Below are the nominees for the jazz categories, please check the website for a full listing of nominations.
Honorable Mentions:
Trumpeter, Christian Scott has been nominated. His debut CD, Rewind That, is quite good and one that I would suggest you consider getting your hands on. Christian, now 22 years old, hails from a musical New Orleans family, he has been playing with his uncle, saxophonist, Donald Harrison, since he was about 13 years of age. In his CD you hear all of his many musical influences from Rock to Jazz.
Another mention goes to pianist, Gerald Clayton, son of John Clayton, nephew of Jeff Clayton, who plays one tune on Roberta Gambarini’s nominated CD, Easy to Love. When you listen to his solo, on that tune, you will also hear lots of musical history coming from Gerald. Now touring with Roy Hargrove and other notables. Second place winner of the Thelonious Monk Competition this year, Gerald is one to watch. Like Christian, I have known 21-year-old Gerald, eight years and have watched them grow up.
It may seem as though this years jazz nominations is a Clayton Fest. Bassist John and reed man, Jeff Clayton co lead, with Jeff Hamilton, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO). You can hear them perform with Diana Krall on her new CD, From This Moment On, AND, with Nancy Wilson on her nominated new release, Turned to Blue. You can learn more about Jeff Clayton and Chann Berry in my second book, How To Grow As A Musician: What All Musicians Must Know to Succeed. Congratulation to Chann for having his song, “These Golden Years” featured on Ms. Wilson’s release as well.
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)
* The Hidden Land
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
[Columbia]
* People People Music Music
Groove Collective
[Savoy Jazz Worldwide]
* Rewind That
Christian Scott
[Concord Jazz]
* Sexotica
Sex Mob
[Thirsty Ear Recordings, Inc.]
* Who Let The Cats Out?
Mike Stern
[Heads Up]
Category 46
Best Jazz Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
* Footprints
Karrin Allyson
[Concord Jazz]
* Easy To Love
Roberta Gambarini
[Groovin' High/Kindred Rhythm]
* Live At Jazz Standard With Fred Hersch
Nancy King
[Maxjazz]
* From This Moment On
Diana Krall
[Verve]
* Turned To Blue
Nancy Wilson
[MCG Jazz]
Category 47
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
(For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter's name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.)
* Some Skunk Funk
Michael Brecker, soloist
Track from: Some Skunk Funk (Randy Brecker w/Michael Brecker)
[Telarc Jazz/BHM]
* Paq Man
Paquito D'Rivera, soloist
Track from: From The Heart (Hilario Duran And His Latin Jazz Big Band)
[Alma Records]
* Freedom Jazz Dance
Taylor Eigsti, soloist
Track from: Lucky To Be Me
[Concord Jazz]
* Hippidy Hop (Drum Solo)
Roy Haynes, soloist
Track from: Whereas
[Dreyfus Jazz]
* Hope
Branford Marsalis, soloist
Track from: Braggtown
[Marsalis Music/Rounder]
Category 48
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)
* Sound Grammar
Ornette Coleman
[Sound Grammar]
* The Ultimate Adventure
Chick Corea
[Stretch Records]
* Trio Beyond — Saudades
Jack DeJohnette, Larry Goldings & John Scofield
[ECM]
* Beyond The Wall
Kenny Garrett
[Nonesuch]
* Sonny, Please
Sonny Rollins
[Doxy Records]
Category 49
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
(For large jazz ensembles, including big band sounds. Albums must contain 51% or more INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)
* Some Skunk Funk
Randy Brecker With Michael Brecker, Jim Beard, Will Lee, Peter Erskine, Marcio Doctor & Vince Mendoza conducting The WDR Big Band Köln
[Telarc Jazz/BHM]
* Spirit Music
Bob Brookmeyer — New Art Orchestra
[ArtistShare]
* Streams Of Expression
Joe Lovano Ensemble
[Blue Note Records]
* Live In Tokyo At The Blue Note
Mingus Big Band
[Sunnyside/Sue Mingus Music]
* Up From The Skies — Music Of Jim McNeely
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
[Planet Arts Recordings]
Category 50
Best Latin Jazz Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
* Codes
Ignacio Berroa
[Blue Note Records]
* Cubist Music
Edsel Gomez
[Zoho]
* Simpático
The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project
[ArtistShare]
* Absolute Quintet
Dafnis Prieto
[Zoho]
* Viva
Diego Urcola, Edward Simon, Avishai Cohen, Antonio Sanchez & Pernell Saturnino
[CAM Jazz]
