|-
| Alan Broadbent
| "Aja"
| Woody Herman Band
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Mad Hatter Rhapsody"
| Chick Corea
|-
| Joe Roccisano
| "Green Earrings"
| Woody Herman Band
|-
| Tom Tom 84
| "Runnin'"
| Earth, Wind & Fire
|-
|}
1980s
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1980<br />
| Claus Ogerman
| "Soulful Strut"
| George Benson
|-
| Jeremy Lubbock and Harvey Mason
| "Wave"
| Harvey Mason
|-
| Claus Ogerman
| "Lazy Afternoon"
| Freddie Hubbard
|-
| Don Sebesky
| "Sebastian's Theme"
| Don Sebesky
|-
| John Serry
| "Sabotage"
| John Serry
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1981<br />
| Jerry Hey and Quincy Jones
| "Dinorah, Dinorah"
| George Benson
|-
| Bob Brookmeyer
| "Skylark"
| Mel Lewis
|-
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "Forget the Woman"
| Eddie Daniels
|-
| Dave Grusin
| "Marcosinho"
| Dave Valentin
|-
| Claus Ogerman
| "Wave"
| Antônio Carlos Jobim
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1982<br />
| Quincy Jones and Johnny Mandel
| "Velas"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Toshiko Akiyoshi
| "A Bit Byas'd"
| Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
|-
| Jerry Goldsmith
| "The Slaves"
| Jerry Goldsmith
|-
| Dave Grusin
| "Mountain Dance"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Billy May
| "South Rampart Street Parade"
| John Williams
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1983<br />
| John Williams
| "Flying — Theme from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial"
| John Williams
|-
| Clare Fischer, Ronnie Foster and Earl Klugh
| "Balladina"
| Earl Klugh
|-
| Les Hooper
| "Pavanne"
| Les Hooper Big Band
|-
| Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny
| "Are You Going with Me?"
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| Claus Ogerman
| "Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte"
| Claus Ogerman featuring Jan Akkerman
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1984<br />
| Dave Grusin
| "Summer Sketches '82"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Toshiko Akiyoshi
| "Remembering Bud"
| Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin Big Band
|-
| Bob Florence
| "Afternoon of a Prawn"
| Bob Florence
|-
| Rob McConnell
| "I Got Rhythm"
| Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass
|-
| Patrick Williams
| "Too Hip for the Room"
| Patrick Williams
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1985<br />
| Quincy Jones and Jeremy Lubbock
| "Grace (Gymnastics Theme)"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Stewart Copeland
| "Brothers on Wheels"
| Stewart Copeland
|-
| Robert Freedman
| "Stardust"
| Wynton Marsalis
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "Cameo for Flute '...for James'"
| James Galway and Henry Mancini
|-
| Don Sebesky
| "Waltz for Debbie"
| Don Sebesky
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1986<br />
| Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour
| "Early A.M. Attitude"
| Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour
|-
| Toshiko Akiyoshi
| "March of the Tadpoles"
| Toshiko Akiyoshi – Lew Tabackin Big Band
|-
| William David Brohn
| "Suite of Dances from Pacific Overtures"
| Various Artists
|-
| Chip Davis
| "Stille Nacht (Silent Night)"
| Mannheim Steamroller
|-
| George Russell
| The African Game
| George Russell and the Living Time Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1987<br />
| Patrick Williams
| "Suite Memories"
| Bill Watrous and Patrick Williams
|-
| rowspan=2| Jorge Calandrelli
| "The First Letter"
| Dick Hazard
|-
| "Solfeggietto Metamorphosis"
| Eddie Daniels
|-
| Bill Meyers
| "AM/PM"
| Bill Meyers
|-
| Don Sebesky
| "Cherokee"
| Don Sebesky
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1988<br />
| Bill Holman
| "Take the "A" Train"
| The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen
|-
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "Any Time, Any Season"
| Sam Most
|-
| Michael Convertino
| Main Title (Children of a Lesser God)"
| Shirley Walker
|-
| Dave Grusin
| "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Patrick Williams
| "Jive Samba"
| Patrick Williams' New York Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1989<br />
| Roger Kellaway
| "Memos from Paradise"
| Eddie Daniels
|-
| David Balakrishnan
| "A Night in Tunisia"
| Turtle Island String Quartet
|-
| Bill Barber, Jimmy Johnson and Dick Oatts
