Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
In Memoriam: Al Foster, 1943–2025
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
Triology 2 received the Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
(Photo: Courtesy Concord Records)Chick Corea, who passed away on Feb. 9, was awarded two Grammy Awards yesterday during the 63rd annual evening honoring the best in music. Corea received Grammys for Best Improvised Jazz Solo and Best Instrumental Jazz Album. Below highlights the evening’s jazz and blues winners as well as nominees.
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
WINNER
“All Blues,” Chick Corea, soloist, from the album Trilogy 2 (Concord Jazz)
NOMINEES
“Guinnevere,” Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, soloist, from the album Axiom (Ropeadope)
“Pachamama,” Regina Carter, soloist, from the album Ona (self release) by Thana Alexa
“Celia,” Gerald Clayton, soloist, from the album Live At The Village Vanguard (Blue Note)
“Moe Hunk,” Joshua Redman, soloist, from the album RoundAgain (Redman, Mehldau, McBride, Blade) (Nonesuch)
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
WINNER
Trilogy 2, Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade (Concord Jazz)
NOMINEES
On The Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment, Ambrose Akinmusire (Blue Note)
Waiting Game, Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science (Mótema)
Happening: Live At the Village Vanguard, Gerald Clayton (Blue Note)
RoundAgain, Redman, Mehldau, McBride, Blade (Nonesuch)
Best Jazz Vocal Album
WINNER
Secrets Are The Best Stories, Kurt Elling Featuring Danilo Pérez (Edition)
NOMINEES
Ona, Thana Alexa (Self Released)
Modern Ancestors, Carmen Lundy (Afrasia Productions)
Holy Room: Live At Alte Oper, Somi With Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Conducted By John Beasley (Salon Africana)
What’s The Hurry, Kenny Washington (Lower 9th Records)
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
WINNER
Data Lords, Maria Schneider Orchestra (ArtistShare)
NOMINEES
Dialogues On Race, Gregg August (lacuessa)
Monk’estra Plays John Beasley, John Beasley’s MONK’estra (Mack Avenue)
The Intangible Between, Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band (Smoke Sessions)
Songs You Like A lot, John Hollenbeck With Theo Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, Gary Versace and the Frankfurt Radio Big Band (Flexatonic)
Best Latin Jazz Album
WINNER
Four Questions, Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (Zoho)
NOMINEES
Tradiciones, Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra (MVM Music)
City Dreams, Chico Pinheiro (Buriti)
Viento Y Tiempo—Live At Blue Note Tokyo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Aymée Nuviola (Top Stop Music)
Trane’s Delight, Poncho Sanchez (Concord Picante)
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
WINNER
Live At The Royal Albert Hall, Snarky Puppy (GroundUP Music)
NOMINEES
Axiom, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah (Ropeadope)
Chronology of a Dream: Live at The Village Vanguard, Jon Batiste (Verve)
Take The Stairs, Black Violin (Di Versitile)
Americana, Grégoire Maret, Romain Collin & Bill Frisell (Act)
Best Instrumental Composition
WINNER
“Sputnik,” Maria Schneider from the album Data Lords (ArtistShare)
NOMINEES
“Baby Jack,” Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, from the album Four Questions (Zoho)
“Be Water II,” Christian Sands, from the album Be Water (Mack Avenue)
“Plumfield,” Alexandre Desplat, from the album Little Women (Sony)
“Strata,” Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly Of Shadows featuring Anna Webber & Eric Miller, from the album Assembly Of Shadows (Soundspore)
Best Traditional Blues Album
WINNER
Rawer Than Raw, Bobby Rush (Deep Rush)
NOMINEES
All My Dues Are Paid, Frank Bey (NOLA Blue)
You Make Me Feel, Don Bryant (hi)
That’s What I Heard, Robert Cray Band (Nozzle)
Cypress Grove, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes (Easy Eye Sound)
Best Contemporary Blues Album
WINNER
Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?, Fantastic Negrito (Cooking Vinyl Limited)
NOMINEES
Live At The Paramount, Ruthie Foster Big Band (Blue Corn Music)
The Juice, G. Love & Special Sauce (Philidelphonic)
Blackbirds, Bettye LaVette (Verve)
Up And Rolling, North Mississippi Allstars (New West)
For a list of all the evening’s honorees, go to grammy.com.
Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.
Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
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