Jacob Collier has made history, becoming the first British artist ever to win a GRAMMY® Award for each of his first five studio albums. The multi-talented musician achieved this unprecedented milestone last night, earning the award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella for his stunning rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” from his latest album, Djesse Vol. 4 (Hajanga/Interscope/Decca).

Collier entered the GRAMMY® weekend with three nominations, including Album of the Year and Best Global Music Performance for “A Rock Somewhere” featuring Anoushka Shankar and Varijashree Venugopal. While he did not take home those trophies, his win for Djesse Vol. 4 cements his status as one of the most decorated musicians of his generation. His reimagination of the Simon & Garfunkel classic, performed alongside John Legend and Tori Kelly, has gained widespread acclaim, with viral performances from venues as grand as the Greek Theatre to the intimate setting of a kitchen.

In his acceptance speech, Collier paid tribute to the song’s origins and collaborators, saying:

“Firstly, I’d like to thank Simon and Garfunkel for this absolute treasure of an immortal song. To Yebba – I saw a video of her singing this song on YouTube back in 2016 and I harmonized it because I loved it so much, and she was gracious enough to allow me to sample it and it was the foundation of this arrangement. And then also to the mighty Tori Kelly and John Legend – two of the most extraordinary vocalists on the face of the earth.”

This marks Collier’s seventh GRAMMY® win and 15th nomination. He was previously nominated for Album of the Year in 2020 for Djesse Vol. 3.

Beyond his award win, the night was momentous for Collier as he took the GRAMMY® stage to honor his late mentor and musical legend Quincy Jones. Collier performed on piano during “Let The Good Times Roll” with Lainey Wilson and contributed to a powerful, Janelle Monáe-led rendition of “Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough.” This marks his second consecutive year performing in tribute to a musical icon, following his 2024 GRAMMY® stage appearance with Joni Mitchell.

Accompanied at the ceremony by his mother and frequent collaborator, Suzie Collier, the two were styled by Marta Del Rio in custom OTT outfits, a brand known for celebrating vibrant colors and eclectic designs—a fitting reflection of Jacob’s musical artistry.

Collier’s Djesse series, a four-album journey launched in 2018, has become a genre-blurring, collaborative musical odyssey. Billboard described Djesse Vol. 4 as “attending the most expansive, open-minded music festival you’ve never heard of,” praising its vast array of guest artists spanning contemporary hitmakers, instrumental legends, and global orchestras.

Capping off a stellar year, Collier’s latest GRAMMY® win adds to a string of recent achievements, including the launch of his signature five-string guitars with Strandberg and Taylor, a historic performance with Joni Mitchell at the Hollywood Bowl, and a record-breaking world tour that saw him sell more than 200,000 tickets across the globe, including a headline show at The O2 Arena in London.

Author: Adam Bailey

Adam is a regular contributor for established press release distribution website Release-News.com. He writes on a wide range of topics including music.