60th GRAMMY Awards Jazz Field Nominees

(l-r) Fred Hersch, Christian McBride, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jane Bunnett, Jazzmeia Horn

 

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2018 GRAMMYs: 9 Things To Know About The Jazz Field Nominees

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From first-time nominees and decorated Canadians to potential jazz soloist history and husband-and-wife duos, dig deeper into the Jazz Field nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Nov 30, 2017 - 3:45 pm

Jazz and Music's Biggest Night form a combo that goes all the way back to the inaugural GRAMMY Awards, when Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald picked up wins.

The rich lineage of GRAMMY-winning jazz artists has since included the likes of Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Esperanza Spalding, and Gregory Porter, to name a few.

Today, the Jazz Field spans five categories — Best Improvised Jazz Solo, Best Jazz Vocal Album, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, and Best Latin Jazz Album.

Leading the 60th GRAMMY Awards Jazz Field are pianist Fred Hersch and saxophonist Chris Potter, with two nominations each.

Learn more about this year's Jazz Field with nine interesting tidbits about the nominees. 

1. First-Time Nominees In The Mix

Notching their first respective GRAMMY nominations this year are violinist Sara Caswell, the Baylor Project's Jean Baylor, Dallas native Jazzmeia Horn, and New Mexico's Raul Midón. Caswell is up for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Can't Remember Why." The Baylor Project, Horn and Midón are vying for Best Jazz Vocal Album for The Journey, A Social Call and Bad Ass And Blind, respectively.

Also drawing first-time nominations are Brazilian Antonio Adolfo (Hybrido — From Rio To Wayne Shorter), clarinet/guitar duo Anat Cohen & Marcello Gonçalves (Outra Cosa — The Music Of Moacir Santos) and Pablo Ziegler Trio (Jazz Tango), who are each nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album.

2. Fred Hersch's Dozen

With 10 prior GRAMMY nominations to his credit, Fred Hersch's two current nods for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Whisper Not" and Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Open Book represent his 11th and 12th career nominations. The Cincinnati-born pianist was first nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual Or Group for "Dancing In The Dark" at the 36th GRAMMY Awards. Will Hersch land his first career GRAMMY this year?

3. Christian McBride, Vince Mendoza: Top Winners

Bassist Christian McBride and composer Vince Mendoza & WDR Big Band Cologne are among the nominees for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for Bringin' It and Homecoming, respectively. The veterans are the top decorated winners in the Jazz Field, with each having five prior GRAMMY wins. Mendoza has another shot for his sixth (and potential seventh) GRAMMY with a nomination for Best Instrumental Composition in the Composing/Arranging Field.

4. 70 Is The New 40

A couple of respected septuagenarians have landed 60th GRAMMY nominations. At 77 years old, jazz singer Nancy King is up for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Porter Plays Porter with the Randy Porter Trio, marking her second career nomination. Turning 76 in January, guitar virtuoso John McLaughlin and his band, the 4th Dimension, are in the running for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Miles Beyond," a track from his 2017 album, Live @ Ronnie Scott's.

5. The Baylor Project: A Musical "Marriage"

Jean Baylor (vocalist) and Marcus Baylor (drums) are not only musical partners, they are husband and wife. Born in New Jersey, first-time nominee Jean Baylor studied vocal performance at Temple University where she formed the '90s R&B duo Zhané with classmate Renée Neufville. Meanwhile, three-time past GRAMMY nominee Marcus Baylor is a former member of GRAMMY winners the Yellowjackets. Up for Best Jazz Vocal Album, The Journey marks the Baylor Project's debut album.

6. Sara Caswell's Bid To Make History

At 39, Caswell is this year's youngest nominee for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. The Indiana-born violinist is vying to become the first female in GRAMMY history to win this category, which dates back to the 15th GRAMMY Awards. Caswell is a former member of Best New Artist winner Esperanza Spalding's Chamber Music Society ensemble.

7. Cécile McLorin Salvant's Streak

With a current nomination for her third studio album, Dreams And Daggers, Cécile McLorin Salvant has scored Best Jazz Vocal Album GRAMMY nominations for each of her first three career studio albums. Her debut was nominated at the 56th GRAMMY Awards and her sophomore effort, For One To Love, took the prize at the 58th GRAMMY Awards.

