The Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition (including its previous names) has been awarded since 1960. The award is presented to the composer of an original piece of music (not an adaptation), first released during the eligibility year. In theory, any style of music is eligible for this category, but winning compositions are usually in the jazz or film score genres.
History
The Grammy is awarded to the composer(s) of the music, not to the performing artist, except if the artist is also the composer. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award:
- In 1959 it was awarded as Best Musical Composition First Recorded and Released in 1958 (over 5 minutes duration)
- In 1960 it was awarded as Best Musical Composition First Recorded and Released in 1959 (more than 5 minutes duration)
- In 1962 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Theme or Instrumental Version of Song
- From 1963 to 1964 and from 1967 to 1970 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Theme
- In 1965 it was awarded as Best Instrumental Composition (other than jazz)
- From 1971 to the present it has been awarded as Best Instrumental Composition
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
1950s
{| class="wikitable"
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! width="30%" | Nominee(s)
! width="35%" | Work
! width="30%" | Artist(s)
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1958<br />
| Nelson Riddle
| Cross Country Suite
| Nelson Riddle
|-
| Samuel Barber
| Vanessa
| Dimitri Mitropoulos
|-
| Johnny Mandel
| I Want to Live!
| Johnny Mandel
|-
| Richard Rodgers
| Victory at Sea, Vol. II
| Robert Russell Bennett
|-
| Kurt Weill
| Mahagonny
| Lotte Lenya
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1959<br />
| Duke Ellington
| Anatomy of a Murder
| Duke Ellington
|-
| Morton Gould
| "St. Lawrence Suite"
| Morton Gould
|-
| Henry Mancini
| More Music from Peter Gunn
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Sergei Prokofiev
| Prokoviev: The Overture Russe Op.72
| Jean Martinon conducting the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
|-
| Dmitri Shostakovich
| Shostakovich: Concerto #2 for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 101
| Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic
|-
|}
1960s
{| 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;"|1962<br />
| Galt MacDermot
| African Waltz
| Cannonball Adderley
|-
| Duke Ellington
| Paris Blues
| Duke Ellington
|-
| Bob Merrill
| "Theme from Carnival!"
| Original Broadway Cast
|-
| Nino Rota
| La Dolce Vita
| Nino Rota
|-
| Dimitri Tiomkin
| The Guns of Navarone
| Dimitri Tiomkin
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|1963<br />
| Ric Marlow and Bobby Scott
| "A Taste of Honey"
| Eddie Cano
|-
| Elmer Bernstein and Mack David
| "Walk on the Wild Side"
| Elmer Bernstein
|-
| Acker Bilk
| "Stranger on the Shore"
| Acker Bilk
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "Baby Elephant Walk"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Nelson Riddle
| Route 66 Theme
| Nelson Riddle
|-
| Dave Rose
| "The Stripper"
| Dave Rose
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1964<br />
| Norman Newell, Nino Oliviero and Riz Ortolani
| "More (Theme from Mondo Cane)"
| Vic Dana
|-
| Steve Allen and Ray Brown
| "Gravy Waltz"
| Steve Allen
|-
| Bob Goldstein and David Shire
| "Washington Square"
| The Village Stompers
|-
| Maurice Jarre
| Lawrence of Arabia
| Maurice Jarre
|-
| Jean "Toots" Theilemans
| "Bluesette"
| Jean "Toots" Theilemans
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1965<br />
| Henry Mancini
| "The Pink Panther Theme"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Lee Adams and Charles Strouse
| "Theme from Golden Boy"
| Various Artists (Quincy Jones and Sammy Kaye)
|-
| Russ Daymon
| "Cotton Candy"
| rowspan=2| Al Hirt
|-
| Buddy Killen and Billy Sherrill
| "Sugar Lips"
|-
| Jack Marshall
| "Theme from The Munsters"
| Various Artists
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1967<br />
| Neal Hefti
| "Batman Theme"
| Neal Hefti
|-
| D. J. Edwards
| "Trumpet Pickin'"
| Al Hirt
|-
| Priscilla Hubbard
| "Prissy"
| Chet Atkins
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "Arabesque"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Alex North
| "Who's Afraid?"
