Grammy Award For Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
The award was first presented to Joe Jackson in 2001. According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards, the award is presented to albums containing "at least 51% playing time of newly recorded pop instrumental tracks". As of 2023, Larry Carlton, Booker T. Jones and Snarky Puppy are the only musicians to receive the award more than once. (Snarky Puppy has had the most wins, with 4). Gerald Albright has received the most nominations, with six.
The award goes to the artist, producer and engineer/mixer of more than 50% of playing time on the winning album. A producer or engineer/mixer who worked on less than 50% of playing time, as well as the mastering engineer, can apply for a Winners Certificate.
In 2015, the category was renamed Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and moved from the Pop category field to the Contemporary category field. The category description did not change.
Recipients
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Joe-Jackson3.jpg/170px-Joe-Jackson3.jpg)
![A man in a multi-colored dress shirt with a black guitar strapped around his neck.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Steve_Lukather_front.jpg/170px-Steve_Lukather_front.jpg)
![A man in a gray shirt with his eyes closed and a black guitar strapped around his neck.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/PeterFrampton06.jpg/170px-PeterFrampton06.jpg)
![A man wearing a dress shirt and glasses, playing a banjo. A light is shining down on him from above, casting a blue shade over him.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Belafleck.jpg/170px-Belafleck.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Larry_Carlton_plays_guitar_1987.jpg/170px-Larry_Carlton_plays_guitar_1987.jpg)
![A man wearing a black hat and jacket.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Booker_T._Jones.jpg/170px-Booker_T._Jones.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Snarky_Puppy%4051._Heineken_Jazzaldia_%2830052040612%29.jpg/170px-Snarky_Puppy%4051._Heineken_Jazzaldia_%2830052040612%29.jpg)
Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
An award was presented to James R. Jensen as the producer of the album.