Written by The nominations for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards have just been announced. This years nominations in the Jazz Category includes a few surprises.
Thana Alexa’s album “Ona” receives two nominations, one for best Jazz Vocal album and a nomination for violinist Regina Carter for Best Improvised Jazz Solo “Pachamama” from the same album. On a side note, It’s great to see an independent production getting some attention. Also a well deserved nomination in the best Jazz Vocal album category goes to Kurt Elling’s release on Edition Records “Secrets Are The Best Stories”. In the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category congratulations go out to Blue Note records with two nominations, Ambrose Akinmusire for “On The Tender Spot Of Every Calloused Moment” and a nice surprise with Gerald Clayton’s “Happening: Live At The Village Vanguard”
We’re thrilled to see both Maria Schneider and Orin Evans nominated in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category. Maria gained the nomination for her latest release “Data Lords” on Artists Share Records and a nomination for Best Instrumental Composition” for “Sputnik” from the same album. Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band also nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for his release “The Intangible Between” on Smoke Editions. We’re also pleased to see the Frankfurt Radio Big Band gain a nomination in the Best Jazz Vocal Album for their release with vocalist Somi titled “Holy Room”. The album is arranged and conducted by John Beasley who also receives a nomination for his “Monk’estra Plays John Beasley” album in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category.
Below is the complete list of Nominations in the Jazz category.
31. Best Improvised Jazz 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.
GUINEVERE
Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, soloist
Track from: Axiom
PACHAMAMA
Regina Carter, soloist
Track from: Ona (Thana Alexa)
CELIA
Gerald Clayton, soloist
ALL BLUES
Chick Corea, soloist
Track from: Trilogy 2 (Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade)
MOE HONK
Joshua Redman, soloist
Track from: RoundAgain (Redman Mehldau McBride Blade)
32. Best Jazz Vocal Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal jazz recordings.
ONA
Thana Alexa
SECRETS ARE THE BEST STORIES
Kurt Elling Featuring Danilo Pérez
MODERN ANCESTORS
Carmen Lundy
HOLY ROOM: LIVE AT ALTE OPER
Somi With Frankfurt Radio Big Band
WHAT’S THE HURRY
Kenny Washington
33. Best Jazz Instrumental Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new instrumental jazz recordings.
ON THE TENDER SPOT OF EVERY CALLOUSED MOMENT
Ambrose Akinmusire
WAITING GAME
Terri Lyne Carrington And Social Science
HAPPENING: LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD
Gerald Clayton
TRILOGY 2
Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade
ROUNDAGAIN
Redman Mehldau McBride Blade
34. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new ensemble jazz recordings.
DIALOGUES ON RACE
Gregg August
MONK’ESTRA PLAYS JOHN BEASLEY
John Beasley
THE INTANGIBLE BETWEEN
Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band
SONGS YOU LIKE A LOT
John Hollenbeck With Theo Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, Gary Versace And The Frankfurt Radio Big Band
DATA LORDS
Maria Schneider Orchestra
35. Best Latin Jazz Album
For vocal or instrumental albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material. The intent of this category is to recognize recordings that represent the blending of jazz with Latin, Iberian-American, Brazilian, and Argentinian tango music.
TRADICIONES
Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra
FOUR QUESTIONS
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
CITY OF DREAMS
Chico Pinheiro
VIENTO Y TIEMPO – LIVE AT BLUE NOTE TOKYO
Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Aymée Nuviola
TRANE’S DELIGHT
Poncho Sanchez
Last modified: November 25, 2020