| Alex North
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1968<br />
| Lalo Schifrin
| "Mission: Impossible"
| Lalo Schifrin
|-
| Burt Bacharach and Hal David
| "Casino Royale"
| rowspan=2| Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
|-
| Chico Buarque de Hollanda
| "A Banda"
|-
| Hugo Montenegro
| "Hurry Sundown"
| Hugo Montenegro
|-
| Josef Zawinul
| "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"
| Cannonball Adderley Quintet
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1969<br />
| Mason Williams
| "Classical Gas"
| Mason Williams
|-
| Neal Hefti
| The Odd Couple
| Neal Hefti
|-
| Krzysztof Komeda
| "Rosemary's Baby"
| Rick Powell
|-
| Hugo Montenegro and Ennio Morricone
| "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"
| Hugo Montenegro
|-
| Lalo Schifrin
| "Theme from The Fox"
| Lalo Schifrin
|-
|}
1970s
{| 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;"|1970<br />
| John Barry
| "Midnight Cowboy"
| John Barry
|-
| Robert Cobert
| "Quentin's Theme"
| The Charles Randolph Grean Sounde
|-
| Quincy Jones
| "Mackenna's Gold (Main Title)"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Herbie Mann
| Memphis Underground
| Herbie Mann
|-
| Bobby Warren and Harlow Wilcox
| "Groovy Grubworm"
| Harlow Wilcox and the Oakies
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1971<br />
| Alfred Newman
| "Airport Love Theme"
| Alfred Newman
|-
| Miles Davis
| "Bitches Brew"
| Miles Davis
|-
| Quincy Jones
| "Gula Matari"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "Love Theme from Sunflower"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Lalo Schifrin
| "Theme from Medical Center"
| Lalo Schifrin
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1972<br />
| Michel Legrand
| "Theme from Summer of '42"
| Michel Legrand
|-
| Duke Ellington
| New Orleans Suite
| Duke Ellington
|-
| Isaac Hayes
| "Theme from Shaft"
| Isaac Hayes
|-
| Francis Lai
| "Theme from Love Story"
| Francis Lai and His Orchestra / Henry Mancini and His Orchestra
|-
| Chuck Mangione
| "Hill Where the Lord Hides"
| Chuck Mangione
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1973<br />
| Michel Legrand
| "Brian's Song"
| Michel Legrand
|-
| Don Ellis
| "Theme from The French Connection"
| Don Ellis Big Band
|-
| Joe Greene and Billy Preston
| "Outa-Space"
| Billy Preston
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "Brass on Ivory"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Nino Rota
| "Theme from The Godfather"
| Nino Rota
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1974<br />
| Gato Barbieri
| "Theme from Last Tango in Paris"
| Chuck Mangione / Herb Alpert
|-
| Jan Akkerman and Thijs van Leer
| "Hocus Pocus"
| Focus
|-
| Manu Dibango
| "Soul Makossa"
| Manu Dibango
|-
| Billy Preston
| "Space Race"
| Billy Preston
|-
| Edgar Winter
| "Frankenstein"
| Edgar Winter
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1975<br />
| Mike Oldfield
| "Tubular Bells — Theme from The Exorcist"
| Mike Oldfield
|-
| Benny Golson
| "Along Came Betty"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Herbie Hancock, Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason and Bennie Maupin
| "Chameleon"
| Herbie Hancock
|-
| rowspan=2| Barry White
| "Barry's Theme"
| rowspan=2| Barry White
|-
| "Rhapsody in White"
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1976<br />
| Michel Legrand
| "Images"
| Michel Legrand and Phil Woods
|-
| Pete Clarence Carpenter and Mike Post
| "The Rockford Files"
| Mike Post
|-
| Sylvester Levay and Stephen Prager
| "Fly, Robin, Fly"
| Silver Convention
|-
| Chuck Mangione
| "Chase the Clouds Away"
| Chuck Mangione
|-
| Van McCoy
| "The Hustle"
| Van McCoy
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|1977<br />
| Chuck Mangione
| "Bellavia"
| Chuck Mangione
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "The White Dawn"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Leprechaun's Dream"
| Chick Corea
|-
| Louis Johnson, Quincy Jones and Johnny Mandel
| "Midnight Soul Patrol"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Skip Scarborough and Maurice White
| "Earth, Wind & Fire"
| Earth, Wind & Fire
|-
| Stevie Wonder
| "Contusion"
| Stevie Wonder
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1978<br />
| John Williams
| "Star Wars — Main Title"
| John Williams
|-