| "Jazz Patrol"
| Flim & the BB's
|-
| John Dankworth
| "Caravan"
| John Dankworth
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "Suite from The Thorn Birds"
| Henry Mancini
|-
|}
1990s
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#bebebe"
! width="5%" | Year
! width="30%" | Nominee(s)
! width="35%" | Work
! width="30%" | Artist(s)
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1990<br />
| Dave Grusin
| "Suite from The Milagro Beanfield War"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Frank Foster
| "The Count Basie Remembrance Suite"
| Frank Foster
|-
| Les Hooper
| "Anything Goes"
| Les Hooper Big Band
|-
| Thad Jones
| "Three in One"
| Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Maxine Roach
| "Extensions"
| The Uptown String Quartet
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1991<br />
| Jerry Hey, Quincy Jones, Ian Prince and Rod Temperton
| "Birdland"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| John Clayton
| "Brush This"
| Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Tale of Daring, Chapters 1-4"
| Chick Corea Elektric Band
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "Monster Movie Music Suite"
| Henry Mancini conducting the Pops Orchestra
|-
| John Williams
| "Born on the Fourth of July"
| John Williams
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|1992<br />
| Dave Grusin
| "Medley: Bess You Is My Woman/I Loves You Porgy"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Peter Apfelbaum
| "Candles and Stones"
| Peter Apfelbaum and the Hieroglyphics Ensemble
|-
| Mike Bogle
| "Got a Match?"
| University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band
|-
| Michael Kamen
| "Maid Marian"
| Michael Kamen
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "The Untouchables"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Ed Neumeister
| "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square"
| Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1993<br />
| Rob McConnell
| "Strike Up the Band"
| Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass
|-
| Michael Abene
| "Airegin"
| GRP All-Star Big Band
|-
| Russ Gershon
| "Bennie Moten's Weird Nightmare"
| Either/Orchestra
|-
| Gary Lindsay
| "Cherokee"
| Arturo Sandoval
|-
| Neil Slater
| "Values"
| University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1994<br />
| Dave Grusin
| "Mood Indigo"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Michael Abene
| "Oleo"
| GRP All-Star Big Band
|-
| Arif Mardin
| "Suite Fraternidad (1st and Second Movements)"
| Vince Mendoza and Arif Mardin
|-
| Vince Mendoza
| "Buleria"
| Vince Mendoza and Arif Mardin
|-
| Lalo Schifrin
| "Dizzy Gillespie Fireworks"
| Lalo Schifrin
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1995<br />
| Dave Grusin
| "Three Cowboy Songs"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Toshiko Akiyoshi
| "Bebop"
| Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Louis Bellson
| "Ellington-Strayhorn Suite"
| Louis Bellson
|-
| Richard Eddy and Arturo Sandoval
| "A Mis Abuelos"
| Arturo Sandoval
|-
| Nan Schwartz Mishkin
| "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning"
| John Williams and Boston Pops Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1996<br />
| Robert Farnon
| "Lament"
| J. J. Johnson and the Robert Farnon Orchestra
|-
| Michael Abene
| "Cookin' at the Continental"
| GRP All-Star Big Band
|-
| rowspan=2| Jorge Calandrelli
| "Atras Da Porta"
| Ettore Stratta conducting The Royal Philharmonic
|-
| "Manha De Carnaval"
| Ettore Stratta
|-
| Marcus Miller
| "Come Together"
| Marcus Miller
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1997<br />
| Michael Kamen
| "An American Symphony (Mr. Holland's Opus)"
| Michael Kamen
|-
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "Summer"
| Eddie Daniels
|-
| Jim McNeely
| "Sing, Sing, Sing"
| Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and Jon Faddis
|-
| Lalo Schifrin
| "Charlie Parker: The Firebird (Medley)"
| Lalo Schifrin
|-
| Wayne Shorter
| "Children of the Night"
| Wayne Shorter
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1998<br />
| Bill Holman
| "Straight, No Chaser"
| The Bill Holman Band
|-
| Michael Abene
| "America"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Robert Farnon
| "Wild Is the Wind"
| J. J. Johnson
|-
| Dave Grusin
| "Peter Gunn"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Vince Mendoza
