JAM Magazine: February/March 1999 Issue: Contemporary Jazz

by Jeff Charney

The Envelope, Please
The Grammy nominations are out and once again I find myself scratching my head and wondering, "How does this list come about?"

This year I decided to find out.

An organization called the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, made up of more than 13,000 musicians, producers and other recording professionals, is responsible for the Grammy awards. You may join the Academy in three separate categories: Voting, Associate and Affiliate. Voting members ( "...professionals with creative or technical credits on six commercially released tracks. These may include vocalists, producers, songwriters, composers, engineers, instrumentalists, arrangers, conductors, art directors, album notes writers, narrators, music video artists and technicians...") participate in the nominating process that determines the five finalists in each category. They also take part in the final voting process which determines the Grammy winners.

Voting members along with the record companies enter the recordings and videos. Reviewing sessions by more than 150 experts in various fields are held to ensure that entered recordings meet specific qualifications and have been placed in appropriate fields. These sessions do not judge, but make sure each entry is eligible and is placed in its proper category.

First round ballots are sent to voting members who return them to the independent accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche L.L.P. for tabulation. Members are directed to vote only in their fields of expertise (no more than nine of 22 fields on the ballot) plus four general categories (Record, Album, Song Of The Year and Best New Artist). Lists of the finalists are sent to voting members with their second round ballots. In this round members vote in the four general categories and in no more than eight of the 27 fields. (There are extra fields for specialized categories.) Ballots again are tabulated in utmost secrecy. Results of the voting are not known until the Grammy Awards presentation itself.

Now that we know how the Grammys work, congratulations to the nominees! The 41st Annual Grammy Awards will air Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7:00 p.m. on CBS. Here's the list of those jazz-oriented artists up for awards in 1999:

BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ PERFORMANCE -- George Duke, "After Hours;" Pat Metheny Group, "Imaginary Day;" Marcus Miller, "Live & More;" Yellowjackets, "Club Nocturne;" Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate, "World Tour."
BEST JAZZ VOCAL PERFORMANCE -- Kurt Elling, "This Time It's Love;" Nnenna Freelon, "Maiden Voyage;" Shirley Horn, "I Remember Miles;" Etta Jones, "My Buddy-Etta Jones Sings The Songs Of Buddy Johnson;" Dianne Reeves, "That Day..."
BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL SOLO (singles or tracks only) -- Kenny Barron, "For Heaven's Sake" (from "Night And The City"); Randy Brecker, "My Funny Valentine" (from "Thank You, Gerry! -- Gerry Mulligan All-Star Tribute Band"); Chick Corea & Gary Burton, "Rhumbata" (from "Native Sense - The New Duets"); Benny Golson, "Body and Soul" (from "Tenor Legacy"); David Liebman, "My Favorite Things" (from "Thank You John! Our Tribute to John Coltrane -- Arkadia Jazz All-Stars").
BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE, INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP (albums only) -- Chick Corea/Gary Burton, "Native Sense - The New Duets;" Charlie Haden/Kenny Barron, "Night And The City;" Herbie Hancock, "Gershwin's World;" Dave Holland Quintet, "Points Of View;" Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette, "Tokyo '96."
BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE -- Count Basie Orchestra/Grover Mitchell, Director, "Count Plays Duke;" John Faddis, "Remembrances;" Bill Holman & The Netherlands Metropole Orchestra, "Further Adventures;" Jim McNeely & The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, "Lickety Split - Music Of Jim McNeely;" The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, "Theme For Monterey."
BEST LATIN JAZZ PERFORMANCE -- Ray Barretto & New World Spirit, "Contact;" Paquito D'Rivera & The United Nation Orchestra, "Paquito D'Rivera & The United Nation Orchestra;" Danilo Perez, "Central Avenue;" David Sanchez, "Obsession;" Arturo Sandoval, "Hot House;" Chucho Valdes, "Bele Bele En La Habana."
BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION -- Bela Fleck, Future Man and Victor Wooten, "Almost 12;" Bob Mintzer, "Ellis Island;" Wynton Marsalis, "The Midnight Blues;" Gerald Wilson, "Romance;" Jorge Calandrelli and Astor Piazolla, "Tango Remembrances."
BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT -- Patrick Williams, "In The Still Of The Night;" Bill Holman, "Moon Of Manakoorah;" Don Sebesky, "Waltz For Debby;" Rob McConnell, "What Are You Doing New Years Eve?" Michel Legrand, "Where Or When."
BEST INSTRUMENTAL ACCOMPANYING VOCAL(S) -- Patrick Williams, "Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song);" Jeremy Lubbock, "I Believe/You Never Walk Alone;" George Duke, "The Look Of Love;" Rob Mounsey, "Nessun Dorma;" Herbie Hancock, "St. Louis Blues."

