Lillias White — a Tony winner for her work in The Life — was named Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist in a Major Engagement for her stint at Feinstein's at The Regency. Chicago's James Naughton and 42nd Street's Tom Wopat tied for honors in the Outstanding Cabaret Male Vocalist in a Major Engagement.

Celebrating the best in New York cabaret, jazz and comedy, the evening was co-hosted by cabaret veteran Andrea Marcovicci, On the Town's Lea DeLaria and Tony Award winner Dee Dee Bridgewater. The Nightlife Awards were judged by members of the New York press, including The New York Times' Stephen Holden, The New York Observer's Rex Reed, Variety's Robert L. Daniels, Theatermania.com's Barbara and Scott Siegel and Cabaret Scenes Magazine's Keith Meritz. More than one-dozen judges took part in the nominating-voting process.

The complete list of 2002 Nightlife Awards Winners follows:
CABARET

Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist in a Major Engagement
Lillias White (Feinstein's at the Regency)

Outstanding Cabaret Male Vocalist in a Major Engagement
Tie: James Naughton (Café Carlyle) and Tom Wopat (Arci's Place) Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist
Julie Reyburn (Judy's Chelsea)

Outstanding Cabaret Male Vocalist
Lennie Watts (Don't Tell Mama)

Outstanding Cabaret Musical Comedy Performance
Kelly Briggs and Jerry Christakos for "Lovely" (Upstairs at Rose's Turn, Don't Tell Mama, Odette's)

Outstanding Cabaret Musical Revue/Group/Variety Performance
Collette Black and Rick Crom, "Rick Crom's What in the World?!" (Upstairs at Rose's Turn)

Outstanding Cabaret Piano Bar Performer
Scott Ailing and Charles Lindberg (Danny's)

Unique Cabaret Major Engagement
Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series — Jon Nakagawa and Ira Weitzman

Unique Cabaret Performance
New Mondays — Phil Geoffrey Bond (The Duplex)

COMEDY

Outstanding Female Standup Comedian
Susie Essman (Caroline's, Stand-Up New York)

Outstanding Male Standup Comedian
Todd Barry (Luna Lounge)

Outstanding Group Comedy Performance
Delaney & Dave (Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater)

Unique Comedy Performance
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (Irving Plaza)

JAZZ

Outstanding Jazz Soloist
Bill Charlap (Birdland)

Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance
Jason Moran Trio (The Village Vanguard)

Outstanding Jazz Vocalist
Cassandra Wilson (The Blue Note)

Outstanding Big Band Jazz Performance
The Dave Holland Big Band (Birdland)

Outstanding Alternative Jazz Performance
Cecil Taylor Orchestra (The Knitting Factory)

Unique Jazz Performance
Solo Piano at The Jazz Standard (Fred Hersch, Ethan Iverson, Vijay Iyer, Jason Moran, Matthew Shipp)

Living Legend Awards were also presented to entertainers in the worlds of cabaret, jazz and comedy. Those award recipients were, respectively, Julie Wilson, Sonny Rollins and Robert Klein.