In 1995, the National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences fixed a tragic error by establishing a Grammy Award that recognized the work of Latin Jazz artists. After spending 36 years ignoring the impressive artistic output of musicians that blended the improvisatory leanings of jazz with Caribbean and South American culture, NARAS created an award that highlighted their recordings. The organization was encouraged to move in this direction by pianist Eddie Palmieri and percussionist John Santos, both long time advocates of the art form. The prize was originally called the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Performance, and it brought a much needed spotlight onto the music. Trumpet player Arturo Sandoval won the award in 1995 and the following year he appeared as a featured soloist behind vocalist Celine Dion. The name changed in 2001 to Best Latin Jazz Album, but the awards kept coming, recognizing some of the most important artists in the modern musical world. With more attention consistently falling onto Latin Jazz, the future appeared positive and wide public acceptance seemed a reality of the twenty-first century.
After seventeen years of wide spread public attention, the recognition ended abruptly on April 6, 2011, when NARAS eliminated the Latin Jazz Grammy. A number of jazz artists won high profile Grammy Awards, provoking a vicious backlash from the popular music industry. Stephen Stout took out a full page ad in the New York Times bashing the academy for being out of touch with popular music, and eventually they caved into the pressure. With the April 6th elimination of 31 categories for the 2012 Grammy Awards, NARAS pushed genres such as Latin Jazz out of the public eye. This decision will feed the bellies of the major music companies, but it will also starve the independent artists that make music outside the mainstream. Unfortunately, NARAS remains distinctly out of touch with the impact that their decision will have upon Latin Jazz artists and the musicians within the additional 30 genres.
Looking at the list of former Latin Jazz Grammy winners and nominees reveals some interesting facts about the power of the award. When you compare the top spots for high profile jazz festivals across the country, you'll consistently find a Latin Jazz artist—almost every Latin Jazz artist sitting in this inviable position is a former Latin Jazz Grammy winner. Rounding out the performance slots available for Latin Jazz in major jazz festivals, you'll find former Latin Jazz Grammy nominees. In some cases, spots are reserved for local musicians and current top artists, but that's the exception, not the rule. For the general public, the award represents a symbol of musical excellence, guaranteeing them a quality experience. It boosters an artist's financial status and places additional support behind their future products. The past seventeen years have provided a number of artists with the opportunity to enjoy this success, but unfortunately, future Latin Jazz artists won't get this opportunity.
I've compiled a list of former Latin Jazz Grammy winners and nominees below, so that you can see the correlation. These are artists that have been rightfully recognized for their contributions to the art form; many more artists deserve this honor. Check out the list and then take the time to send a physical letter to the Grammy Offices in protest of the elimination—you can get the addresses HERE. You can also e-mail NARAS president Neil Portnow in protest of the elimination at [email protected]. Let's make sure that this list gets published again in ten years with twenty-seven winners, signaling a constant presence for Latin Jazz in the mainstream music world.
1995 Winner: Danzón (Dance On), Arturo Sandoval
Nominees: Taboo, Ray Barretto & New World Spirit 944 Columbus, Mario Bauza And The Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra Crossroads, Jerry Gonzalez And The Fort Apache Band Palmas, Eddie Palmieri
1996 Winner: Antonio Brasileiro, Antonio Carlos Jobim
Nominees: Pensativo, Jerry Gonzalez And The Fort Apache Band Pure Emotion, Chico O'Farrill And His Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra Arete, Eddie Palmieri Ritmo Y Candela: Rhythm at the Crossroads, Potato, Changüito, y Orestes
1997 Winner: Portraits of Cuba, Paquito D'Rivera
Nominees: My Summertime, Ray Barretto And Then Some, Steve Berrios And Son Bacheche The Heart Speaks, Terrence Blanchard And Ivan Lins Medianoche, Don Grolnick
1998 Winner: Crisol
Nominees: The Latin Side of John Coltrane, Conrad Herwig Hands of Rhythm, Giovanni Hidalgo Aldeia, Banda Mantiqueira Ritmo Y Candela II: African Crossroads, Carlos “Potato" Valdes
1999 Winner: Hot House, Arturo Sandoval
Nominees: Contact!, Ray Barretto And New World Spirit A Night in Englewood, Paquito D'Rivera And The United Nation Orchestra Central Avenue, Danilo Perez Obsesion, David Sanchez Bele Bele En La Habana, Chucho Valdes
2000 Winner: Latin Soul, Poncho Sanchez
