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[MoreWatts]

The Yellowjackets consecutive Grammy nominations was discussed above, and their collaborators from last year, the WDR Big Band, garnered another nomination this year, as well. The band partnered with drummer Steve Gadd, bari sax player Ronnie Cuber (RIP), and bassist Eddie Gomez on the album Center Stage, and earned a 2023 Grammy Award nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. FYI, Eddie Gomez was the long time bassist for piano legend Bill Evans, and Steve Gadd is a legendary session drummer.

The videos are acoupla album tunes performed in-studio, and I posted another one, in November, here. YouTube and Spotify links to the full album follow. Please enjoy another fine jazz nominee from the recent Grammy Awards.

Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, Ronnie Cuber and the WDR Big Band, Center Stage, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

From AllAboutJazz.com: "After a lengthy hiatus, Flora Purim obliges with If You Will, the Brazilian's first studio album since 2005. Released to coincide with her 80th birthday, If You Will is a somewhat nostalgic celebration that polishes a few old gems from a recording career that began in 1964. The production values are excellent, as are the performances from Purim and the trusted collaborators with whom she surrounds herself...It is a fine testament to a unique figure in contemporary Brazilian music."

A successful comeback indeed, as the album was nominated for a 2023 Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album. This is her ~25th album as a leader. FYI, she was huge in the 1960-80s, when jazz still sold, is known for collaborations with percussionist Airto, and was an original member of Chick Corea's Return To Forever.

The video is from 1969, with Stan Getz on tenor, Stanley Cowell on piano, Miroslav Vitous on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums. And Flora plays guitar, too. YouTube and Spotify links follow. Please enjoy another 2023 Jazz Grammy nominee.

Flora Purim, If You Will, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album is another Grammy category that is frequented by jazz artists, with what sounds a lot like jazz fusion, to me, at least. Saxophonist Jeff Coffin's release Between Dreaming and Joy earned a 2023 nomination in the category. From JazzBluesNews.com "The album is anchored in spontaneity, and captures Coffin’s inclination to transcend genre. The record is sustained by a variety of instrumentation and features a collection of all-star collaborators, blending fierce and calm."

Jeff Coffin is a member of the Dave Matthews Band, spent 14 years, and won 3 Grammy Awards, with the genre-defying Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, and has released 15+ solo albums. I couldn't find vids from the album, so here's 2 to just showcase his talent and diversity. YouTube and Spotify links to the full album follow. Please enjoy another wonderful album nominated for a 2023 instrumental Grammy.

Jeff Coffin, Between Dreaming and Joy, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[DarrylG]

Don Byron- "Wondering Where"

 

[MoreWatts]

Jazz guitarist Grant Geissman's recent album Blooz earned a 2023 Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. From AllAboutJazz.com: "Turn the volume up and a blues party comes your way... Geissman, a celebrated veteran player and composer, has assembled an all-star lineup to accompany him on his journey through the blues, funky, cool, and otherwise. You could not do much better, if at all." Randy Brecker, Tom Scott & Robben Ford appear, for that fusion vibe.

This is his 16th album release, with 2 at the top of the jazz charts. He's been active since the 70s, was in Chuck Mangione's band when he was huge, did the music for 2 1/2 Men, Mike & Molly and countless other TV and film jobs. And here's a cool thing from his bio: "Apart from his musical career, Geissman is one of the country's largest collectors of MAD Magazine memorabalia, and has authored a definitive book on the subject: Collectibly MAD (Kitchen Sink Press, 1995)."

First is the official album video, then a nice acoustic guitar, jazz fusion tune, from 1998. YouTube and Spotify links to the full album follow. Please enjoy another really nice, instrumental, jazzy Grammy nominee.

Grant Geissman, Blooz, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Joe Smith]

This is a lovely set that I found today after listening to the recommended new WDR Big Band "Center Stage" album. (Steve Gadd plays on both.) Thanks for all the posts above, MoreWatts!

Trio in Tokyo (1997)

 

[DarrylG]

 

[MoreWatts]

Pianist/keyboardist Brad Mehldau has referenced his youthful influences recently. His new 2023 release is a Beatles cover album, Your Mother Should Know, and was recommended above by @Ralph_Cramden. His 2022 release, Jacob's Ladder, was something completely different, and was nominated for a 2023 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. The album is an homage to Progressive Rock, with 2 Rush covers (one with Chris Thile!) a tribute to Gentle Giant, with plenty of Yes and King Crimson sounds interwoven.

