The Jazz Grammy Nominations

Chomping at the bit for the jazz musicians and vocalists -- more new artists than I've seen nominated for many years:

Category 45

Best Contemporary Jazz Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

* Party Hats
Will Bernard
[Palmetto Records]

* Downright Upright
Brian Bromberg
[Artistry Music]

* Re-imagination
Eldar
[Masterworks Jazz]

* River: The Joni Letters
Herbie Hancock
[Verve]

* He Had A Hat
Jeff Lorber
[Blue Note]




Category 46

Best Jazz Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

* Avant Gershwin
Patti Austin
[Rendezvous Entertainment]

* Red Earth - A Malian Journey
Dee Dee Bridgewater
[DDB/Emarcy]

* Music Maestro Please
Freddy Cole
[HighNote Records]

* Nightmoves
Kurt Elling
[Concord Jazz]

* On The Other Side
Tierney Sutton (Band)
[Telarc 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.)

* Levees
Terence Blanchard, soloist
Track from: A Tale Of God's Will (A Requiem For Katrina)
[Blue Note]

* Anagram
Michael Brecker, soloist
Track from: Pilgrimage
[Heads Up International]

* Both Sides Now
Herbie Hancock, soloist
Track from: River: The Joni Letters
[Verve]

* Lullaby
Hank Jones, soloist
Track from: Kids: Live At Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (Joe Lovano and Hank Jones)
[Blue Note]

* 1000 Kilometers
Paul McCandless, soloist
Track from: 1000 Kilometers (Oregon)
[CamJazz]




Category 48

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

* Pilgrimage
Michael Brecker
[Heads Up International]

* Live At The Village Vanguard
The Bill Charlap Trio
[Blue Note]

* Kids: Live At Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola
Joe Lovano And Hank Jones
[Blue Note]

* Line By Line
John Patitucci
[Concord Jazz]

* Back East
Joshua Redman
[Nonesuch Records]




Category 49

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
(For large jazz ensembles, including big band sounds. Albums must contain 51% or more INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

* A Tale Of God's Will (A Requiem For Katrina)
Terence Blanchard
[Blue Note]

* Eternal Licks & Grooves
The Bob Florence Limited Edition
[MAMA Records]

* Hommage
The Bill Holman Band
[Jazzed Media]

* Sky Blue
Maria Schneider Orchestra
[ArtistShare]

* With Love
Charles Tolliver Big Band
[Blue Note]




Category 50

Best Latin Jazz Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Funk Tango
Paquito D'Rivera Quintet?
[Paquito Records]

* The Magician
Sammy Figueroa And His Latin Jazz Explosion
[Savant Records]

* Borrowed Time (TIEMPO PRESTADO)
Steve Khan
[Tone Center Records]

* Refugee
Hector Martignon
[Zoho]

* Big Band Urban Folktales
Bobby Sanabria Big Band
[Jazzheads]