8. Miles In Common

What do Joey DeFrancesco, John Beasley and John McLaughlin have in common? Each has a tie to the legendary Miles Davis. Organist DeFrancesco was asked to join Davis' touring band at age 17 and he recorded on his 1989 album, Amandla. Pianist Beasley started playing live with Davis in the late '80s. McLaughlin recorded multiple albums with Davis, including 1969's Bitches Brew (GRAMMY Hall Of Fame, 1999).

9. Canada's High Jazz Civilian Jane Bunnett

Afro-Cuban jazz saxophonist, flautist and bandleader Jane Bunnett will celebrate 30 years since her debut album, 1988's In Dew Time, in 2018. Her current nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album for Oddara marks her third career nod. In 2004 the Torontonian was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, the highest civilian honor given in The Great White North.

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

60th GRAMMY Nominees By Region
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Kendrick Lamar To Jay-Z: 2018 GRAMMY Nominees By Region | L.A. To NYC

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From the West and Midwest to the South and Northeast, learn where 60 60th GRAMMY nominees were born in the United States
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Jan 12, 2018 - 4:45 pm

As far as the 60th GRAMMY Awards go, the compass is pointing east this year with the milestone telecast taking place at the venerable Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, Jan. 28.

But it goes without saying, when it comes to the hundreds of music creators who can call themselves 60th GRAMMY nominees, all signs point to disparate locations on the map.

There is, among others, Lorde, who is from Auckland, New Zealand; Ed Sheeran from England; Chronixx from Kingston, Jamaica; Antonio Sánchez from Mexico City; Juanes from Colombia; Petra Müllejans from Düsseldorf, Germany; and Dmitri Hvorostovsky from Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

And then there's the United States, with nominees hailing from Southern California all the way to Bedford, N.H.

For a different slice of the 60th GRAMMY nominees, we broke up a select group of 60 nominees according to their U.S. birthplace by region: West, Midwest, South, and Northeast. In each region you'll find 15 nominees, offering you a taste of the directional sense of how these nominees got from point A — home — to point B — Music's Biggest Night.

West

60th GRAMMY Nominees, West Region

Out West, a variety of nominees were born in California, including Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Tyler, The Creator, Warryn Campbell, Tina Campbell, Beck, Julian Lage, and Kehlani. Representing Las Vegas is Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds. India.Arie and Ben Glover hail from Colorado while Raul Midón is from the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico. Rounding out the region is a pair of Northwest entries: Natalie Grant from Seattle and Wynne from Portland, Ore.

Midwest

60th GRAMMY Nominees, Midwest

In the Midwest, SZA was born in St. Louis, the Gateway to the West. Oklahoma and Kansas are represented by country and classical royalty in Reba McEntire and Joyce DiDonato, respectively. Illinois, the Prairie State, counts Chicago native Common and Decatur native Alison Krauss as two of its own. Julia Michaels, now a Southern California resident, was born in Davenport, Iowa. The state of Indiana spawned the likes of Offa Rex's Chris Funk, comedian Jim Gaffigan and Bruno Mars collaborator Philip Lawrence. Ohio represents hard rock in the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and jazz with pianist Fred Hersch. Actor/filmmaker Mark Ruffalo calls Kenosha, Wis., his home, while gospel great CeCe Winans came up through the heart of Motown in Detroit. Two legends round out the region: the inimitable Bob Dylan from Minnesota and the late great Glen Campbell from Arkansas, which was once dubbed the Land of Opportunity.

South

60th GRAMMY Nominees, South Region

Starting in the South, in Texas we find jazz singer Jazzmeia Horn, "American Idol" alum Kelly Clarkson and master singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell. R&B songstress Ledisi and jazz pianist John Beasley call Louisiana home. "Cover Me Up" singer/songwriter Jason Isbell hails from Green Hill, Ala. Killer Mike and Khalid, a pair of rappers, represent the Peach State. Gospel singer Le'Andria was born in Palatka, Fla. August Burns Red's Jake Luhrs' hometown is Greenville, S.C. There are two Virginia natives — Chris Eldridge and Pharrell Williams. "Stay" singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb is from Bethesda, Md. Rapsody represents the Tar Heel State. Rounding out the region are Baltimore rapper 6LACK and Washington, D.C., funnyman Dave Chappelle.

