Winner for Best Country Instrumental Performance

Steve Wariner
My Tribute to Chet Atkins
SelecTone Records

An established artist who has influenced many (including Brad Paisley, Bryan White, and Blake Shelton) honors the man who influenced his music above all others. On this disc, Steve Wariner pays tribute rather than attempting to mimic Atkins.

Nominated for Best New Age Album

Kitaro
Impressions of the West Lake
DOMO Records

Impressions of the West Lake is more than just a musical album. It is the soundtrack to a groundbreaking opera performance that synergizes the talents of Kitaro with acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou (known for his movies "Hero" and "Curse of the Golden Flower"). Majesty and pageantry reign in this celebration of color, illumination and folklore, which presents a collection of performances all set against the backdrop of the fabled city of Hangzhou. Kitaro's musical soundtrack is among the composer's most ambitious and classical sounding album to date, offering an epic blend of symphonics, traditional instrumentation and vocals. From achingly beautiful pieces ("Aria Di West Lake") to dramatic numbers ("Zen") filled with bold percussion and chant to softly contemplative pieces ("Lotus"), this production sounds as magical as it looks.

Nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album Best Instrumental Composition: “Fluffy”

Bob Florence Limited Edition
Legendary
MAMA Records

In the final release of the Limited Edition, it is all about the legendary Bob Florence. Four new originals, plus standards like “Take the ‘A’ Train” (twisted by Florence), will blow listeners away! In his storied career, Florence received two Emmy Awards, a whopping 16 Grammy nominations, and a coveted Grammy Award for the album Serendipity 18. Features some of the best players in the world, including powerhouses Peter Erskine, Carl Saunders, and Scott Whitfield. Booklet includes over 25 dedications from family, friends, and band members. Incredible sound quality; recorded at Capitol Records in Hollywood. Service to jazz radio and JazzWeek reporting stations. Additional syndicated programming/print mailing push by separate promotional agent. Mailed to over 100 additional independent writers, reviewers, and programmers. Main feature in JazzTimes full-page ads throughout Fall 2009.

Nominated for Best Best Instrumental Arrangement: Vince Mendoza, “Slings and Arrows”

Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge
The Comet's Tail: Performing the Compositions of Michael Brecker
MAMA Records

First CD release from the fledgling USF Center for Jazz Composition, and the culmination of a multi-faceted project that began in 2006. Seeking to focus attention on the compositions of a great jazz artist while stimulating new works, the CJC launched an international arranging competition in honor of jazz icon Michael Brecker. The thrilling, no-holds-barred version of “Peep” that opens this CD, scored by Fred Stride of Vancouver, was ultimately selected the winner. In the meantime, the CJC commissioned arrangements of Brecker compositions from noted composers Gil Goldstein and Vince Mendoza, who had frequently collaborated with Michael. These works, along with those being arranged by the CJC’s director Chuck Owen and manager Dave Stamps, were to be premiered in a series of concerts throughout Central Florida in April 2007. Tragically, Brecker passed away in January. The April concerts thus took on new meaning as a beautiful, fitting tribute to his work—especially with his brother Randy featured as passionate guest soloist.

Nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album

Claudio Roditi
Brazilliance X4
Resonance Records

Claudio Roditi is a vastly underrated player with an incredible repertoire and decades of sideman experience with several jazz giants. Features an all-star Brazilian group.

Winner for Best Instrumental Arrangement: Bill Cunliffe, “West Side Story Medley”

Resonance Big Band
Plays the Legacy of Oscar Peterson
Resonance Records

Oscar Peterson’s 60-year career has spawned an enormous fan base, but this is the first significant tribute to this jazz giant. Features new arrangements of many classic recordings, and introduces piano sensation Marian Petrescu with an all-star “Dream Team” 18-piece big band. Includes “behind the scenes” minidocumentary on DVD.

Nominated for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Sammy Nestico & SWR Big Band
Nestico Vol. 3: Fun Time
hänssler CLASSIC

Hear one of the great masters of swing at the height of his powers! hänssler CLASSIC/SWR Music is proud to announce the third release of jazz great Sammy Nestico in performance with the SWR Big Band.

Nominated for Best Classical Crossover Album

Theo Bleckmann & Kneebody
Twelve Songs By Charles Ives
Winter & Winter

Charles Ives goes jazz! In Summer 2007, singer Theo Bleckmann and postmodern creative music group Kneebody collaborated to create a new song cycle based on compositions by one of the very first American composers. Kent Nagano invited that project to the Munich Opera Festival to debut the live performance. This recordinG has been adapted, arranged, and completely re-conceptualized to involve elements of jazz, electronica, and more.

Nominated for Best Choral Performance

The Sixteen
Handel: Coronation Anthems
CORO

Syntagma Amici/Elsa Frank, Francis Mercet, Denis Raisin-Dadre: bassoons/Freddy Eichelberger: harpsichord, organ/Jérémie Papasergio: bassoon, conductor 20 pieces for bassoon by Praetorius, Banchieri, Selma y Salaverde, Verdelot, Mainerio, Bassano, Glamonte, Susato, Moderne, Parabosco, Du Caurroy, Böddecker, Selle, Ortiz & Bertoli. Of all the instruments developed during the Renaissance, the bassoon undoubtedly possesses the most curious history. Associated with music in the open air, it was also praised for the sweetness of its sound. The musicians of Syntagma Amici explore its use as a family of instruments in polyphonic repertoire of the 16th century as well as in the first virtuoso pieces that were dedicated to it at the beginning of the 17th century.

Nominated for Best Small Ensemble Performance

Ensemble Sonnerie; Monica Huggett, conductor
J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suites For A Young Prince
Avie Records

Monica Huggett and Ensemble Sonnerie return to Avie Records with a new musical view on the Orchestral Suites by J.S. Bach. The recording includes a world-premiere reconstruction of the ever-popular Second Suite by the leading oboist in the period instrument field, Gonzalo X. Ruiz.