| "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)"
| Vince Mendoza featuring John Abercrombie
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1999<br />
| Don Sebesky
| "Waltz for Debby"
| Don Sebesky
|-
| Bill Holman
| "Moon of Manakoorah"
| Bill Holman and The Netherlands Metropole Orchestra
|-
| Michel Legrand
| "Where or When"
| Michel Legrand
|-
| Rob McConnell
| "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
| Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass
|-
| Patrick Williams
| "In the Still of the Night"
| Patrick Williams and His Big Band
|-
|}
2000s
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#bebebe"
! width="5%" | Year
! width="30%" | Nominee(s)
! width="35%" | Work
! width="30%" | Artist(s)
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2000<br />
| Don Sebesky
| "Chelsea Bridge"
| Don Sebesky
|-
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "Chelsea Bridge"
| Don Sebesky
|-
| Dori Caymmi and Tom Scott
| "Pink Panther"
| Dori Caymmi
|-
| Lalo Schifrin
| "Fiesta"
| Lalo Schifrin
|-
| John Williams
| "Stella by Starlight (from The Uninvited)"
| Itzhak Perlman, John Williams and The Boston Pops Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2001<br />
| Chick Corea
| "Spain for Sextet & Orchestra"
| Chick Corea
|-
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "The Summer Knows/Estate"
| Ettore Stratta and His Orchestra
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Bach 2 Part Invention in D Minor"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Paul McCandless
| "Round Robin"
| Oregon with The Moscow Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
|-
| Jim McNeely
| "Nice Work If You Can Get It"
| The Danish Radio Jazz Orchestra and Jim McNeely
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2002<br />
| Béla Fleck and Edgar Meyer
| "Debussy: Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum"
| Béla Fleck with Joshua Bell and Gary Hoffmann
|-
| George S. Clinton and Quincy Jones
| "Soul Bossa Nova"
| George S. Clinton
|-
| Bob Florence
| "Take the "A" Train"
| Bob Florence and the SWR Big Band
|-
| Gonzalo Rubalcaba
| "En la Orilla del Mundo (At the Edge of the World)"
| Charlie Haden
|-
| Lalo Schifrin
| "Scheherazade Fantasy"
| Lalo Schifrin
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2003<br />
| Thomas Newman
| "Six Feet Under Title Theme"
| Thomas Newman
|-
| David Balakrishnan
| "You've Changed"
| Turtle Island String Quartet featuring Paquito D'Rivera
|-
| Bill Cunliffe
| "Angel Eyes"
| Alan Kaplan
|-
| Carlos Franzetti
| "Plaza Oscura"
| Carlos Franzetti and Allison Brewster Franzetti
|-
| Sammy Nestico
| "Kiji Takes a Ride"
| Sammy Nestico
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2004<br />
| Michael Brecker and Gil Goldstein
| "Timbuktu"
| Michael Brecker Quindectet
|-
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "Oblivion"
| Regina Carter
|-
| John Fedchock
| "Caribbean Fire Dance"
| John Fedchock New York Big Band
|-
| Rob McConnell
| "Autumn in New York"
| Rob McConnell and the SWR Big Band
|-
| Jim McNeely
| "Black Holes"
| Renee Rosnes and the Danish Radio Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2005<br />
| Slide Hampton
| "Past Present & Future"
| The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "Libertango"
| Yo-Yo Ma
|-
| Chick Corea
| "The Long Passage"
| Chick Corea Elektric Band
|-
| Phil Kelly
| "Bella Luce"
| Phil Kelly and the NW Prevailing Winds
|-
| Jim McNeely
| "Sing, Sing, Sing"
| David Liebman Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2006<br />
| Gordon Goodwin
| "The Incredits"
| Michael Giacchino
|-
| Billy Childs
| "Scarborough Faire"
| Billy Childs Ensemble
|-
| John Clayton
| "Lullaby of the Leaves"
| The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Bill Cunliffe
| "Do It Again"
| Bill Cunliffe
|-
| Chris Walden
| "Cherokee"
| The Chris Walden Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2007<br />
| Chick Corea
| "Three Ghouls"
| Chick Corea
|-
| Gil Goldstein
| "Three Women"
| Gil Goldstein
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Jim McNeely
| "Up from the Skies"
| The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Patrick Williams
| "Tom & Eddie"
| The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra and Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2008<br />
| Vince Mendoza
| "In a Silent Way"
| Joe Zawinul
|-
| Harry Connick Jr.
