Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
In Memoriam: Cassandra Wilson, 1955–2026
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
The nominations for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards were announced Wednesday night. While there were no big jazz surprises such as Herbie Hancock’s Album of the Year nomination (and subsequent win) for River: The Joni Letters, the Recording Academy did shine the spotlight on a number of the top jazz artists on the scene.
The jazz nominees include:
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Randy In Brasil
Randy Brecker
[MAMA Records]
Floating Point
John McLaughlin
[Abstract Logix]
Cannon Re-Loaded: All-Star Celebration Of Cannonball Adderley
(Various Artists)
Gregg Field & Tom Scott, producers
[Concord Jazz]
Miles From India
(Various Artists)
Bob Belden, producer
[4Q/Times Square Records]
Lifecycle
Yellowjackets Featuring Mike Stern
[Heads Up International]
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Imagina: Songs Of Brasil
Karrin Allyson
[Concord Jazz]
Breakfast On The Morning Tram
Stacey Kent
[Blue Note]
If Less Is More…Nothing Is Everything
Kate McGarry
[Palmetto Records]
Loverly
Cassandra Wilson
[Blue Note]
Distances
Norma Winstone (Glauco Venier & Klaus Gesing)
[ECM]
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
“Be-Bop”
Terence Blanchard, soloist
Track from: Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars)
[Monterey Jazz Festival Records]
“Seven Steps To Heaven”
Till Brönner, soloist
Track from: The Standard (Take 6)
[Heads Up International]
“Waltz For Debby”
Gary Burton & Chick Corea, soloists
Track from: The New Crystal Silence
[Concord Records]
“Son Of Thirteen”
Pat Metheny, soloist
Track from: Day Trip
[Nonesuch Records]
“Be-Bop”
James Moody, soloist
Track from: Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars)
[Monterey Jazz Festival Records]
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
The New Crystal Silence
Chick Corea & Gary Burton
[Concord Records]
History, Mystery
Bill Frisell
[Nonesuch Records]
Brad Mehldau Trio: Live
Brad Mehldau Trio
[Nonesuch Records]
Day Trip
Pat Metheny With Christian McBride & Antonio Sanchez
[Nonesuch Records]
Standards
Alan Pasqua, Dave Carpenter & Peter Erskine Trio
[Fuzzy Music]
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Appearing Nightly
Carla Bley And Her Remarkable Big Band
[WATT]
Act Your Age
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
[Immergent]
Symphonica
Joe Lovano With WDR Big Band & Rundfunk Orchestra
[Blue Note]
Blauklang
Vince Mendoza
[Act Music and Vision (AMV)]
Monday Night Live At The Village Vanguard
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
[Planet Arts Recordings]
Best Latin Jazz Album
Afro Bop Alliance
Caribbean Jazz Project
[Heads Up International]
The Latin Side Of Wayne Shorter
Conrad Herwig & The Latin Side Band
[Half Note Records]
Song For Chico
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
[Zoho]
Nouveau Latino
Nestor Torres
[Diamond Light Records]
Marooned/Aislado
Papo Vázquez The Mighty Pirates
[Picaro Records]
For a complete list of the awards, go to grammy.com/
Wilson’s ability to connect to audiences helped her to win two Grammy awards and multiple other accolades. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2022.
Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
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“It was just that suddenly … I could hear it,” Ravi Coltrane said of an epiphany he experienced during his late teens regarding his father’s music. “And it was almost like a calling, like something saying, ‘Hey, man, come on. It’s time to get serious.’ And the first time you really tune in and dial in and focus like that, it can be very life-changing.”
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