I had to check. I have ~65 CD/LP/cass/DVD/VHS units from the 4 mentioned proggers. Musta been youthful influences on me, too. Mother warned me this might lead to jazz...

Mehldau has been active since the 90s, has released over 30 albums as leader, won a Grammy and has now been nominated 7 more times. Brad had 2 Grammy nominations this year, the other for his collaboration with Joshua Redman, and others, on LongGone, which was recommended here.

The official album videos were nothing special, so here's a duet with mandolinist Chris Thile (they did an album together in 2017), and then a solo piano Beatles tune not on the new album. The album isn't as quiet as the vids, fyi. YouTube and Spotify links to the nominated album follow, as well as links to the new album. Please enjoy another recent instrumental Grammy nomination.

Brad Mehldau, Jacob's Ladder, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

Brad Mehldau, Your Mother Should Know, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[DanielT]

Thanks to Rick Beato I discovered this song. Really good I must say.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

From AllAboutJazz.com: "The Spanish Harlem Orchestra's 8th album, Imagenes Latinas, celebrates the band's second decade, and racks up a 2023 Grammy nomination, after 3 previous wins. Led by pianist and composer Oscar Hernandez [his 2022 album, Vision, was recommended here], the big band is one of the most acclaimed voices in Latin jazz...The intricate orchestral dynamics do not affect its feverish rhythmic strength, which characterizes the eleven pieces in the repertoire." The album was nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album, and is basically a nice, Latin jazz, big band album.

The official album vids weren't great, so here is just a nice live performance. YouTube and Spotify links to the full album follow. Please enjoy another fine, jazzy nomination, from the recent Grammy Awards.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Imagnes Latinas, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[MoreWatts]

The 2023 Grammy Award for Best Music Film went to Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story, a videolog from the 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. It's a bit of concert footage, interspersed with segments on general N.O. history, Hurrican Katrina history, a N.O. food segment, and artist stories. Since it's a Jazz Fest, the highlighted artists are Katy Perry, Jimmy Buffett and Bruce Springsteen, of course.

A review gave the general impression of too much talk and not enough music, although the concert sound was excellent. However, since it had the word jazz in the title, I figured I'd let folks know about it. I haven't seen it, and as of now you gotta rent it or buy it (Prime, YouTube, Apple, etc), with a BR/DVD available.

The first video is Katy Perry with a gospel choir, which must be the official video. The credits on IMDB list Trombone Shorty, so the 2nd video is him jammin' for the Obamas at the White House, just because it's nice. A link to a YouTube playlist of the 8 promo videos by Sony Music follows. Please enjoy some Katy and Shorty, and maybe check out the Grammy music film winner.

Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story, Sony Music promotional videos (8): YouTube video playlist.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[DarrylG]

 

[MoreWatts]

Since drummer Terri Lyne Carrington is mentioned above, might as well tellya she won the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, for New Standards, Vol. 1. Said Jazztimes: "What’s that they say about women having to work twice as hard? For the conceit of New Standards—compositions by women from all across the jazz spectrum—to fly, the material couldn’t be any less than stellar. It delivers in spades. But so do Carrington, her core quintet, and the myriad special guests who give transcendent treatments to works by 4 women composers."

Carrington played on the Wayne Shorter Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival album, recommended here, for another 2023 Grammy nomination. She has released 12 albums since 1981, and this is her 3rd Grammy win, and 2 nominations. In 2014, she was the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, for Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue.

Can't get any more standard than Stan Getz, so in the 1st video Terri inter-plays with him, in a real corker. The 2nd video is a funky tune from her 2015 The Mosaic Project: LOVE and SOUL album, which won a 2011 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. YouTube and Spotify links to the 3 mentioned albums follow. Please enjoy the album that won this year's Best Jazz Instrumental Album Grammy.

Terri Lyne Carrington, New Standards, Vol. 1, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

Terri Lyne Carrington, Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

Terri Lyne Carrington, The Mosaic Project: LOVE and SOUL, full album: YouTube link. Spotify link.

 

[DarrylG]