| Carol Connors, Bill Conti and Ayn Robbins
| "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)"
| Maynard Ferguson
|-
| Gerald Fried and Quincy Jones
| "Roots Medley (Motherland, Roots, Mural Theme)"
| Quincy Jones
|-
| Marvin Hamlisch
| "Bond '77/James Bond Theme"
| Marvin Hamlisch
|-
| Josef Zawinul
| "Birdland"
| Weather Report
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1979<br />
| John Williams
| "Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
| John Williams
|-
| Nick Ashford, Quincy Jones and Valerie Simpson
| "End of the Yellow Brick Road"
| Ashford & Simpson
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Friends"
| Chick Corea
|-
| Chuck Mangione
| "Consuelo's Love Theme"
| Chuck Mangione Group
|-
| Lee Ritenour
| "The Captain's Journey"
| Lee Ritenour
|-
|}
1980s
{| 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;"|1980<br />
| John Williams
| "Superman Main Title Theme"
| John Williams
|-
| Andy Armer and Randy Badazz
| "Rise"
| Herb Alpert
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Central Park"
| Chick Corea
|-
| Bob James
| "Angela (Theme from Taxi)"
| Bob James
|-
| Marian McPartland
| "Ambiance"
| Marian McPartland
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1981<br />
| John Williams
| "The Empire Strikes Back"
| John Williams
|-
| Chuck Mangione
| "Give It All You Got"
| Chuck Mangione
|-
| rowspan=2| John Williams
| "Yoda's Theme"
| rowspan=2| John Williams
|-
| "Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)"
|-
| Patrick Williams
| "An American Concerto"
| Patrick Williams
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1982<br />
| Mike Post
| "The Theme from Hill Street Blues"
| Mike Post
|-
| John Corigliano
| "Altered States"
| John Corigliano
|-
| Jerry Goldsmith
| "The Slaves"
| Jerry Goldsmith
|-
| Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny
| As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls
| Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays
|-
| Gerry Mulligan
| "For an Unfinished Woman"
| Gerry Mulligan
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1983<br />
| John Williams
| "Flying — Theme from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial"
| John Williams
|-
| Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny
| "Are You Going with Me?"
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| Claus Ogerman
| "In the Presence and Absence of Each Other (Parts 1, 2 and 3)"
| Claus Ogerman featuring Michael Brecker
|-
| Tom Scott
| Desire
| Tom Scott
|-
| John Williams
| "Adventure on Earth"
| John Williams
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1984<br />
| Giorgio Moroder
| "Love Theme from Flashdance"
| Helen St. John
|-
| Michael Beinhorn, Herbie Hancock and Bill Laswell
| "Rockit"
| Herbie Hancock
|-
| Dave Grusin
| "An Actor's Life"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "The Thorn Birds Theme"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Dan Sembello and Michael Sembello
| "Dream Hunter"
| Sergio Mendes
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1985<br />
| Randy Newman <small>(TIE)</small>
| "The Natural"
| Randy Newman
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
| John Williams <small>(TIE)</small>
| "Olympic Fanfare and Theme"
| John Williams
|-
| Elmer Bernstein
| "Ghostbusters (Main Title Theme)"
| Elmer Bernstein
|-
| Pete Carpenter and Mike Post
| "The A-Team"
| Mike Post
|-
| Wynton Marsalis
| "Hot House Flowers"
| Wynton Marsalis
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1986<br />
| Jan Hammer
| "Miami Vice Theme"
| Jan Hammer
|-
| Harold Faltermeyer
| "Axel F"
| Harold Faltermeyer
|-
| David Foster
| "Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire"
| David Foster
|-
| Thad Jones
| "With Bells On"
| Louis Bellson
|-
| Alan Silvestri
| "Back to the Future"
| Alan Silvestri
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=7, style="text-align:center;"|1987<br />
| John Barry
| "Out of Africa"
| John Barry
|-
| Bruce Broughton
| Young Sherlock Holmes (Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack)
| Bruce Broughton conducting The Sinfonia of London
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Elektric City"
| Chick Corea
|-
| Harold Faltermeyer
| "Top Gun Anthem"
| Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens
|-
| Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour
| "Earth Run"
| Lee Ritenour
|-
| James Horner
| Aliens (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
| James Horner
|-
| Wynton Marsalis
| "J Mood"
| Wynton Marsalis
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1988<br />
| Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Billy Higgins and Wayne Shorter
| "Call Sheet Blues"
| Dexter Gordon
|-
| Claude Bolling
| Bolling: Suite No. 2 for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio
| Claude Bolling, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Pierre-Yves Sorin and Vincent Cordelette
|-
| Henry Mancini
| "The Blues in Three"
| Henry Mancini
|-
| Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny
| "Minuano (Six Eight)"
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| Frank Zappa
| "Jazz from Hell"
| Frank Zappa
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1989<br />
| Mike Post
| "The Theme from L.A. Law"
| Mike Post
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Eternal Child"
| Chick Corea Elektric Band
|-
| Benny Carter
| "Central City Sketches (Side 2)"
| Benny Carter
|-
| David Foster
| "Winter Games"
| David Foster
|-
| John Williams
| "Olympic Spirit"
| John Williams
|-
|}
1990s
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#bebebe"
! width="5%" | Year
! width="30%" | Nominee(s)
! width="35%" | Work
! width="30%" | Artist(s)
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|1990<br />
| Danny Elfman
| "The Batman Theme"
| Sinfonia of London Orchestra
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Morning Sprite"
| Chick Corea Akoustic Band
|-
| Dave Grusin
| "Suite from The Milagro Beanfield War"
| Dave Grusin
|-
| James Horner
| "Field of Dreams"
| James Horner
|-
| Pat Metheny
| "Letter from Home"
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
| Alan Silvestri
| "Who Framed Roger Rabbit Suite"
| John Scott
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=4, style="text-align:center;"|1991<br />
| Pat Metheny
| "Change of Heart"
| Roy Haynes, Dave Holland & Pat Metheny
|-
| Pat Metheny
| "The Chief"
| Gary Burton
|-
| Harry Connick Jr. and Joe Livingston
| "One Last Pitch (Take Two)"
| Harry Connick Jr. Trio
|-
| Walter Afanasieff and Kenny G
| "Going Home"
| Kenny G
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1992<br />
| Elton John
| "Basque"
| James Galway
|-
| Herb Alpert and Greg Smith
| "North on South St."
| Herb Alpert
|-
| Béla Fleck, Howard Levy, Roy Wooten and Victor Wooten
| "Blu-Bop"
| Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
|-
| Eric Johnson
| "Cliffs of Dover"
| Eric Johnson
|-
| Claus Ogerman
| "Corfu"
| Claus Ogerman and Michael Brecker
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1993<br />
| Benny Carter
| "Harlem Renaissance Suite"
| Benny Carter
|-
| Pat Metheny
| "The Truth Will Always Be"
| Pat Metheny
|-
| Astor Piazzolla
| "Oblivion"
| Ettore Stratta
|-
| Béla Fleck
| "Magic Fingers"
| Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
|-
| Wynton Marsalis
| "Blue Interlude"
| Wynton Marsalis Septet
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1994<br />
| Kenny G
| "Forever in Love"
| Kenny G
|-
| Dave Brubeck
| "Autumn"
| Dave Brubeck, Chris Brubeck and Dan Brubeck
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Blue Miles"
| Chick Corea Elektric Band II
|-
| Lyle Mays
| "Bill Evans"
| Lyle Mays
|-
| Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny
| "Half Life of Absolution"
| Pat Metheny Group
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1995<br />
| Michael Brecker
| "African Skies"
| Michael Brecker
|-
| Louie Bellson
| "Ellington-Strayhorn Suite"
| Louie Bellson
|-
| Benny Carter
| "Elegy in Blue"
| Benny Carter
|-
| Arturo Sandoval
| "A Mis Abuelos"
| Arturo Sandoval
|-
| Maria Schneider
| "Evanescence"
| Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1996<br />
| Bill Holman
| "A View from the Side"
| The Bill Holman Band
|-
| Billy Childs
| "The Starry Night"
| Billy Childs
|-
| Chick Corea
| "New Life"
| Chick Corea
|-
| Marcus Miller and Allen Toussaint
| "Tales"
| Marcus Miller
|-
| Billy Taylor
| "Homage Part I"
| Billy Taylor
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1997<br />
| Herbie Hancock and Jean Hancock
| "Manhattan (Island of Lights and Love)"
| Herbie Hancock
|-
| Jorge Calandrelli
| "The Fifth Season"
| Eddie Daniels
