Grammy Award for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album
Awarded forQuality albums in the new-age music genre
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Formerly calledGrammy Award for Best New Age Album (1992–2022); others
First award1987
Currently held byCarla Patullo ft. The Scorchio Quartet & Tonality - Nomadica (2026)
Websitegrammy.com

The Grammy Award for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album is presented to recording artists for quality albums in the new-age music genre at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards.[1] Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency, and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".[2]

Originally called the Grammy Award for Best New Age Recording, the honor was first presented to Swiss musician Andreas Vollenweider at the 29th Grammy Awards in 1987 for his album Down to the Moon. Two compilation albums featuring Windham Hill Records artists were nominated that same year.[3] The record label was founded by William Ackerman,[4] later an award nominee and 2005 winner for the album Returning. From 1988 to 1991 the category was known as Best New Age Performance. From 1992 to 2023, the award was presented as Best New Age Album. Beginning in 2001, award recipients included the producers, engineers, and/or mixers associated with the nominated work in addition to the recording artists.[5] From 2023, the category has been known as Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album.[6]

While "new-age" music can be difficult to define, journalist Steven Rea described the genre as "music that is acoustic, electronic, jazzy, folky and incorporates classical and pop elements, Eastern and Latin influences, exotic instrumentation, and environmental sound effects."[7] According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards, the award is presented for instrumental or vocal new-age albums "containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material", with seasonal recordings not being eligible.[8] The addition of the award category reflected a "coming of age" of the music genre, though some musicians classified as new age dislike the term "new age" and some of its negative connotations.[7]

Multiple wins

As of 2015, Paul Winter holds the record for the most wins in this category, having won six times (four times as the leader of the group Paul Winter Consort). Winter is the only musician to win the award consecutively; he received an award in 1994 for Spanish Angel as a member of his ensemble and another in 1995 for Prayer for the Wild Things as a solo artist. Irish musician Enya has received four awards. Kitarō holds the record for the most nominations, with sixteen (with only one win, in 2001). All five volumes of Kitarō's Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai series were nominated for Best New Age Album.

Pianist Peter Kater held the record for most nominations without a win, with 12, until he finally won his first Grammy (for Dancing on Water) in 2018. He also holds the record for the most consecutive nominations, with 11, having been nominated every year between 2007 and 2018.

Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai is the only artist to be nominated for more than one work within the same year; for the 42nd Grammy Awards he was nominated alongside Paul Horn for Inside Monument Valley and for his own album, Inner Voices.

