The Recording Academy (formerly the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) is out with its nominations for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards. The full list of nominees is available at the Grammy Web site.
It is encouraging to see that a former jazz categories for so-called “smooth jazz" recordings are listed this time around where they belong--"Pop Instrumental." Finally, we have some truth in advertising.
There are lots of nominations of great merit this time around. I was particularly glad to see the jazz vocal category dominated by mid-career singers who have worked so hard through the years to advance their craft--Kurt Elling, Roberta Gambarini, Luciana Souza and Tierney Sutton--with Randy Crawford joining from the senior generation. Also, kudos to Vince Mendoza for his THREE nominations in the best instrumental arrangement tiers for work on three different projects.
If The Recording Academy had a category for best humorous song title, Paquito d'Rivera would be a shoo-in. D'Rivera is nominated in the best instrumental composition category for his tune “Borat in Syracuse" from his CD Jazz-Clazz.
The Grammy Awards will be bestowed January 31 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
It is encouraging to see that a former jazz categories for so-called “smooth jazz" recordings are listed this time around where they belong--"Pop Instrumental." Finally, we have some truth in advertising.
There are lots of nominations of great merit this time around. I was particularly glad to see the jazz vocal category dominated by mid-career singers who have worked so hard through the years to advance their craft--Kurt Elling, Roberta Gambarini, Luciana Souza and Tierney Sutton--with Randy Crawford joining from the senior generation. Also, kudos to Vince Mendoza for his THREE nominations in the best instrumental arrangement tiers for work on three different projects.
If The Recording Academy had a category for best humorous song title, Paquito d'Rivera would be a shoo-in. D'Rivera is nominated in the best instrumental composition category for his tune “Borat in Syracuse" from his CD Jazz-Clazz.
The Grammy Awards will be bestowed January 31 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