| "Ash Wednesday"
| Harry Connick Jr.
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Yo Tannenbaum (from Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas)"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Frank Macchia
| "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair"
| Frank Macchia and The Prague Orchestra
|-
| Steve Wiest
| "Besame Mucho"
| Maynard Ferguson
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2009<br />
| Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
| "Define Dancing"
| Thomas Newman
|-
| Michael Abene
| "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love"
| Joe Lovano with WDR Big Band and Rundfunk Orchestra
|-
| Robert E. Brookmeyer
| "St. Louis Blues"
| The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Yesterdays"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band featuring Art Tatum
|-
| Frank Macchia
| "Down in the Valley"
| Frank Macchia and The Prague Orchestra
|-
|}
2010s
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#bebebe"
! width="5%" | Year
! width="30%" | Nominee(s)
! width="35%" | Work
! width="30%" | Artist(s)
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2010<br />
| Bill Cunliffe
| "West Side Story Medley"
| Resonance Big Band
|-
| Michael Giacchino and Tim Simonec
| "Up with End Credits"
| Michael Giacchino
|-
| Jeremy Lubbock
| "Emmanuel"
| Chris Botti and Lucia Micarelli
|-
| rowspan=2| Vince Mendoza
| "Hope"
| Jim Beard with Vince Mendoza and The Metropole Orchestra
|-
| "Slings and Arrows"
| Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2011<br />
| Vince Mendoza
| "Carlos"
| John Scofield, Vince Mendoza and Metropole Orkest
|-
| Gil Goldstein
| "Itsbynne Reel"
| Dave Eggar
|-
| Frank Macchia
| "Skip to My Lou"
| Frank Macchia
|-
| Ted Nash
| "Monet"
| Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
|-
| Patrick Williams
| "Fanfare for a New Day"
| Patrick Williams, the Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2012<br />
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Rhapsody in Blue"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Bob Brookmeyer
| "Nasty Dance"
| Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Clare Fischer
| "In the Beginning"
| The Clare Fischer Big Band
|-
| Carlos Franzetti
| "Song Without Words"
| Carlos Franzetti and Allison Brewster Franzetti
|-
| Peter Jensen
| "All or Nothing at All"
| Randy Brecker with DR Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2013<br />
| Gil Evans
| "How About You"
| The Gil Evans Project
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Salt Peanuts! (Mani Salado)"
| rowspan=2| Arturo Sandoval
|-
| Wally Minko
| "A Night in Tunisia (Actually an Entire Weekend!)"
|-
| Bob Mintzer
| "Irrequieto"
| Bob Mintzer Big Band
|-
| Michael Philip Mossman
| "Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite for Ellington"
| Bobby Sanabria Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2014<br />
| Gordon Goodwin
| "On Green Dolphin Street"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Gil Goldstein
| "Wild Beauty"
| Brussels Jazz Orchestra featuring Joe Lovano
|-
| Chuck Owen
| "Side Hikes - A Ridge Away"
| Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge
|-
| Kim Richmond
| "Invitation"
| The Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Nan Schwartz
| "Skylark"
| Amy Dickson
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2015<br />
| Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola
| "Daft Punk"
| Pentatonix
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Get Smart"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Pete McGuinness
| "Beautiful Dreamer"
| The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Alfredo Rodriguez
| "Guantanamera"
| Alfredo Rodriguez
|-
| Chris Walden
| "Moon River"
| Amy Dickson
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2016<br />
| Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola
| "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"
| Pentatonix
|-
| Paul Allen, Troy Hayes, Dwight Streets Levens, Evin Martin and J Moss
| "Bruno Mars"
| Vocally Challenged
|-
| John Fedchock
| "You and the Night and the Music"
| John Fedchock New York Big Band
|-
| Armand Hutton
| "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
| Committed
|-
| Bob James
| "Ghost of a Chance"
| Bob James and Nathan East
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|2017<br />
| Jacob Collier
| "You and I"
| Jacob Collier
|-
| John Beasley
| "Ask Me Now"
| John Beasley
|-
| John Daversa
| "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
| John Daversa
|-
| Christian Jacob
| "Linus & Lucy"
| The Phil Norman Tentet
|-
| Ted Nash
| "We Three Kings"
| Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
|-
| Sammy Nestico
| "Good 'Swing' Wenceslas"
| The Count Basie Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2018<br />
| John Williams
| "Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra from Catch Me If You Can"
| John Williams
|-
| John Beasley
| "Ugly Beauty/Pannonica"
| John Beasley
|-
| Chuck Owen
| "All Hat, No Saddle"
| Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge
|-
| Nate Smith
| "Home Free (For Peter Joe)"
| Nate Smith
|-
| Chris Walden
| "White Christmas"
| Herb Alpert
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2019<br />
| John Daversa
| "Stars and Stripes Forever"
| John Daversa Big Band featuring DACA Artists
|-
| Alexandre Desplat
| "The Shape of Water"
| Alexandre Desplat
|-
| Mark Kibble
| "Change the World"
| Take 6
|-
| John Powell
| "Madrid Finale"
| John Powell
|-
| Randy Waldman and Justin Wilson
| "Batman Theme (TV)"
| Randy Waldman featuring Wynton Marsalis
|-
|}
2020s
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#bebebe"
! width="5%" | Year
! width="30%" | Nominee(s)
! width="35%" | Work
! width="30%" | Artist(s)
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2020<br />
| Jacob Collier
| "Moon River"
| Jacob Collier
|-
| Kris Bowers
| "Blue Skies"
| Kris Bowers
|-
| Vince Mendoza
| "Love, A Beautiful Force"
| Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts and the Temple University Studio Orchestra
|-
| Emilio Solla
| "La Novena"
| The Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra
|-
| John Williams
| "Hedwig's Theme"
| John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2021<br />
| John Beasley
| "Donna Lee"
| John Beasley
|-
| Alvin Chea and Jarrett Johnson
| "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
| Jarrett Johnson featuring Alvin Chea
|-
| Hildur Guðnadóttir
| "Bathroom Dance"
| Hildur Guðnadóttir
|-
| Remy Le Boeuf
| "Honeymooners"
| Remy Le Boeuf's Assembly of Shadows
|-
| Jeremy Levy
| "Uranus: The Magician"
| Jeremy Levy Jazz Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2022<br />
| Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman
| "Meta Knight's Revenge from Kirby Superstar"
