“It's great to see all of these talented artists recognized by the academy," says Bob Duskis, president and co-founder of Six Degrees Records. “We are proud of all of them and of our staff's amazing efforts to promote them this year"
Bebel Gilberto's highly anticipated third album, Momento, presented some of her most elegant and personal musical statements since bursting on the scene in 2000, when her GRAMMY nominated debut album Tanto Tempo took the world by storm and conquered audiences worldwide. Momento debuted at #4 on the Billboard World Music charts and in the Billboard Top 200 Charts. The album draws on the graceful, low-key electronica of Tanto Tempo and the enchanting, acoustic simplicity of her second self-titled album. Press accolades quickly came in, stating her album as “Intoxicating, as sweet and soft and sultry as summer twilight" by USA Today, while Parade magazine claimed “Bebel Gilberto blends traditional Brazilian rhythms with fresh electronica for a sound as complex and sweet as a caipirinha."
In April 2007, Brazilian newcomer CU (pronounced 'Cell' with a soft 'L') released her self-titled debut album in the US as the first international artist on Starbucks' Hear Music Debut Series. Her album was received with critical praise from NPR's Morning Edition, The Associated Press, Reuters, and many more, hailing her as “...a fresh new face in the Brazilian music scene." Her album has sound scanned over 85,000 copies to date, making her the biggest selling Brazilian artist of 2007. CU reached unprecedented chart numbers for a Brazilian female artist - #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers (New Artist) Chart, #57 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard's World Music charts (cracking the nearly two-year domination of Celtic Women). This is her first GRAMMY nomination.
Since their arrival in 2000, Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO) has established itself as a standard bearer of contemporary Latin music. Directed by world-renowned pianist, arranger, and producer Oscar Hernndez, the thirteen-member all-star ensemble has reintroduced the classic sounds of New York City Salsa to music lovers worldwide. United We Swing, SHO's third album, is a stunning follow-up to their 2004 GRAMMY award-winning album Across 110th St., and their 2002 GRAMMY nominated debut, Un Gran Da En El Barrio. On United We Swing, SHO continues in the same classic-meets-contemporary sound, but with refreshing originality. Nine of the songs are original compositions grounded in the unique identity the band has forged based on the musical legacy of El Barrio."
The 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards are scheduled to air live from Los Angeles' Staples Center on Sunday, February 10 at 8PM ET/PT on CBS.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