|-
| Billy Childs
| "Aaron's Song"
| Billy Childs
|-
| Arturo Sandoval
| "Real McBop"
| Arturo Sandoval
|-
| Wayne Shorter
| "Midnight in Carlotta's Hair"
| Wayne Shorter
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1998<br />
| Wayne Shorter
| "Aung San Suu Kyi"
| Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter
|-
| Alan Broadbent
| "Everytime I Think of You"
| Alan Broadbent
|-
| Bob Florence
| "Earth"
| The Bob Florence Limited Edition
|-
| J. J. Johnson
| "Cannon for Bela"
| J. J. Johnson
|-
| Bob Mintzer
| "New Rochelle"
| Yellowjackets
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|1999<br />
| Bela Fleck, Future Man and Victor Lemonte Wooten
| "Almost 12"
| Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
|-
| Jorge Calandrelli and Astor Piazzolla
| "Tango Remembrances"
| Yo-Yo Ma
|-
| Wynton Marsalis
| "The Midnight Blues"
| Wynton Marsalis
|-
| Bob Mintzer
| "Ellis Island"
| Bob Mintzer Big Band
|-
| Gerald Wilson
| "Romance"
| The Gerald Wilson Orchestra
|-
|}
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
| "Joyful Noise Suite"
| Don Sebesky
|-
| David Benoit
| "Dad's Room"
| David Benoit
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Little Flamenco"
| Chick Corea and Origin
|-
| Paquito D'Rivera
| "Tropicana Nights"
| Paquito D'Rivera
|-
| KC Porter and Carlos Santana
| "El Farol"
| Santana
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2001<br />
| John Williams
| "Theme from Angela's Ashes"
| John Williams
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Sing, Sang, Sung"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| James Newton Howard
| "The Egg Travels"
| James Newton Howard
|-
| Paul McCandless
| "Round Robin"
| rowspan=2| Oregon with The Moscow Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
|-
| Ralph Towner
| "The Templars"
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2002<br />
| Alan Silvestri
| "Cast Away — End Credits"
| Alan Silvestri
|-
| Tan Dun
| "The Eternal Vow"
| Tan Dun
|-
| John Patitucci
| "Communion"
| John Patitucci
|-
| Gonzalo Rubalcaba
| "Oren (Pray)"
| Gonzalo Rubalcaba
|-
| Patrick Williams
| "Theme from Blonde"
| Patrick Williams
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2003<br />
| Thomas Newman
| "Six Feet Under Title Theme"
| Thomas Newman
|-
| James Newton Howard
| "Signs — Main Titles"
| James Newton Howard
|-
| Randy Newman
| "The Ride of the Doors"
| Randy Newman
|-
| Kenny Werner
| "Inspiration"
| Toots Thielemans and Kenny Werner
|-
| John Williams
| "Hedwig's Theme"
| John Williams
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2004<br />
| Wayne Shorter
| "Sacajawea"
| Wayne Shorter
|-
| Michael Brecker
| "Broadband"
| Michael Brecker Quindectet
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Hunting Wabbits"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Vince Mendoza
| "Amoroso"
| Stefano Di Battista
|-
| Kim Richmond
| "Precious Promises"
| The Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2005<br />
| Paquito D'Rivera
| "Merengue"
| Yo-Yo Ma
|-
| Maria Schneider
| "Three Romances"
| University of Miami Concert Jazz Band
|-
| Slide Hampton
| "Past Present & Future"
| The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Maria Schneider
| "Bulería, Soleá y Rumba"
| Maria Schneider Orchestra
|-
| Gabriel Yared
| "Ada Plays (from Cold Mountain)"
| Gabriel Yared
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=4, style="text-align:center;"|2006<br />
| Billy Childs
| "Into the Light"
| Billy Childs Ensemble
|-
| Michael Giacchino
| "The Incredits"
| Various Artists
|-
| rowspan=2| John Williams
| "Anakin's Betrayal"
| John Williams and The London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices
|-
| "The Ferry Scene"
| John Williams
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2007<br />
| John Williams
| "A Prayer for Peace"
| John Williams
|-
| Taylor Eigsti
| "Argument"
| Taylor Eigsti
|-
| Fred Hersch
| "Valentine"
| Fred Hersch
|-
| John Williams
| "Sayuri's Theme and End Credits"
| John Williams, Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman
|-
| Patrick Williams
| "A Concerto in Swing"
| The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra and Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2008<br />
| Maria Schneider
| "Cerulean Skies"
| Maria Schneider Orchestra
|-
| Harry Connick Jr.
| "Ash Wednesday"
| Harry Connick Jr.
|-
| Béla Fleck
| "Spectacle"
| Chick Corea and Béla Fleck
|-
| Philip Glass
| "I Knew Her (from Notes on a Scandal)"
| Philip Glass
|-
| Mark Walker
| "Deep Six"
| Oregon
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2009<br />
| John Williams
| "The Adventures of Mutt"
| John Williams
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Alegria"
| Chick Corea and Gary Burton
|-
| Russell Ferrante
| "Claire's Closet"
| Yellowjackets and Mike Stern
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Hit the Ground Running"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Dave Grusin
| "Danzón de Etiqueta"
| Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin
|-
|}
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 />
| Michael Giacchino
| "Married Life"
| Michael Giacchino
|-
| Tim Davies
| "Counting to Infinity"
| Tim Davies Big Band
|-
| Paquito D'Rivera
| "Borat in Syracuse"
| Paquito D'Rivera Quintet
|-
| Bob Florence
| "Fluffy"
| Bob Florence Limited Edition
|-
| Steve Wiest
| "Ice-Nine"
| University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2011<br />
| Billy Childs
| "The Path Among the Trees"
| Billy Childs Ensemble
|-
| Gerald Clayton
| "Battle Circles"
| Clayton Brothers
|-
| Bill Cunliffe
| "Fourt Stream... La Banda"
| Temple University Symphony Orchestra
|-
| Tim Hagans
| "Box of Cannoli"
| The Norrbotten Big Band
|-
| Patrick Williams
| "Aurora"
| Patrick Williams Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2012<br />
| Béla Fleck and Howard Levy
| "Life in Eleven"
| Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
|-
| Randy Brecker
| "I Talk to the Trees"
| Randy Brecker with DR Big Band
|-
| Russell Ferrante
| "Timeline"
| Yellowjackets
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn)"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| John Hollenbeck
| "Falling Men"
| John Hollenbeck, Daniel Yvinec and Orchestre National de Jazz
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2013<br />
| Chick Corea
| "Mozart Goes Dancing"
| Chick Corea and Gary Burton
|-
| Chris Brubeck and Dave Brubeck
| "Music of Ansel Adams: America"
| Temple University Symphony Orchestra
|-
| Bill Cunliffe
| "Overture, Waltz and Rondo"
| Temple University Symphony Orchestra
|-
| Bill Holman
| "Without a Paddle"
| Tall & Small
|-
| Chuck Loeb
| "December Dream"
| Fourplay
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2014<br />
| Clare Fischer
| "Pensamientos for Solo Alto Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra"
| The Clare Fischer Orchestra
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "California Pictures for String Quartet"
| Quartet San Francisco
|-
| Scott Healy
| "Koko on the Boulevard"
| Scott Healy Ensemble
|-
| Vince Mendoza
| "String Quartet No. 1: Funky Diversion in Three Parts"
| Quartet San Francisco
|-
| Chuck Owen
| "Bound Away"
| Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2015<br />
| John Williams
| "The Book Thief"
| John Williams
|-
| Stanley Clarke
| "Last Train to Sanity"
| Stanley Clarke Band
|-
| Gordon Goodwin
| "Life in the Bubble"
| Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile
| "Tarnation"
| Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile
|-
| Rufus Reid
| "Recognition"
| Rufus Reid
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2016<br />