Northeast

60th GRAMMY Nominees, Northeast Region

Up in the Northeast region, there is Jay-Z from Brooklyn, N.Y. Other New Yorkers include Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Gillian Welch, and Lana Del Rey. Producer/songwriter Jack Antonoff and the Boss, Bruce Springsteen, call New Jersey home. Representing the Keystone State are jazzers Joey DeFrancesco and Christine McBride, pop queen Pink, rapper Lil Uzi Vert and comedian Kevin Hart. Rounding out the region are Seth McFarlane, from Kent, Conn.; composer Adam Schoenberg: Northampton, Mass.; and comedienne Sarah Silverman from Bedford, N.H.

Raul Midón portrait

Raul Midón

Photo: Blair Allen

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Raul Midón Is Bad-A**, Blind & A 2018 GRAMMY Nominee

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Get to know the versatile singer/songwriter and find out about his reaction to the news of his GRAMMY nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jan 11, 2018 - 6:52 pm

The greatest musicians are superlative because they are authentic. They do their own thing. They take the elements of music, art and culture that move them and spin it all into something new, along the way developing an artistic vision that is unique and unwavering.

Meet The Nominees: Raul Midón | 60th GRAMMY Awards

Raul Midón certainly does things his own way.

Originally from the Land Of Enchantment — New Mexico — Midón began his remarkable career in the late '90s by cultivating his own recipe of jazz, rock, flamenco, and more into an experimental joy ride, which has seen him shred, pound, clap, and croon his way into a one-man-band.

His efforts landed him on "The Late Show With David Letterman" in 2006 in support of his major label debut album, State Of Mind. Eight studio albums later, Midón began work on the album that would earn him his first GRAMMY nomination, 2017's Bad A** And Blind, a project aptly named for its creator (and a title endorsed by soul singing legend Bill Withers) given the musically adept Midón has been blind since birth.

But Midón's inventiveness and tenacity have shaped his artistic vision that sees beyond the lines and notes of traditional music. And while his nod for Bad A** And Blind comes in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category, his music continues to resist the boundaries of classification and instead strives for something more simultaneously direct and universal.

"Like with all my records, this album is for those who are interested in going beyond notions of genre," Midón said. "It's for listeners with open ears, open minds, open hearts."

The drive to push beyond the notions of genre has led Midón down an experimental path, throwing harmony and melody into the blender and throwing the standard cookbook out the window, experimenting with various modes, psychedelic textures and adventurous techniques.

“As a listener, you don't need to know anything about the Phrygian or Dorian modes to get this music," Midón said. "It just sounds different, intriguing, exotic.”

The musical polymath shared with us that when he found out about his first career GRAMMY nomination, he was "in the basement working" when his wife called with the good news. Midón thought it was a mistake at first — but it was true. Nearly two decades into his career, his vision and dedication to his art have put him in the running for music's highest honor on Music's Biggest Night.

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Jazzmeia Horn portrait

Jazzmeia Horn

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Jazzmeia Horn: Past GRAMMY Choir Member Now A GRAMMY Nominee

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Rising jazz singer reacts to her 60th GRAMMY nomination and IDs which artist she's hoping to bump into on Music's Biggest Night
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Jan 18, 2018 - 10:33 am

Jazzmeia Horn is an artist to keep an eye — and ear — on.

Meet The Nominees: Jazzmeia Horn | 60th GRAMMYs

The Texas native has been dubbed a "singer to watch out for" and her GRAMMY-nominated debut album, 2017's A Social Call, was described as striking "a deft balance between mid-century jazz and contemporary neo-soul" by Downbeat Magazine.

Kendrick Lamar To Jay Z: 60th GRAMMY Nominees By Region

Horn's career has been on an impressive upward trajectory since she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2013. Two years later, she captured the top honor at the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition, which is widely considered an important boost to aspiring jazz artists. As a result of the Monk award, Horn earned a recording contract with Concord Music Group.