Nominees: Tumbao Para Los Conqueros Di Mi Vida, Al McKibbon Latin Jazz Explosion, Bobby Rodriguez Antiguo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba Briyumba Palo Congo (Religion Of The Congo), Chucho Valdes
2001 Winner: Live at the Village Vanguard, Chucho Valdes
Nominees: Afro-Cuban Dream ... Live & In Clave!!!, Bobby Sanabria Big Band Libertango: Music of Astor Piazzolla, Gary Burton Motherland, Danilo Perez Melaza, David Sanchez
2002 Winner: Nocturne, Charlie Haden
Nominees: New Congo Square, Vol. 3, Los Hombres Calientes Supernova, Gonzalo Rubalcaba Travesia, David Sanchez Calle 54, Various Artists
2003 Winner: The Gathering, Caribbean Jazz Project
Nominees: Alma De Santiago, Jane Bunnett Samba Jazz Fantasia, Duduka da Fonseca S.F. Bay, John Santos And The Machete Ensemble Sentir, Omar Sosa
2004 Winner: Live At The Blue Note, Michel Camilo
Nominees: Cuban Odyssey, Jane Bunnett Birds Of A Feather, Caribbean Jazz Project Isla, Mark Levine And The Latin Tinge New Conceptions, Chucho Valdes
2005 Winner: Land of the Sun, Charlie Haden
Nominees: Bebop Timba, Raphael Cruz Jerry Gonzalez Y Los Piratas Del Flamenco, Jerry Gonzalez Another Kind of Blue: The Latin Side Of Miles Davis, Conrad Herwig Soundances, Diego Urcola
2006 Winner: Listen Here, Eddie Palmieri
Nominees: Time Was-Time Is, Ray Barretto Here And Now: Live In Concert, Caribbean Jazz Project And Sammy Walked In, Sammy Figueroa's Latin Jazz Explosion Mulatos, Omar Sosa
2007 Winner: Simpatico, The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project
Nominees: Codes, Ignacio Berroa Cubist Music, Edsel Gomez Absolute Quintet, Dafnis Prieto Viva, Diego Urcola
2008 Winner: Funk Tango, Paquito D'Rivera Quintet?
Nominees: Big Band Urban Folktales, Bobby Sanabria Big Band The Magician, Sammy Figueroa And His Latin Jazz Explosion Borrowed Time, Steve Khan Refugee, Hector Martignon
2009 Winner: Song for Chico, Arturo O'Farrill And The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
Nominees: Afro-Bop Alliance, Caribbean Jazz Project The Latin Side of Wayne Shorter, Conrad Herwig Nouveau Latino, Nestor Torres Aislado / Marooned, Papo Vazquez & The Mighty Pirates
2010 Winner: Juntos Para Siempre, Bebo Valdes & Chucho Valdes
Nominees: Things I Wanted To Do, Chembo Corniel Áurea, Geoffrey Keezer Brazilliance X4, Claudio Roditi Esta Plena, Miguel Zenon
2011 Winner: Chucho's Steps, Chucho Valdes And The Afro-Cuban Messengers
Nominees: Tango Grill, Pablo Aslan Second Chance, Hector Martignon Psychedelic Blues, Poncho Sanchez ¡Bien Bien!, Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet
After seventeen years of wide spread public attention, the recognition ended abruptly on April 6, 2011, when NARAS eliminated the Latin Jazz Grammy. A number of jazz artists won high profile Grammy Awards, provoking a vicious backlash from the popular music industry. Stephen Stout took out a full page ad in the New York Times bashing the academy for being out of touch with popular music, and eventually they caved into the pressure. With the April 6th elimination of 31 categories for the 2012 Grammy Awards, NARAS pushed genres such as Latin Jazz out of the public eye. This decision will feed the bellies of the major music companies, but it will also starve the independent artists that make music outside the mainstream. Unfortunately, NARAS remains distinctly out of touch with the impact that their decision will have upon Latin Jazz artists and the musicians within the additional 30 genres.
Looking at the list of former Latin Jazz Grammy winners and nominees reveals some interesting facts about the power of the award. When you compare the top spots for high profile jazz festivals across the country, you'll consistently find a Latin Jazz artist—almost every Latin Jazz artist sitting in this inviable position is a former Latin Jazz Grammy winner. Rounding out the performance slots available for Latin Jazz in major jazz festivals, you'll find former Latin Jazz Grammy nominees. In some cases, spots are reserved for local musicians and current top artists, but that's the exception, not the rule. For the general public, the award represents a symbol of musical excellence, guaranteeing them a quality experience. It boosters an artist's financial status and places additional support behind their future products. The past seventeen years have provided a number of artists with the opportunity to enjoy this success, but unfortunately, future Latin Jazz artists won't get this opportunity.
I've compiled a list of former Latin Jazz Grammy winners and nominees below, so that you can see the correlation. These are artists that have been rightfully recognized for their contributions to the art form; many more artists deserve this honor. Check out the list and then take the time to send a physical letter to the Grammy Offices in protest of the elimination—you can get the addresses HERE. You can also e-mail NARAS president Neil Portnow in protest of the elimination at [email protected]. Let's make sure that this list gets published again in ten years with twenty-seven winners, signaling a constant presence for Latin Jazz in the mainstream music world.