| Arturo O'Farrill
| "The Afro Latin Jazz Suite"
| Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra featuring Rudresh Mahanthappa
|-
| David Balakrishnan
| "Confetti Man"
| Turtle Island Quartet
|-
| Rich DeRosa
| "Neil"
| University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band
|-
| Marshall Gilkes
| "Vesper"
| Marshall Gilkes and WDR Big Band
|-
| Bob Mintzer
| "Civil War"
| Bob Mintzer Big Band
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2017<br />
| Ted Nash
| "Spoken at Midnight"
| Ted Nash Big Band
|-
| Tim Davies
| "The Expensive Train Set (An Epic Sarahnade for Double Big Band)"
| Tim Davies Big Band
|-
| Alan Ferber
| "Flow"
| Alan Ferber Nonet
|-
| Ennio Morricone
| "L'Ultima Diligenza di Red Rock — Versione Integrale"
| Ennio Morricone
|-
| Thomas Newman
| "Bridge of Spies (End Title)"
| Thomas Newman
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2018<br />
| Arturo O'Farrill
| "Three Revolutions"
| Arturo O'Farrill and Chucho Valdés
|-
| Pascal Le Boeuf
| "Alkaline"
| Le Boeuf Brothers and JACK Quartet
|-
| Vince Mendoza
| "Chorus #3"
| Vince Mendoza and WDR Big Band Cologne
|-
| Chuck Owen
| "Warped Cowboy"
| Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge
|-
| Nate Smith
| "Home Free (For Peter Joe)"
| Nate Smith
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2019<br />
| Terence Blanchard
| "Blut und Boden (Blood and Soil)"
| Terence Blanchard
|-
| Alexandre Desplat
| "The Shape of Water"
| Alexandre Desplat
|-
| Jeremy Kittel
| "Chrysalis"
| Kittel & Co.
|-
| John Powell and John Williams
| "Mine Mission"
| John Powell and John Williams
|-
| Alan Silvestri
| "Infinity War"
| Alan Silvestri
|-
|}
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 />
| John Williams
| "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite"
| John Williams
|-
| Fred Hersch
| "Begin Again"
| Fred Hersch and WDR Big Band conducted by Vince Mendoza
|-
| Brian Lynch
| "Crucible for Crisis"
| Brian Lynch Big Band
|-
| Christian McBride
| "Walkin' Funny"
| Christian McBride
|-
| Vince Mendoza
| "Love, A Beautiful Force"
| Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts and the Temple University Studio Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2021<br />
| Maria Schneider
| "Sputnik"
| Maria Schneider Orchestra
|-
| Alexandre Desplat
| "Plumfield"
| Alexandre Desplat
|-
| Remy Le Boeuf
| "Strata"
| Remy Le Boeuf's Assembly of Shadows featuring Anna Webber and Eric Miller
|-
| Arturo O'Farrill
| "Baby Jack"
| Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
|-
| Christian Sands
| "Be Water II"
| Christian Sands
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2022<br />
| Lyle Mays
| "Eberhard"
| Lyle Mays
|-
| Vince Mendoza
| "Concerto for Orchestra: Finale"
| Vince Mendoza and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra featuring Antonio Sánchez and Derrick Hodge
|-
| Tom Nazziola
| "Cat and Mouse"
| Tom Nazziola
|-
| Arturo O'Farrill
| "Dreaming in Lions: Dreaming in Lions"
| Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble
|-
| Brandee Younger
| "Beautiful Is Black"
| Brandee Younger
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2023<br />
| Geoffrey Keezer
| "Refuge"
| Geoffrey Keezer
|-
| Paquito D'Rivera
| "African Tales"
| Tasha Warren and Dave Eggar
|-
| Pascal Le Boeuf
| "Snapshots"
| Tasha Warren and Dave Eggar
|-
| Danilo Pérez
| "Fronteras (Borders) Suite: Al-Musafir Blues"
| Danilo Pérez featuring The Global Messengers
|-
| Miguel Zenón
| "El Pais Invisible"
| Miguel Zenón, José Antonio Zayas Cabán, Ryan Smith and Casey Rafn
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2024<br />
| John Williams
| "Helena's Theme"
| John Williams
|-
| Lakecia Benjamin
| "Amerikkan Skin"
| Lakecia Benjamin featuring Angela Davis
|-
| Gordon Goodwin and Raymond Scott
| "Cutey and the Dragon"
| Quartet San Francisco featuring Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
|-
| Ludwig Göransson
| "Can You Hear the Music"
| Ludwig Göransson
|-
| Edgar Meyer
| "Motion"
| Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain featuring Rakesh Chaurasia
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=5, style="text-align:center;"|2025<br />
| Pascal Le Boeuf
| "Strands"
| Akropolis Reed Quintet, Pascal Le Boeuf and Christian Euman
|-
| André 3000, Surya Botofasina, Nate Mercereau and Carlos Niño
| "I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a 'Rap' Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time"
| André 3000
|-
| Shelton G. Berg
| "At Last"
| Shelly Berg
|-
| Chick Corea
| "Remembrance"
| Chick Corea and Béla Fleck
|-
| Christopher Zuar
| "Communion"
| Christopher Zuar Orchestra
|-
|- style="background:#FAEB86;"
! rowspan=6, style="text-align:center;"|2026<br />
| Remy Le Boeuf
| "First Snow"
| Nordkraft Big Band, Remy Le Boeuf and Danielle Wertz
|-
| Zain Effendi
| "Opening"
| Zail Effendi
|-
| Ludwig Göransson
| "Why You Here / Before the Sun Went Down"
| Ludwig Göransson featuring Miles Caton
|-
| Miho Hazama
| "Live Life This Day: Movement 1"
| Miho Hazama, Danish Radio Big Band and Danish National Symphony Orchestra
|-
| Sierra Hull
| "Lord, That's a Long Way"
| Sierra Hull
|-
| John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
| "Train to Emerald City"
| John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
|-
|}
Multiple wins
;12 wins
- John Williams
;3 wins
- Michel Legrand
- Wayne Shorter
;2 wins
- John Barry
- Billy Childs
- Bela Fleck
- Herbie Hancock
- Arturo O'Farrill
- Mike Post
- Maria Schneider
Multiple nominations
;21 nominations
- John Williams
;12 nominations
- Chick Corea
;9 nominations
- Henry Mancini
;8 nominations
- Pat Metheny
;7 nominations
- Gordon Goodwin
;6 nominations
- Lyle Mays
;5 nominations
- Quincy Jones
- Chuck Mangione
- Vince Mendoza
- Maria Schneider
;4 nominations
- Billy Childs
- Dave Grusin
- Herbie Hancock
- Wynton Marsalis
- Arturo O'Farrill
- Mike Post
- Wayne Shorter
- Alan Silvestri
- Patrick Williams
;3 nominations
- Benny Carter
- Paquito D'Rivera
- Duke Ellington
- Pascal Le Boeuf
- Michel Legrand
- Bob Mintzer
- Lalo Schifrin
;2 nominations
- John Barry
- Elmer Bernstein
- Michael Brecker
- Dave Brubeck
- Jorge Calandrelli
- Harry Connick Jr.
- Tim Davies
- Alexandre Desplat
- Harold Faltermeyer
- Russell Ferrante
- Béla Fleck
- Bob Florence
- David Foster
- Kenny G
- Michael Giacchino
- Ludwig Göransson
- Neal Hefti
- Fred Hersch
- Bill Holman
- James Horner
- James Newton Howard
- Howard Levy
- Johnny Mandel
- Edgar Meyer
- Hugo Montenegro
- Ennio Morricone
- Randy Newman
- Thomas Newman
- Claus Ogerman
- Chuck Owen
- Astor Piazzolla
- John Powell
- Billy Preston
- Nelson Riddle
- Lee Ritenour
- Nino Rota
- Arturo Sandoval
- Barry White
- Josef Zawinul