Recipients

Year[I] Performing artist(s) Work Nominees Ref.
1987 Andreas Vollenweider Down to the Moon
  • Jean Michel Jarre – Rendez-Vous
  • Paul Winter – Canyon
  • Various artists (Windham Hill Records) – A Winter Solstice
  • Various artists – Windham Hill Records Sampler '86
 [3]
[7][9]
1988 Yusef Lateef Yusef Lateef's Little Symphony
  • Paul Horn – Traveler
  • Kitarō – "The Field"
  • Montreaux – "Sweet Intentions"
  • Patrick O'Hearn – Between Two Worlds
  • Liz Story – "Reconciliations"
 [10]
1989 Shadowfax Folksongs for a Nuclear Village
  • Suzanne Ciani – Neverland
  • Mark Isham – Castalia
  • Steve Khan and Rob Mounsey – Local Color
  • Paul Winter – "Down in Belgorod"
 [11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
1990 Peter Gabriel Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ
  • Enya – "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)"
  • Mark Isham – Tibet
  • Andreas Vollenweider – Dancing with the Lion
  • Paul Winter – "Icarus"
 [15]
1991 Mark Isham Mark Isham
  • Acoustic Alchemy – "Caravan of Dreams"
  • Michael Hedges – Taproot
  • Mannheim Steamroller – Yellowstone: The Music of Nature
  • Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares – Balkan
  • Paul Winter – Earth: Voices of a Planet
 [16]
1992 Chip Davis Fresh Aire 7
  • David Arkenstone – In the Wake of the Wind
  • Suzanne Ciani – Hotel Luna
  • Ottmar Liebert – Borrasca
  • Tangerine Dream – Canyon Dreams
 [17]
1993 Enya Shepherd Moons
  • Kitarō – Dream
  • Shadowfax – Esperanto
  • Tangerine Dream – Rockoon
  • Yanni – Dare to Dream
 [18]
1994 Paul Winter Consort Spanish Angel
  • Clannad – Banba
  • Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra – The Hours Between Night and Day
  • Tangerine Dream – 220 Volt Live
  • Yanni – In My Time
1995 Paul Winter Prayer for the Wild Things
  • Craig Chaquico – Acoustic Planet
  • Kitarō – Mandala
  • Michael Nesmith – The Garden
  • Tangerine Dream – Turn of the Tides
 [19]
1996 George Winston Forest
  • Suzanne Ciani – Dream Suite
  • Kitarō – An Enchanted Evening
  • Patrick O'Hearn – Trust
  • Tangerine Dream – Tyranny of Beauty
 [20]
1997 Enya The Memory of Trees
  • Acoustic Alchemy – Arcanum
  • Suzanne Ciani – Pianissimo II
  • Clannad – Lore
  • Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra – Opium
 [21]
1998 Michael Hedges Oracle
  • Enigma – Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!
  • Mike Oldfield – Voyager
  • Vangelis – Oceanic
  • Paul Winter – Canyon Lullaby
 [22]
1999 Clannad Landmarks
  • William Ackerman – Sound of Wind Driven Rain
  • Alex De Grassi – The Water Garden
  • Kitarō – Gaia Onbashira
  • John Tesh – Grand Passion
 [23]
2000 Paul Winter Celtic Solstice
  • David Arkenstone – Citizen of the World
  • Suzanne Ciani – Turning
  • Paul Horn and R. Carlos Nakai – Inside Monument Valley
  • R. Carlos Nakai – Inner Voices
  • George Winston – Plains
 [24]
2001 Kitarō Thinking of You
  • Maire Brennan – Whisper to the Wild Water
  • Phil Coulter – Highland Cathedral
  • David Lanz – East of the Moon
  • R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton, Will Clipman and Nawang Khechog – In a Distant Place
 [25]
[26]
2002 Enya A Day Without Rain
  • Philip Aaberg – Live from Montana
  • David Darling – Cello Blue
  • Kitarō – Ancient
  • Sacred Spirit – Sacred Spirit II: More Chants and Dances of the Native Americans
 [27]
2003 Tingstad and Rumbel Acoustic Garden
  • William Ackerman – Hearing Voices
  • Kitarō – An Ancient Journey
  • R. Carlos Nakai – Fourth World
  • Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra – Mondo Rama
 [28]
2004 Pat Metheny One Quiet Night
  • Cusco – Inner Journeys: Myths & Legends
  • Michael Hoppé – Solace
  • Peter Kater – Red Moon
  • Kitarō – Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai
 [29]
2005 William Ackerman Returning
  • David Arkenstone – Atlantis: A Symphonic Journey
  • Moya Brennan – Two Horizons
  • Peter Kater – Piano
  • Jonathan Elias – American River
 [30]
[31]
2006 Paul Winter Consort Silver Solstice
  • Jack DeJohnette – Music in the Key of Om
  • Kitarō – Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Volume 2
  • R. Carlos Nakai Quartet – People of Peace
  • George Winston – Montana – A Love Story
 [32]
2007 Enya Amarantine
  • Enigma – A posteriori
  • Gentle Thunder with Will Clipman and AmoChip Dabney – Beyond Words
  • Peter Kater – Elements Series: Fire
  • Andreas Vollenweider – The Magical Journeys of Andreas Vollenweider
 [33]
2008 Paul Winter Consort Crestone
  • Peter Kater – Faces of the Sun
  • Kitarō – Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Volume 3
  • Ottmar Liebert – One Guitar
  • Eric Tingstad – Southwest
 [34]
2009 Jack DeJohnette Peace Time
  • William Ackerman – Meditations
  • Will Clipman – Pathfinder
  • Peter Kater – Ambrosia
  • Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra – The Scent of Light
 [35]
2010 David Darling Prayer for Compassion
