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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Vocal Arrangement.

63 ceremonies, 1963–2025. 53 different winners. The longest run belongs to Johnny Mandel, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor in 2025 for Alma.
Who has won the most?
Vince Mendoza, 4 wins (2001, 2004, 2022, 2023).
  1. AlmaErin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor
  2. In the Wee Small Hours of the MorningErin Bentlage, Jacob Collier, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor
  3. Songbird (Orchestral Version)Vince Mendoza
  4. To The Edge of Longing (Edit Version)Vince Mendoza
  5. He Won't Hold YouJacob Collier
  6. All Night LongJacob Collier
Years explored
1963–2025
Different winners
53
Category leader
Vince Mendoza · 4
About this record

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals was first awarded in 1963, so it does not run the full 1959–2025 window.

It was previously known as Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).

It took its current name in 2015, and the trophy goes to the arranger rather than to the performing act or a label.

2000–2025

26 ceremonies

19632025

01 / The reigns

Jacob Collier set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2025 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    Vince Mendoza4 wins
  2. 02
    Jacob Collier3 wins
  3. 03
    Jorge Calandrelli2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
Alan Broadbent'00
Vince Mendoza'01
Paul Buckmaster'02
Dave Grusin'03
Vince Mendoza'04
Victor Vanacore'05
Billy Childs, Gil Goldstein and Heitor Pereira'06
Jorge Calandrelli'07
John Clayton'08
Nan Schwartz'09
Claus Ogerman'10
Christopher Tin'11
Jorge Calandrelli'12
Thara Memory & Esperanza Spalding'13
Gil Goldstein'14
Billy Childs'15
Maria Schneider'16
Jacob Collier'17
Randy Newman'18
Randy Waldman'19
Jacob Collier'20–'21×2
Vince Mendoza'22–'23×2
In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning'24
Alma'25

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 2 wins, 2000–2025. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony2 wins
Warner1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony267%
  2. Warner133%

23 further wins have no label on record and are not counted in the 3 above.

23 of these 26 wins have no label on record, so the chart covers the other 3.

