The National Jazz Awards began in 1990 and for the first four years focused on the piano. In 1994 the saxophone was introducd and from 1996 the current cycle of instruments began, with a focus each year on one of piano, guitar, bass, saxophone, brass, drums or vocals.
| Year | Winner | Final nominees | Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Barney McAll | Jann Rutherford, Scott Griffiths | Piano |
| 1991 | Mark Fitzgibbon | Jann Rutherford, Cathy Harley | Piano |
| 1992 | Jann Rutherford | Cathy Harley, Jeff Usher | Piano |
| 1993 | Tim Hopkins | Blaine Whittaker, Graeme Norris | Saxophone |
| 1994 | Julien Wilson | Elliott Dalgleish, Lisa Parrott | Saxophone |
| 1995 | Elliott Dalgleish | Jamie Oehlers, Blaine Whittaker | Saxophone |
| 1996 | Scott Tinkler | Phil Slater, James Greening | Brass |
| 1997 | Will Guthrie | Dave Goodman, Danny Fischer | Drums |
| 1998 | Michelle Nicolle | Lily Dior, Martin Breeze | Vocals |
| 1999 | Matt McMahon | Aron Ottignon, Cathy Harley | Piano |
| 2000 | James Muller and Stephen Magnusson (tied) | Carl Dewhurst | Guitar |
| 2001 | Brendan Clarke | Matt Clohesy, Dane Alderson | Bass |
| 2002 | Roger Manins | Jamie Oehlers, Blaine Whittaker | Saxophone |
| 2003 | Phil Slater | Eugene Ball, Paul Williamson | Brass |
| 2004 | Felix Bloxsom | Craig Simon, Dave Goodman | Drums |
| 2005 | Elana Stone | Jo Lawry, Kristin Berardi | Vocals |
| 2006 | Jackson Harrison | Marc Hannaford, Aaron Choulai | Piano |
| 2007 | Aaron Flower | Ben Hauptmann, Hugh Stuckey | Guitar |
| 2008 | Phil Stack | Ben Waples, Sam Anning | bass |
| 2009 | Zac Hurren | Phil Noy, Jacam Manricks | Saxophone |
| 2010 | Eamon McNelis (trumpet) | Matt Jodrell, Nick Garbett | Brass |
| 2011 | Tim Firth | Ben Falle, Dave Goodman | Drums |
| 2012 | Kristin Berardi | Kate Kelsey-Sugg, Liz Tobias | Vocals |
| 2013 | Joseph O’Connor | Steve Barry, Daniel Gassin | Piano |
| 2014 | Carl Morgan | Hugh Stuckey, Peter Koopman | Guitar |
| 2015 | Sam Anning | Alex Boneham, Thomas Botting | Bass |
| 2016 | Mike Rivett | Troy Roberts, Jeremy Rose | Saxophone |
| 2017 | James Macauley (trombone) | Niran Dasika, Thomas Avgenicos | Brass |
| 2018 | Alex Hirlian | Angus Mason, Oli Nelson | Drums |
| 2019 | No awards held | ||
| 2020 | Lauren Henderson | Josh Kyle, Jess Spina | Vocals |