Going back even further, while she was in high school, Horn received a big career bump via her participation as a GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session choir member in 2009. As a member of the choir, Horn performed at various GRAMMY Week events surrounding the 51st GRAMMY Awards, including the MusiCares Person of the Year gala and the GRAMMY Celebration after-party.

Now, nearly a decade later, Horn has added another accolade to her résumé: 60th GRAMMY Awards nominee. Issued by Concord, A Social Call is in the running for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

"I started to scream and dance and I got really excited!" says Horn when she learned of the news. "Somebody came and knocked on the door, because I was in a hotel, and she said, 'Is everything OK? People are reporting there was screaming in the room.'"

Mixing vintage and contemporary jazz sounds, Horn's 10-track debut bobs and weaves gracefully through standards such as "I Remember You", anthems such as "Afro Blue" and even choice R&B sides previously interpreted by the likes of Mary J. Blige and the Stylistics, "I'm Going Down" and "People Make The World Go Round." And of course, Horn's sparkling soprano ties it all together.

Horn's prowess will be on display on GRAMMY Sunday as the 26-year-old is set to perform at the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony, which will announce GRAMMY winners in more than 70 categories.

Outside of her performance, Horn has one fellow 60th GRAMMY nominee she is hoping to meet.

"I hope I get to run into some of my [favorite artists at the GRAMMYs], someone like Ledisi."

60th GRAMMYs R&B Field Nominees

(l-r) Childish Gambino, Kehlani, PJ Morton, 6lack, Ledisi, Daniel Caesar

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2018 GRAMMYs: 7 Things To Know About The R&B Field Nominees

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From soulful mainstays to the fresh sounds of the future, dive into the R&B Field nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Dec 5, 2017 - 3:31 pm

The 60th GRAMMY Award nominations are marked by a surge of R&B in the major categories, with no less than two artists up for Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year and Best New Artist.

Best R&B Album Nominees | 60th GRAMMY Awards

This may not come as a surprise to the astute music fan, considering the elements of R&B formed the genesis of so many other musical genres including hip-hop, rock and roll, and modern pop.

Covering both traditional and contemporary sounds and styles, today's R&B Field recognizes artists and recordings in five categories: Best R&B Performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best Urban Contemporary Album, and Best R&B Album.

This year's class of nominees proudly represents the many varieties of R&B. Led by Childish Gambino, Ledisi and Bruno Mars with three nominations each, the R&B Field for the 60th GRAMMY Awards contains some of music's groundbreaking artists.

Dig into this year's R&B Field with these seven factual nuggets about the nominees.

1. Caesar's Arrival

First-time nominee Daniel Caesar earned not one but two GRAMMY nominations: Best R&B Performance for his hit "Get You" featuring Kali Uchis and Best R&B Album for his debut album, Freudian.

But the Canadian singer is no overnight success. Caesar released multiple popular EPs and singles before arriving with his full-length debut, proving that behind all great accomplishments lies an ample amount of hard work.

In 2014, Rolling Stone praised Caesar's 2014 EP, Praise Break, saying he "quavers, croons and grabs samples (Jeff Buckley, Pink Floyd, Casablanca dialogue), to evoke the coming-of-age clouding his head," adding that, "we're witnessing the dawn of an abiding talent."

Three years and two GRAMMY nominations later, the Toronto phenom seems ready to step into his rightful spot on the shortlist of today's top R&B artists.

2. Veterans Get Their Due Recognition

In a genre very much alive with fresh emerging talent like five-time nominees Khalid and SZA, the R&B field is also stacked with genre mainstays like Anthony Hamilton, Ledisi and Musiq Soulchild.

All three have been nominated in the past, but only Hamilton has taken home GRAMMY gold so far. This year the North Carolina native goes for his second career win in the Best Traditional R&B Performance category with a nomination for "What I'm Feelin'" featuring the Hamiltones.

Ledisi has two chances to score her first GRAMMY win: She's up for Best R&B Performance for "High" and for Best Traditional R&B Performance for "All The Way."

