Usually I drop this list of jazz (and jazz-related) nominees, on the day of the nominations but we’re still about a month from the awards, so I figured I still had some time.
Interesting mix this year of nominees; some usual suspects and some first-timers. I will be dropping my thoughts and predictions for each category, periodically, over the next few weeks, leading up to the ceremony on Sunday, February 10.
The nominees are:
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.
SOME OF THAT SUNSHINE
Regina Carter, soloist
Track from: Some Of That Sunshine (Karrin Allyson)
DON’T FENCE ME IN
John Daversa, soloist
Track from: American Dreamers: Voices Of Hope, Music Of Freedom (John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists)
WE SEE
Fred Hersch, soloists
DE-DAH
Brad Mehldau, soloist
Track from: Seymour Reads The Constitution! (Brad Mehldau Trio)
CADENAS
Miguel Zenón, soloist
Track from: Yo Soy La Tradición (Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet)
Best Jazz Vocal Album
MY MOOD IS YOU
Freddy Cole
THE QUESTIONS
Kurt Elling
THE SUBJECT TONIGHT IS LOVE
Kate McGarry, Keith Ganz, Gary Versace
IF YOU REALLY WANT
Raul Midón With The Metropole Orkest Conducted By Vince Mendoza
THE WINDOW
Cécile McLorin Salvant
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
DIAMOND CUT
Tia Fuller
LIVE IN EUROPE
Fred Hersch Trio
SEYMOUR READS THE CONSTITUTION!
Brad Mehldau Trio
STILL DREAMING
Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade
EMANON
The Wayne Shorter Quartet
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
ALL ABOUT THAT BASIE
The Count Basie Orchestra Directed By Scotty Barnhart
AMERICAN DREAMERS: VOICES OF HOPE, MUSIC OF FREEDOM
John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists
PRESENCE
Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band
ALL CAN WORK
John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
BAREFOOT DANCES AND OTHER VISIONS
Jim McNeely & The Frankfurt Radio Big Band
Best Latin Jazz Album
The intent of this category is to recognize recordings that represent the blending of jazz with Latin, Iberian-American, Brazilian, and Argentinian tango music.
HEART OF BRAZIL
Eddie Daniels
BACK TO THE SUNSET
Dafnis Prieto Big Band
WEST SIDE STORY REIMAGINED
Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band
CINQUE
Elio Villafranca
YO SOY LA TRADICIÓN
Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
(aka Best Contemporary Jazz Album)
THE EMANCIPATION PROCRASTINATION
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
STEVE GADD BAND
Steve Gadd Band
MODERN LORE
Julian Lage
LAID BLACK
Marcus Miller
PROTOCOL 4
Simon Phillips
Best Instrumental Composition
A Composer’s Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year. Singles or Tracks only.
BLUT UND BODEN (BLOOD AND SOIL)
Terence Blanchard, composer (Terence Blanchard)
CHRYSALIS
Jeremy Kittel, composer (Kittel & Co.)
INFINITY WAR
Alan Silverstri, composer (Alan Silvestri)
MINE MISSION
John Powell & John Williams, composers (John Powell & John Williams)
THE SHAPE OF WATER
Alexandre Desplat, composer (Alexandre Desplat)
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
An Arranger’s Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
BATMAN THEME (TV)
Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson, arrangers (Randy Waldman Featuring Wynton Marsalis)
CHANGE THE WORLD
Mark Kibble, arranger (Take 6)
MADRID FINALE
John Powell, arranger (John Powell)
THE SHAPE OF WATER
Alexandre Desplat, arranger (Alexandre Desplat)
STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER
John Daversa, arranger (John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists)
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
An Arranger’s Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR
Matt Rollings & Kristin Wilkinson, arrangers (Willie Nelson)
JOLENE
Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis, arrangers (Dan Pugach)
MONA LISA
Vince Mendoza, arranger (Gregory Porter)
NIÑA
Gonzalo Grau, arranger (Magos Herrera & Brooklyn Rider)
SPIDERMAN THEME
Mark Kibble, Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson, arrangers (Randy Waldman Featuring Take 6 & Chris Potter)
Curt's Jazz Cafe 