Aug 12, 2025 10:24 AM
Vocalist Sheila Jordan Dies at 96
Sheila Jordan, a vocalist who was celebrated for her scatting and lyric-improvising abilities, died Aug. 11 at her home…
Grammy nominations for the 50th annual awards presentation were announced today in Los Angeles. Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters (Verve) was nominated for album of the year and best contemporary jazz album, as well as best jazz instrumental solo for “Both Sides Now.” Hancock’s competition in the jazz instrumental category include Will Bernard’s Party Hats (Palmetto), Downright Upright (Artistry) by Brian Bromberg, Re-imagination (Masterworks Jazz) from Eldar and Jeff Lorber’s He Had A Hat (Blue Note).
Recipient of a five-star DB album review, Maria Schneider Orchestra’s Sky Blue (Artistshare) was nominated for best large jazz ensemble album.
Dee Dee Bridgewater received a nomination for best jazz vocal album for Red Earth-A Malian Journey (DDB/EmArcy). The category features some tough competition with other nominees including Kurt Elling’s Nightmoves (Concord), Freddy Cole’s Music Maestro Please (HighNote), Best traditional blues album nominations went to, among others, Koko Taylor for Old School (Alligator), Otis Rush and Pinetop Perkins. Bettye LaVette’s The Scene Of The Crime (Anti) was nominated for best contemporary blues album.
The 50th annual Grammy Awards will take place Feb. 10 in Los Angeles.
More info: grammy.com
Jordan was a dyed-in-the-wool bebopper whose formative musical experiences were with Charlie Parker. Aug 12, 2025 10:24 AM Sheila Jordan, a vocalist who was celebrated for her scatting and lyric-improvising abilities, died Aug. 11 at her home… “I don’t guess I’m going to excite you; I know I’m going to excite you,” Palmieri said in an August 1994 DownBeat feature. Aug 12, 2025 10:33 AM Famed Latin jazz composer, bandleader and pianist Eddie Palmieri passed away in his New Jersey home on Aug. 6. He was… “What I got from Percy was the dignity of playing the bass,” Buster Williams said of Percy Heath. Aug 26, 2025 1:53 PM Buster Williams, who at the age of 83 has been on the scene for 65 years, had never done a Blindfold Test. The first… “I love the place that fate or whatever has positioned me in Gil Evans’ life and legacy,” said Ryan Truesdell. Aug 5, 2025 12:26 PM “I originally set out to give two years of my life to Gil,” Ryan Truesdell said of his mindset in 2009, when he… Don and Maureen Sickler serve as the keepers of engineer Rudy Van Gelder’s flame at Van Gelder Studio, perhaps the most famous recording studio in jazz history. Sep 3, 2025 12:02 PM On the last Sunday of 2024, in the control room of Van Gelder Studio, Don and Maureen Sickler, co-owners since Rudy Van…
In other news... DownBeat's Most Read Stories
Vocalist Sheila Jordan Dies at 96
Latin Jazz Pianist-Composer Eddie Palmieri, 1936–2025
Blindfold Test: Buster Williams
For the Love of Gil Evans
Keeping the Flame at Van Gelder Studio