1995 Winner: Danzón (Dance On), Arturo Sandoval
Nominees: Taboo, Ray Barretto & New World Spirit 944 Columbus, Mario Bauza And The Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra Crossroads, Jerry Gonzalez And The Fort Apache Band Palmas, Eddie Palmieri
1996 Winner: Antonio Brasileiro, Antonio Carlos Jobim
Nominees: Pensativo, Jerry Gonzalez And The Fort Apache Band Pure Emotion, Chico O'Farrill And His Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra Arete, Eddie Palmieri Ritmo Y Candela: Rhythm at the Crossroads, Potato, Changüito, y Orestes
1997 Winner: Portraits of Cuba, Paquito D'Rivera
Nominees: My Summertime, Ray Barretto And Then Some, Steve Berrios And Son Bacheche The Heart Speaks, Terrence Blanchard And Ivan Lins Medianoche, Don Grolnick
1998 Winner: Crisol
Nominees: The Latin Side of John Coltrane, Conrad Herwig Hands of Rhythm, Giovanni Hidalgo Aldeia, Banda Mantiqueira Ritmo Y Candela II: African Crossroads, Carlos “Potato" Valdes
1999 Winner: Hot House, Arturo Sandoval
Nominees: Contact!, Ray Barretto And New World Spirit A Night in Englewood, Paquito D'Rivera And The United Nation Orchestra Central Avenue, Danilo Perez Obsesion, David Sanchez Bele Bele En La Habana, Chucho Valdes
2000 Winner: Latin Soul, Poncho Sanchez
Nominees: Tumbao Para Los Conqueros Di Mi Vida, Al McKibbon Latin Jazz Explosion, Bobby Rodriguez Antiguo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba Briyumba Palo Congo (Religion Of The Congo), Chucho Valdes
2001 Winner: Live at the Village Vanguard, Chucho Valdes
Nominees: Afro-Cuban Dream ... Live & In Clave!!!, Bobby Sanabria Big Band Libertango: Music of Astor Piazzolla, Gary Burton Motherland, Danilo Perez Melaza, David Sanchez
2002 Winner: Nocturne, Charlie Haden
Nominees: New Congo Square, Vol. 3, Los Hombres Calientes Supernova, Gonzalo Rubalcaba Travesia, David Sanchez Calle 54, Various Artists
2003 Winner: The Gathering, Caribbean Jazz Project
Nominees: Alma De Santiago, Jane Bunnett Samba Jazz Fantasia, Duduka da Fonseca S.F. Bay, John Santos And The Machete Ensemble Sentir, Omar Sosa
2004 Winner: Live At The Blue Note, Michel Camilo
Nominees: Cuban Odyssey, Jane Bunnett Birds Of A Feather, Caribbean Jazz Project Isla, Mark Levine And The Latin Tinge New Conceptions, Chucho Valdes
2005 Winner: Land of the Sun, Charlie Haden
Nominees: Bebop Timba, Raphael Cruz Jerry Gonzalez Y Los Piratas Del Flamenco, Jerry Gonzalez Another Kind of Blue: The Latin Side Of Miles Davis, Conrad Herwig Soundances, Diego Urcola
2006 Winner: Listen Here, Eddie Palmieri
Nominees: Time Was-Time Is, Ray Barretto Here And Now: Live In Concert, Caribbean Jazz Project And Sammy Walked In, Sammy Figueroa's Latin Jazz Explosion Mulatos, Omar Sosa
2007 Winner: Simpatico, The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project
Nominees: Codes, Ignacio Berroa Cubist Music, Edsel Gomez Absolute Quintet, Dafnis Prieto Viva, Diego Urcola
2008 Winner: Funk Tango, Paquito D'Rivera Quintet?
Nominees: Big Band Urban Folktales, Bobby Sanabria Big Band The Magician, Sammy Figueroa And His Latin Jazz Explosion Borrowed Time, Steve Khan Refugee, Hector Martignon
2009 Winner: Song for Chico, Arturo O'Farrill And The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
Nominees: Afro-Bop Alliance, Caribbean Jazz Project The Latin Side of Wayne Shorter, Conrad Herwig Nouveau Latino, Nestor Torres Aislado / Marooned, Papo Vazquez & The Mighty Pirates
2010 Winner: Juntos Para Siempre, Bebo Valdes & Chucho Valdes
Nominees: Things I Wanted To Do, Chembo Corniel Áurea, Geoffrey Keezer Brazilliance X4, Claudio Roditi Esta Plena, Miguel Zenon
2011 Winner: Chucho's Steps, Chucho Valdes And The Afro-Cuban Messengers
Nominees: Tango Grill, Pablo Aslan Second Chance, Hector Martignon Psychedelic Blues, Poncho Sanchez ¡Bien Bien!, Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet