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2025.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Vincent Mendoza
    5 noms
  2. 02
    Gordon Goodwin
    4 noms
  3. 03
    Shelly Berg
    3 noms
  4. 04
    Cody Fry
    2 noms
  5. 05
    John Beasley & Maria Mendes
    2 noms
  6. 06
    Johnny Mandel
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Jorge Calandrelli
    7L · 2W
  2. 02
    Vince Mendoza
    7L · 4W
  3. 03
    Vincent Mendoza
    5L · 0W
  4. 04
    Gordon Goodwin
    4L · 0W
  5. 05
    Claus Ogerman
    3L · 1W
  6. 06
    Shelly Berg
    3L · 0W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2025. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2025Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor (Alma)
beat 4 others
  • Matt Jones (Always Come Back)
  • Willow, Chris Greatti, Zach Tenorio (b i g f e e l i n g s)
  • Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman (Last Surprise)
  • Cody Fry (The sound of silence)
Not credited
2024Erin Bentlage, Jacob Collier, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor (In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning)
beat 4 others
  • Gordon Goodwin (April in Paris)
  • John Beasley & Maria Mendes (Com Que Voz (Live))
  • Godwin Louis (Fenestra)
  • Kendrick McCallister (Lush Life)
Not credited
2023Vince Mendoza (Songbird (Orchestral Version))repeat
beat 4 others
  • Louis Cole (Let It Happen)
  • Jacob Collier (Never Gonna Be Alone)
  • Sullivan Fortner (Optimistic Voices/No Love Dying)
  • Nathan Schram & Becca Stevens (2 + 2 = 5 (Arr. Nathan Schram))
Not credited
2022Vince Mendoza (To The Edge of Longing (Edit Version))
beat 4 others
  • Ólafur Arnalds (The Bottom Line)
  • Tehillah Alphonso (A Change Is Gonna Come)
  • Jacob Collier (The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire))
  • Cody Fry (Eleanor Rigby)
Not credited
2021Jacob Collier (He Won't Hold You)repeat
beat 4 others
  • John Beasley & Maria Mendes (Asas Fechadas)
  • Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor (Desert Song)
  • Alan Broadbent & Pat Metheny (From This Place)
  • Talia Billig, Nic Hard & Becca Stevens (Slow Burn)
Not credited
2020Jacob Collier (All Night Long)
beat 4 others
  • Geoff Keezer (Jolene)
  • Cyrille Aimée & Diego Figueiredo (Marry Me A Little)
  • Vince Mendoza (Over the Rainbow)
  • Esperanza Spalding (12 Little Spells (Thoracic Spine))
Not credited
2019Randy Waldman (Spiderman Theme)
beat 4 others
  • Matt Rollings & Kristin Wilkinson (It Was A Very Good Year)
  • Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis (Jolene)
  • Vince Mendoza (Mona Lisa)
  • Gonzalo Grau (Niña)
Not credited
2018Randy Newman (Putin)
beat 4 others
  • Justin Hurwitz (Another Day of Sun)
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Every Time We Say Goodbye)
  • Joel McNeely (I Like Myself)
  • Shelly Berg, Gregg Field, Gordon Goodwin & Clint Holmes (I Loves You Porgy/There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York)
Not credited
2017Jacob Collier (Flintstones)
beat 4 others
  • Gordon Goodwin (Do You Hear What I Hear)
  • John Daversa (Do You Want To Know a Secret)
  • Alan Broadbent (I'm a Fool to Want You)
  • Billy Childs & Larry Klein (Somewhere (Dirty Blvd))
Not credited
2016Maria Schneider (Sue (Or in a Season of Crime))
beat 4 others
  • Shelly Berg (Be My Muse)
  • Patrick Williams (52nd & Broadway)
  • Otmaro Ruiz (Garota de Ipanema)
  • Jimmy Greene (When I Come Home)
Not credited
2015Billy Childs (New York Tendaberry)
beat 4 others
  • Jeremy Fox (All My Tomorrows)
  • Vince Mendoza (Goodnight America)
  • Gordon Goodwin (Party Rockers)
  • Pete McGuinness (What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?)
Not credited
2014Gil Goldstein (Swing Low)
beat 4 others
  • Nan Schwarz (La Vida Nos Espera)
  • Chris Walden (Let's Fall In Love)
  • John Hollenbeck (The Moon's A Harsh Mistress)
  • Shelly Berg (What a Wonderful World)
Not credited
2013Thara Memory & Esperanza Spalding (City of Roses)
beat 4 others
  • Gil Evans (Look to the Rainbow)
  • Shelly Berg (Out There)
  • Vince Mendoza (Spain (I Can Recall))
  • Nan Schwartz (Wild is the Wind)
Not credited
2012Jorge Calandrelli (Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me))
beat 4 others
  • Vince Mendoza (Ao Mar)
  • Nicola Tescari (Moon Over Bourbon Street)
  • Kevin Axt, Ray Brinker, Trey Henry, Christian Jacob & Tierney Sutton (On Broadway)
  • William A. Ross (The Windmills of Your Mind)
Not credited
2011Christopher Tin (Baba Yetu)
beat 4 others
  • Herbie Hancock & Larry Klein (Imagine)
  • Geoffrey Keezer (Don't Explain)
  • Vincent Mendoza (Based on a Thousand True Stories)
  • Roger Treece (Baby)
Not credited
2010Claus Ogerman (Quiet Nights)
beat 4 others
  • Vince Mendoza (My One and Only Thrill)
  • Thomas Zink (In the Still of the Night)
  • Laurence Hobgood (Dedicated to You)
  • David Foster & Jerry Hey (A Change is Gonna Come)
Not credited
2009Nan Schwartz (Here's That Rainy Day)
beat 4 others
  • Claus Ogerman (Lazy Afternoon)
  • Don Sebesky (Johnny One Note)
  • Cedric Dent (Grace)
  • Vincent Mendoza (Alfie)
Not credited
2008John Clayton (I'm Gonna Live Till I Die)
beat 4 others
  • Pete McGuinness (Smile)
  • Michael Abene (Overture/Gershwin Medley)
  • Jay Ashby, Darmon Meader & Kim Nazarian (In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning)
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Cry Me a River)
Not credited
2007Jorge Calandrelli (For Once in My Life)unverified
beat 4 others
  • Gil Goldstein (Suninga)
  • Slide Hampton (Stardust)
  • Vincent Mendoza (My Flame Burns Blue (Blood Count))
  • Gil Goldstein & Greg Phillinganes (Good Morning Heartache)
Columbia
2006Billy Childs, Gil Goldstein and Heitor Pereira (What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?)
beat 4 others
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Time to Smile)
  • Don Hart (Scary Things)
  • Claus Ogerman (I Should Care)
  • John Clayton Jr. & David Foster (Can't Buy Me Love)
Not credited
2005Victor Vanacore (Over the Rainbow)unverified
beat 4 others
  • Steve Gaboury, Cyndi Lauper & Don Sebesky (Unchained Melody)
  • John Clayton & David W. Foster (Summertime)
  • Joseph Joubert, Michael McElroy & Buryl A. Red (Joy to the World)
  • Vincent Mendoza (Dancing in the Dark)
Not credited
2004Vince Mendoza (Woodstock)
beat 4 others
  • John Patitucci (In the Bleak Midwinter)
  • Gordon Goodwin (Comes Love)
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Chega de Saudade)
  • Chick Corea & Bobby McFerrin (Armando's Rumba)
Not credited
2003Dave Grusin (Mean Old Man)
beat 4 others
  • Vanessa Carlton & Ron Fair (A Thousand Miles)
  • Vincent Mendoza (Since You've Asked)
  • Alan Broadbent (I'm Glad There Is You)
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Esta Tarde Vi Llover)
Not credited
2002Paul Buckmaster (Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me))
beat 4 others
  • Johnny Mandel (You're My Thrill)
  • Claus Ogerman (Love Letters)
  • Billy Childs (Fascinating Rhythm)
  • Kurt Elling & Laurence Hobgood (Easy Living)
Columbia
2001Vince Mendoza (Both Sides Now)
beat 4 others
  • Björk, Vincent Mendoza & Guy Sigsworth (I've Seen It All)
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Dream)
  • Nnenna Freelon (Button Up Your Overcoat)
  • Vince Mendoza (A Case of You)
Reprise
2000Alan Broadbent (Lonely Town)
beat 4 others
  • David Foster & William Ross (The Prayer)
  • Randy Cantor (Livin' la Vida Loca)
  • Johnny Mandel (In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning)
  • Jorge Calandrelli (Day Dream)
Not credited