  • Jim Brickman – Faith
  • Henta – Laserium for the Soul
  • Peter Kater, Dominic Miller, Kenny Loggins and Jaques Morelenbaum – In a Dream
  • Kitarō – Impressions of the West Lake
 [36]
2011 Paul Winter Consort Miho: Journey to the Mountain
  • Michael Brant DeMaria – Ocean
  • Kitarō – Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai, Volume 4
  • R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton and Will Clipman – Dancing Into Silence
  • Zamora – Instrumental Oasis, Vol 4
 [37]
2012 Pat Metheny What's It All About
  • Al Conti – Northern Seas
  • Michael Brant DeMaria – Gaia
  • Peter Kater – Wind, Rock, Sea & Flame
  • Zamora – Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6
2013 Omar Akram Echoes of Love
  • Krishna Das – Live Ananda
  • Michael Brant DeMaria – Bindu
  • Steven Halpern – Deep Alpha
  • Peter Kater – Light Body
  • Loreena McKennitt – Troubadours of the Rhine
 [38]
2014 Laura Sullivan Love's River
  • Brian Eno – Lux
  • Peter Kater – Illumination
  • Kitarō – Final Call
  • R. Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman – Awakening the Fire
 [39]
2015 Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman Winds of Samsara
  • Paul Avgerinos – Bhakti
  • Peter Kater and R. Carlos Nakai – Ritual
  • Kitarō – Symphony Live in Istanbul
  • Silvia Nakkach and David Darling – In Love and Longing
 [40]
2016 Paul Avgerinos Grace
  • Madi Das – Bhakti Without Borders
  • Catherine Duc – Voyager
  • Peter Kater – Love
  • Ron Korb – Asia Beauty
2017 White Sun White Sun II
  • John Burke – Orogen
  • Enya – Dark Sky Island
  • Peter Kater and Tina Guo – Inner Passion
  • Vangelis – Rosetta
 [41]
2018 Peter Kater Dancing on Water
  • Kitarō – Sacred Journey of Ku-Kai Vol. 5
  • Steve Roach – Spiral Revelation
  • Brian Eno – Reflection
  • India.Arie – SongVersation: Medicine
 [42]
2019 Opium Moon Opium Moon
  • Lisa Gerrard & David Kuckhermann – Hiraeth
  • Snatam Kaur – Beloved
  • Steve Roach – Molecules of Motion
  • Jim Kimo West – Moku Maluhia – Peaceful Island
 [43]
2020 Peter Kater Wings
  • David Arkenstone – Fairy Dreams
  • David Darling – Homage to Kindness
  • Sebastian Plano – Verve
  • Deva Premal – Deva
 [44]
2021 Jim "Kimo" West More Guitar Stories
  • Laurie Anderson, Tenzin Choegyal & Jesse Paris Smith – Songs from the Bardo
  • Priya Darshini – Periphery
  • Superposition – Form//Less
  • Cory Wong & Jon Batiste – Meditations
 [45]
2022 Stewart Copeland & Ricky Kej Divine Tides
  • Will Ackerman, Jeff Oster & Tom Eaton – Brothers
  • Wouter Kellerman & David Arkenstone – Pangaea
  • Opium Moon - Night + Day
  • Laura Sullivan – Pieces of Forever
 [46]
2023 White Sun Mystic Mirror
  • Will Ackerman – Positano Songs
  • Paul Avgerinos – Joy
  • Madi Das & Dave Stringer with Bhakti Without Borders – Mantra Americana
  • Cheryl B. Engelhardt – The Passenger
 [47]
2024 Carla Patullo ft. Tonality & The Scorchio Quartet So She Howls
  • Kirsten Agresta-Copely – Aquamarine
  • Omar Akram – Moments of Beauty
  • Ólafur Arnalds – Some Kind of Peace (Piano Reworks)
  • David Darling & Hans Christian – Ocean Dreaming Ocean
2025 Wouter Kellerman, Éru Matsumoto & Chandrika Tandon Triveni
  • Ricky Kej - Break of Dawn
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto - Opus
  • Anoushka Shankar - Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn
  • Radhika Vekaria - Warriors of Light
 [48]
2026 Carla Patullo ft. The Scorchio Quartet & Tonality Nomadica
  • Kirsten Agresta-Copely - Kuruvinda
  • Cheryl B. Engelhardt, GEM & the Dallas String Quartet - According to the Moon
  • Jahnavi Harrison - Into the Forest
  • Chris Redding - The Colors in My Mind
 [49]

^[I] Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.

See also

References

General
Specific
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  2. "Overview". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
  3. "Veterans top Grammy nominations". The Herald. The McClatchy Company. January 8, 1987.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. Conner, Thomas [in German] (August 28, 2010). "Windham Hill founder Will Ackerman in Chicago for benefit". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. Archived from the original on January 9, 2011.
  5. "Past Winners Search". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Note: User must select the "New Age" category as the genre under the search feature.
  6. Aswad, Jem (June 9, 2022). "Grammys Add New Awards: Songwriter of the Year, Song for Social Change, More". Archived from the original on June 10, 2022.
  7. Rea, Steven (February 22, 1987). "New-age Music: Hard To Define, But It Sells It Even Has A Grammy Category Of Its Own". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  8. "52nd OEP Category Description Guide" (PDF). National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 27, 2009.
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