Musiq Soulchild earned a nod for Best R&B Album for Feel The Real, his sprawling 100-minute, 24-song double album that features contributions from the likes of Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Eight studio albums and nearly two decades into his career, the Philly-born singer is still upping his game, as this album and nomination clearly show.

3. Childish Gambino "Awakens" A New Sound

Described by most as an actor/rapper since his first musical release back in 2011, Camp, Donald Glover — aka Childish Gambino — finds himself firmly planted in the R&B Field this time around.

His electrifying, falsetto-heavy 2016 album, "Awaken, My Love!," is up for Best Urban Contemporary Album and his hit single "Redbone" is in the running for Best R&B Song and Best Traditional R&B Performance, a reflection of the successful stylistic pivot his music has made.

"I like things that you're not expecting," Glover told Triple J Radio about his intentions in writing the album. "We play with pictures and sounds that affect people in ways they don't realize are happening until the fifth listen."

With nominations in major categories in tow, including Album Of The Year and Record Of The Year, Glover proves that his versatility truly knows no bounds.

4. PJ Morton Wears Many Hats

You might know his name from his GRAMMY-nominated song "Only One" featuring Stevie Wonder or from his role as keyboardist for pop/rock superstars Maroon 5, but PJ Morton has been a versatile member of R&B, rock and gospel music communities since the early 2000s.

PJ Morton Dishes On His Love For New Orleans

On his fourth solo album, Gumbo, which is up for Best R&B Album, Morton steps back up to the front of the stage and revisit his New Orleans roots. His elegant album opener, "First Began," is up for Best R&B Song, an exposition of Morton's influences and a testament to his writing and vocal chops.

"I wanted to say what I wanted to say and I thought that I didn't really want to have a corporation behind it this time," Morton told GRAMMY.com about the self-released Gumbo. "I've done that before, my previous solo record, and I just felt like I was clear on the vision on what I wanted this to be and felt like I could do it."

5. Introducing 6LACK

Atlanta's Ricardo Valentine — aka 6LACK (pronounced "Black") — burst onto the R&B radar this year with his debut album, FREE 6BLACK, collaborations with Jhené Aiko and an opening slot on tour with fellow 60th GRAMMY nominee The Weeknd and Rae Sremmurd.

While his GRAMMY nod for Best Urban Contemporary Album pits him against some stiff competition, the rising star is used to a good battle.

"Middle school is when I got super obsessed with battle rapping," 6LACK told GQ. "All day in school, if I wasn't doing my work, I would be battling in the cafeteria, on the track outside the gym, in the hallways."

6LACK's hard-won rap skills combined with his melodic instincts make him a major player in R&B's future.

6. Bruno Mars In Orbit

Bruno Mars' otherworldly success this year is topped off by six total GRAMMY nominations, placing him only behind rappers Jay-Z (eight) and Kendrick Lamar (seven).

Mars' blockbuster album 24K Magic and the celebrated single, "That's What I Like," make a strong statement for the modern crossover potential between R&B and pop — a mix that makes for an undeniable combination just as sure Mars' songs are catchy.

"It's very important that the world hears this album in its entirety," Mars said during a 2016 radio interview. "On this album, I really focused on giving you one continuous wave. As soon as you put this album on, you're going to be taken for a ride."

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In addition to big-time nods in Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, and Song Of The Year, Mars is up for Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance.

7. Kehlani And The Weeknd Return

Two years ago, at the 58th GRAMMY Awards, The Weeknd established himself as a pop powerhouse, earning seven nominations, the same amount as Taylor Swift, and second only to Kendrick Lamar's staggering 11 nominations.

That same year was also a breakthrough year for Oakland native Kehlani, as she garnered her first nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album for her wildfire sophomore mixtape, You Should Be Here, turning the heads of everyone in the R&B community and setting a new precedent for mixtapes.

This year, both artists are back with nominations in the R&B Field. The Weeknd's critically acclaimed — and chart-topping — Starboy is up for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Kehlani returns with a nod for Best R&B Performance for her sultry song "Distraction" from her debut album, SweetSexySavage.

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.