Other jazz-related artists receiving nominations:

POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE -- Pat Metheny Group, "Follow Me;" Kenny G, "My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From Titanic)."
BEST BOX RECORDING PACKAGE -- "The Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington Cote D'Azur Concerts;" "Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-1968."
ALBUM NOTES -- Charles Mingus, "Passions Of A Man - The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1956-1961;" "Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-1968."
HISTORICAL ALBUM -- "The Jazz Singers: A Smithsonian Collection Of Jazz Vocals 1919-1994."
LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO -- Various artists: "Robert Altman's Jazz '34: Remembrances Of Kansas City Swing."
ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE -- Pat Metheny Group, "The Roots Of Coincidence."

And How About Those Charts?
At the end of each year there are always all kinds of charts. And it's interesting to compare Billboard's 25 Best Selling Contemporary Jazz CDs with the radio airplay charts. Lets take a look at the top 10 of each for '98.

Billboard
1) Kenny G, "Greatest Hits"
2) Boney James, "Sweet Thing"
3) Fourplay, "4"
4) George Benson, "Standing Together"
5) Down To The Bone, "From Manhattan To Staten"
6) Jonathan Butler, "Do You Love Me?"
7) Pat Metheny Group, "Imaginary Day"
8) Candy Dulfer, "For The Love Of You"
9) Keiko Matsui, "Full Moon And The Shrine"
10) Kenny G, "The Moment"
Radio & Records
1) Boney James, "Sweet Thing"
2) Richard Elliot, "Jumpin' Off"
3) Chuck Loeb, "The Moon, the Stars & the Setting Sun"
4) George Benson, "Standing Together"
5) Brian Bromberg, "You Know That Feeling"
6) Down To The Bone, "From Manhattan To Staten"
7) Jonathan Butler, "Do You Love Me?"
8) Kenny G, "Greatest Hits"
9) Paul Hardcastle, "Cover To Cover"
10) Candy Dulfer, "For The Love Of You"
Gavin Report
1) Richard Elliot, "Jumpin' Off"
2) Boney James, "Sweet Thing"
3) Chuck Loeb, "The Moon, the Stars & the Setting Sun"
4) George Benson, "Standing Together"
5) Brian Bromberg, "You Know That Feeling"
6) Jonathan Butler, "Do You Love Me?"
7) Down To The Bone, "From Manhattan To Staten"
8) Kenny G, "Greatest Hits"
9) Brian Culbertson, "Secrets"
10) Paul Hardcastle, "Cover To Cover"

Note: Paul Hardcastle, Chuck Loeb, Brian Culbertson and Brian Bromberg didn't make the Top 25 Best Selling list; Fourplay was 20th in R&R and 21st in Gavin, Keiko Matsui was 19th in R&R and 23rd in Gavin, and the Pat Metheny Group didn't make R&R's Top 50 or Gavin's Top 100. Amazing! Kenny G's "The Moment" was released in 1996 and didn't qualify to make the radio lists.

Contemporary News & Notes
In the record company world Virgin Records (America) has acquired Higher Octave Music whose artists include Doug Cameron, Craig Chaquico, Brian Hughes and Bryan Savage. Under the agreement Higher Octave will operate independently and will benefit from Virgin Records' marketing umbrella that also oversees Narada, Domo and Real World.

Universal Music and Polygram Music have merged to form Universal Music Group (UMG) which, for the jazz world means that GRP Records and Verve Records will now be combined. The label (Verve/GRP) will be led by chairman Tommy LiPuma and president Ron Goldstein. People will lose jobs over this merger yet to be announced at this writing. GRP's first release won't be until April with the a new recording from Joe Sample who recently left Warner Brothers.

Kansas City, KS native Norman Brown will release his fourth CD in March on Warner Brothers. "Celebration" was produced by Paul Brown, Rick Braun and Boney James.

And another former KC resident (on the Missouri side), singer Debra Franco also has a new album coming out in March. "Language of Love" features Gerald Albright and is produced by Phillip Ingram.

This Just In:
Some big news on the personnel front. Renowned drummer Peter Erskine is replacing Will Kennedy in the Yellowjackets. Erskine will begin touring with the group in February.

And, with the signing of a new deal to DOMO/Virgin Records, percussionist Steve Reid has announced that he and Rippingtons co-partner Jeff Kashiwa will leave the Rippingtons permanently to pursue touring full time with Bamboo Forest. Steve's new CD "Passion In Paradise" will be released April 6; a 120 city domestic tour beginning April 9 will follow (a tour of Europe is set for July). Paul Taylor will replace Kashiwa in the Rippingtons.

R.I.P.
The acclaimed jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani, who waged a life long battle against a crippling disease that stunted his growth and made his bones dangerously brittle, died January 6 at 36. The French-born musician was being treated at Beth Israel Medical Center for a lung infection when he died, said his Paris agent, Bernard Ivain.

Petrucciani won a wide following with his technical mastery, skillful improvisation and sense of harmony. But because of osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder known as "glassbone disease," he lived a fragile existence. Because he was only 3 feet tall, his pianos had to be fitted with special pedal extensions. Often he had to be carried to and from the piano bench because his bones were so brittle.

A child prodigy schooled in classical music as well as jazz, Petrucciani made his professional debut at 13 at an outdoor jazz festival in France. He put out his first album, "Flash," when he was 16 and, in all, recorded more than a dozen albums. Petrucciani moved to the United States in 1981. He lived in Big Sur, California before moving to New York to form his own trio. He is survived by three sons.

Email Jeff Charney at jeffrey@tfs.net and visit his web site at www.kprs.com.

RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 1999 MAIN INDEX

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Jeff Charney The Envelope, Please The Grammy nominations are out and once again I find myself scratching my head and wondering, "How does this list come about?" This year I decided to find out. An organization called the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, made up of more than 13,000 musicians, producers and other recording professionals, is responsible for the Grammy awards. You may join the Academy in three separate categories: Voting, Associate and Affiliate. Voting members ( "...professionals with creative or technical credits on six commercially released tracks. These may include vocalists, producers, songwriters, composers, engineers, instrumentalists, arrangers, conductors, art directors, album notes writers, narrators, music video artists and technicians...") participate in the nominating process that determines the five finalists in each category. They also take part in the final voting process which determines the Grammy winners. Voting members along with the record companies enter the recordings and videos. Reviewing sessions by more than 150 experts in various fields are held to ensure that entered recordings meet specific qualifications and have been placed in appropriate fields. These sessions do not judge, but make sure each entry is eligible and is placed in its proper category. First round ballots are sent to voting members who return them to the independent accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche L.L.P. for tabulation. Members are directed to vote only in their fields of expertise (no more than nine of 22 fields on the ballot) plus four general categories (Record, Album, Song Of The Year and Best New Artist). Lists of the finalists are sent to voting members with their second round ballots. In this round members vote in the four general categories and in no more than eight of the 27 fields. (There are extra fields for specialized categories.) Ballots again are tabulated in utmost secrecy. Results of the voting are not known until the Grammy Awards presentation itself. Now that we know how the Grammys work, congratulations to the nominees! The 41st Annual Grammy Awards will air Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7:00 p.m. on CBS. Here's the list of those jazz-oriented artists up for awards in 1999: BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ PERFORMANCE -- George Duke, "After Hours;" Pat Metheny Group, "Imaginary Day;" Marcus Miller, "Live & More;" Yellowjackets, "Club Nocturne;" Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate, "World Tour." BEST JAZZ VOCAL PERFORMANCE -- Kurt Elling, "This Time It's Love;" Nnenna Freelon, "Maiden Voyage;" Shirley Horn, "I Remember Miles;" Etta Jones, "My Buddy-Etta Jones Sings The Songs Of Buddy Johnson;" Dianne Reeves, "That Day..." BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL SOLO (singles or tracks only) -- Kenny Barron, "For Heaven's Sake" (from "Night And The City"); Randy Brecker, "My Funny Valentine" (from "Thank You, Gerry! -- Gerry Mulligan All-Star Tribute Band"); Chick Corea & Gary Burton, "Rhumbata" (from "Native Sense - The New Duets"); Benny Golson, "Body and Soul" (from "Tenor Legacy"); David Liebman, "My Favorite Things" (from "Thank You John! Our Tribute to John Coltrane -- Arkadia Jazz All-Stars"). BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE, INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP (albums only) -- Chick Corea/Gary Burton, "Native Sense - The New Duets;" Charlie Haden/Kenny Barron, "Night And The City;" Herbie Hancock, "Gershwin's World;" Dave Holland Quintet, "Points Of View;" Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette, "Tokyo '96." BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE -- Count Basie Orchestra/Grover Mitchell, Director, "Count Plays Duke;" John Faddis, "Remembrances;" Bill Holman & The Netherlands Metropole Orchestra, "Further Adventures;" Jim McNeely & The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, "Lickety Split - Music Of Jim McNeely;" The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, "Theme For Monterey." BEST LATIN JAZZ PERFORMANCE -- Ray Barretto & New World Spirit, "Contact;" Paquito D'Rivera & The United Nation Orchestra, "Paquito D'Rivera & The United Nation Orchestra;" Danilo Perez, "Central Avenue;" David Sanchez, "Obsession;" Arturo Sandoval, "Hot House;" Chucho Valdes, "Bele Bele En La Habana." BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION -- Bela Fleck, Future Man and Victor Wooten, "Almost 12;" Bob Mintzer, "Ellis Island;" Wynton Marsalis, "The Midnight Blues;" Gerald Wilson, "Romance;" Jorge Calandrelli and Astor Piazolla, "Tango Remembrances." BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT -- Patrick Williams, "In The Still Of The Night;" Bill Holman, "Moon Of Manakoorah;" Don Sebesky, "Waltz For Debby;" Rob McConnell, "What Are You Doing New Years Eve?" Michel Legrand, "Where Or When." BEST INSTRUMENTAL ACCOMPANYING VOCAL(S) -- Patrick Williams, "Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song);" Jeremy Lubbock, "I Believe/You Never Walk Alone;" George Duke, "The Look Of Love;" Rob Mounsey, "Nessun Dorma;" Herbie Hancock, "St. Louis Blues." Other jazz-related artists receiving nominations: POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE -- Pat Metheny Group, "Follow Me;" Kenny G, "My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From Titanic)." BEST BOX RECORDING PACKAGE -- "The Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington Cote D'Azur Concerts;" "Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-1968." ALBUM NOTES -- Charles Mingus, "Passions Of A Man - The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1956-1961;" "Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-1968." HISTORICAL ALBUM -- "The Jazz Singers: A Smithsonian Collection Of Jazz Vocals 1919-1994." LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO -- Various artists: "Robert Altman's Jazz '34: Remembrances Of Kansas City Swing." ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE -- Pat Metheny Group, "The Roots Of Coincidence." And How About Those Charts? At the end of each year there are always all kinds of charts. And it's interesting to compare Billboard's 25 Best Selling Contemporary Jazz CDs with the radio airplay charts. Lets take a look at the top 10 of each for '98. Billboard 1) Kenny G, "Greatest Hits" 2) Boney James, "Sweet Thing" 3) Fourplay, "4" 4) George Benson, "Standing Together" 5) Down To The Bone, "From Manhattan To Staten" 6) Jonathan Butler, "Do You Love Me?" 7) Pat Metheny Group, "Imaginary Day" 8) Candy Dulfer, "For The Love Of You" 9) Keiko Matsui, "Full Moon And The Shrine" 10) Kenny G, "The Moment" Radio & Records 1) Boney James, "Sweet Thing" 2) Richard Elliot, "Jumpin' Off" 3) Chuck Loeb, "The Moon, the Stars & the Setting Sun" 4) George Benson, "Standing Together" 5) Brian Bromberg, "You Know That Feeling" 6) Down To The Bone, "From Manhattan To Staten" 7) Jonathan Butler, "Do You Love Me?" 8) Kenny G, "Greatest Hits" 9) Paul Hardcastle, "Cover To Cover" 10) Candy Dulfer, "For The Love Of You" Gavin Report 1) Richard Elliot, "Jumpin' Off" 2) Boney James, "Sweet Thing" 3) Chuck Loeb, "The Moon, the Stars & the Setting Sun" 4) George Benson, "Standing Together" 5) Brian Bromberg, "You Know That Feeling" 6) Jonathan Butler, "Do You Love Me?" 7) Down To The Bone, "From Manhattan To Staten" 8) Kenny G, "Greatest Hits" 9) Brian Culbertson, "Secrets" 10) Paul Hardcastle, "Cover To Cover" Note: Paul Hardcastle, Chuck Loeb, Brian Culbertson and Brian Bromberg didn't make the Top 25 Best Selling list; Fourplay was 20th in R&R and 21st in Gavin, Keiko Matsui was 19th in R&R and 23rd in Gavin, and the Pat Metheny Group didn't make R&R's Top 50 or Gavin's Top 100. Amazing! Kenny G's "The Moment" was released in 1996 and didn't qualify to make the radio lists. Contemporary News & Notes In the record company world Virgin Records (America) has acquired Higher Octave Music whose artists include Doug Cameron, Craig Chaquico, Brian Hughes and Bryan Savage. Under the agreement Higher Octave will operate independently and will benefit from Virgin Records' marketing umbrella that also oversees Narada, Domo and Real World. Universal Music and Polygram Music have merged to form Universal Music Group (UMG) which, for the jazz world means that GRP Records and Verve Records will now be combined. The label (Verve/GRP) will be led by chairman Tommy LiPuma and president Ron Goldstein. People will lose jobs over this merger yet to be announced at this writing. GRP's first release won't be until April with the a new recording from Joe Sample who recently left Warner Brothers. Kansas City, KS native Norman Brown will release his fourth CD in March on Warner Brothers. "Celebration" was produced by Paul Brown, Rick Braun and Boney James. And another former KC resident (on the Missouri side), singer Debra Franco also has a new album coming out in March. "Language of Love" features Gerald Albright and is produced by Phillip Ingram. This Just In: Some big news on the personnel front. Renowned drummer Peter Erskine is replacing Will Kennedy in the Yellowjackets. Erskine will begin touring with the group in February. And, with the signing of a new deal to DOMO/Virgin Records, percussionist Steve Reid has announced that he and Rippingtons co-partner Jeff Kashiwa will leave the Rippingtons permanently to pursue touring full time with Bamboo Forest. Steve's new CD "Passion In Paradise" will be released April 6; a 120 city domestic tour beginning April 9 will follow (a tour of Europe is set for July). Paul Taylor will replace Kashiwa in the Rippingtons. R.I.P. The acclaimed jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani, who waged a life long battle against a crippling disease that stunted his growth and made his bones dangerously brittle, died January 6 at 36. The French-born musician was being treated at Beth Israel Medical Center for a lung infection when he died, said his Paris agent, Bernard Ivain. Petrucciani won a wide following with his technical mastery, skillful improvisation and sense of harmony. But because of osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder known as "glassbone disease," he lived a fragile existence. Because he was only 3 feet tall, his pianos had to be fitted with special pedal extensions. Often he had to be carried to and from the piano bench because his bones were so brittle. A child prodigy schooled in classical music as well as jazz, Petrucciani made his professional debut at 13 at an outdoor jazz festival in France. He put out his first album, "Flash," when he was 16 and, in all, recorded more than a dozen albums. Petrucciani moved to the United States in 1981. He lived in Big Sur, California before moving to New York to form his own trio. He is survived by three sons. Email Jeff Charney at jeffrey@tfs.net and visit his web site at www.kprs.com. RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------- © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.