So many categories, so many shiny gold statues to be distributed! The Grammy award nominees have been announced, with Michael Daugherty’s Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina (Naxos) disc picking up six nominations and Steven Mackey’s Dreamhouse snagging three.
In the “Best Classical Contemporary Composition” category (given to a “contemporary classical composition composed within the last 25 years, and released for the first time during the eligibility year”), the nominees are:
* Daugherty: Deus Ex Machina (Naxos)
* Hans Werner Henze: Appassionatamente Plus (Cybele Records)
* Magnus Lindberg: Graffiti (Ondine)
* Arvo Pärt: Symphony No. 4 (ECM New Series)
* Rodion Shchedrin: The Enchanted Wanderer (Mariinsky)
In the “Best Instrumental Composition” category (“composer’s award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the eligibility year. Singles or tracks only.”), the ArtistShare label makes an impressive stand. The nominees are:
* Patrick Williams: Aurora (ArtistShare)
* Gerald Clayton: Battle Circle (ArtistShare)
* Tim Hagans: Box Of Cannoli (Fuzzy Music)
* Bill Cunliffe: Fourth Stream...La Banda (Boyer College Of Music And Dance)
* Billy Childs: The Path Among The Trees (ArtistShare)
There are 109 categories and many more nominees, including Esperanza Spalding (the sole jazzer nominated for Best New Artist), Darcy James Argue (whose debut album with his big band, Secret Society is in the running for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album), Vijay Iyer (whose trio recording Historicity has been put forward for Best Jazz Instrumental Album), and Keith Jarrett (whose solo on “Body and Soul,” from the album Jasmine, is up for Best Improvised Jazz Solo—you can listen to it here). You can check out the entire listing on the official Grammy site.