| The 8-Bit Big Band featuring Button Masher
|-
| Emile Mosseri
| "Infinite Love"
| Emile Mosseri
|-
| Bill O'Connell
| "Chopsticks"
| Richard Baratta
|-
| Gabriela Quintero and Rodrigo Sanchez
| "The Struggle Within"
| Rodrigo y Gabriela
|-
| Robin Smith
| "For the Love of a Princess (from Braveheart)"
| HAUSER, London Symphony Orchestra and Robin Smith
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2023<br />
| John Beasley
| "Scrapple from the Apple"
| Magnus Lindgren, John Beasley and the SWR Big Band featuring Martin Auer
|-
| Matt Cusson
| "How Deep Is Your Love"
| Kings Return
|-
| Danny Elfman
| "Main Titles (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)"
| Danny Elfman
|-
| Armand Hutton
| "As Days Go By (An Arrangement of the Family Matters Theme Song)"
| Armand Hutton featuring Terrell Hunt and Just 6
|-
| Remy Le Boeuf
| "Minnesota, WI"
| Remy Le Boeuf
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2024
| John Carter Cash, Tommy Emmanuel, Markus Illko, Janet Robin and Roberto Luis Rodriguez
| "Folsom Prison Blues"
| The String Revolution featuring Tommy Emmanuel
|-
| Esin Aydingoz, Chris Bacon and Alana Da Fonseca
| "Paint It Black"
| Wednesday Addams
|-
| Hilario Durán
| "I Remember Mingus"
| Hilario Durán and His Latin Jazz Big Band featuring Paquito D'Rivera
|-
| Ludwig Göransson
| "Can You Hear the Music"
| Ludwig Göransson
|-
| Nkosilathi Emmanuel Sibanda
| "Angels We Have Heard on High"
| Just 6
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2025<br />
| Jacob Collier, Tori Kelly and John Legend
| "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
| Jacob Collier featuring John Legend and Tori Kelly
|-
| Erin Bentlage, Alexander Lloyd Blake, Scott Hoying, A. J. Sealy and Amanda Taylor
| "Rose Without the Thorns"
| Scott Hoying featuring säje and Tonality
|-
| Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnnaye Kendrick and Amanda Taylor
| "Silent Night"
| säje
|-
| Béla Fleck and Ferde Grofé
| "Rhapsody in Blue(grass)"
| Béla Fleck featuring Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz and Bryan Sutton
|-
| Michael League
| "Baby Elephant Walk — Encore"
| Snarky Puppy
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=4, style="text-align:center;"|2026<br />
| Bryan Carter, Charlie Rosen and Matthew Whitaker
| "Super Mario Praise Break"
| The 8-Bit Big Band
|-
| Andy Clausen, Addison Maye-Saxon, Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands
| "Fight On"
| The Westerlies
|-
| Cynthia Erivo
| "Be Okay"
| Cynthia Erivo
|-
| Remy Le Boeuf
| "A Child Is Born"
| Nordkraft Big Band and Remy Le Boeuf
|-
|}
Multiple wins
;6 wins
- Dave Grusin
- Quincy Jones
;4 wins
- Henry Mancini
;3 wins
- Jacob Collier
- Gordon Goodwin
;2 wins
- Herb Alpert
- John Beasley
- Ben Bram
- Chick Corea
- Mitch Grassi
- Jerry Hey
- Bill Holman
- Scott Hoying
- Avi Kaplan
- Kirstin Maldonado
- Vince Mendoza
- Thomas Newman
- Kevin Olusola
- Mike Post
- Charlie Rosen
- Don Sebesky
- John Williams
- Patrick Williams
Multiple nominations
;13 nominations
- Quincy Jones
;11 nominations
- Jorge Calandrelli
- Henry Mancini
;10 nominations
- Dave Grusin
;9 nominations
- Gordon Goodwin
- Don Sebesky
;8 nominations
- Chick Corea
;7 nominations
- Vince Mendoza
- Claus Ogerman
- Patrick Williams
;6 nominations
- John Williams
;5 nominations
- Michael Abene
- Bob Florence
- Bill Holman
- Bob James
- Jim McNeely
- Lalo Schifrin
;4 nominations
- Toshiko Akiyoshi
- John Beasley
- Gil Goldstein
- Les Hooper
- Rob McConnell
;3 nominations
- Jacob Collier
- Bill Cunliffe
- Robert Farnon
- Scott Hoying
- Avi Kaplan
- Remy Le Boeuf
- Michel Legrand
- Jeremy Lubbock
- Frank Macchia
- Herbert W. Spencer
- Chris Walden
;2 nominations
- Herb Alpert
- Burt Bacharach
- David Balakrishnan
- Erin Bentlage
- Ben Bram
- Alan Broadbent
- Bob Brookmeyer
- John Clayton
- John Daversa
- John Fedchock
- Clare Fischer
- Béla Fleck
- Carlos Franzetti
- Robert Freedman
- Mitch Grassi
- Neal Hefti
- Jerry Hey
- Armand Hutton
- Thad Jones
- Michael Kamen
- Kirstin Maldonado
- Johnny Mandel
- Hugo Montenegro
- Ted Nash
- Sammy Nestico
- Thomas Newman
- Kevin Olusola
- Chuck Owen
- Mike Post
- Charlie Rosen
- Nan Schwartz
- Amanda Taylor
- Chris Walden