A local look at the 2015 Grammy nominations

14th December 2015   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

Terence Blanchard’s new endeavor with his electronically enhanced E-Collective band could have been deemed a shoo-in for a nomination in the Grammy Awards’ Best Jazz Instrumental Album. And, of course, the trumpeter who is at the top of his game both blowing and as a composer got the nod for his politically declarative release, Breathless. It’s important to note that two other New Orleans natives, bassist Donald Ramsey and vocalist PJ Morton, are major contributors to the disc. Morton, the son of the noted the Rev. Paul S. Morton, is also recognized in the nominations as a keyboardist and vocalist with the group Maroon 5 that is in the running for a Grammy in the Best Pop Duo/Group category for its tune “Sugar.” More good news is that after a long time away pursuing his very successful musical career, PJ plans to (or possibly already has) move back to New Orleans.

Jamison Ross’ Grammy nomination wasn’t as expected as Blanchard’s though it was certainly well-deserved. His album, simply called Jamison, stands as his debut release and got the nod in the tough Best Jazz Vocal Album category in which all of his competitors are women. What makes it especially interesting is that Ross was picked up by the prestigious Concord Jazz label on which the album appears in part because he won the 2012 Thelonious Monk Institute drum competition. Ross once remarked that he wasn’t sure whether the label would want him to sing on his first outing. He was glad Concord agreed, and especially with the nomination, the label must be too.

Ross is also behind the drum set on the disc and brings in another young, skyrocketing New Orleanian, keyboardist Jon Batiste. He’s heard on some of the album’s most stunning cuts, “Down Home in Florida” and “Bye Bye Blues.”

By the way, Ross will be performing, primarily as a drummer, Thursday night (December 17) at the Tableau restaurant’s weekly “Wine Down Jazz Up!” series. Presented in the bar area of the French Quarter restaurant, 616 St. Peter Street, the free shows are musically hosted by pianist David Torkanowsky. The line-ups vary but always include the very best New Orleans jazz musicians. Torkanowsky and Ross will be joined this Thursday by trumpet great Nicholas Payton and bassist Grayson Hackleman. The happy hour gig offers half-price beer and wine.

Back to the Grammys – Two Louisiana artists go head-to-head with each other in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category though they couldn’t be more different. British-born, longtime New Orleans resident, keyboardist and vocalist Jon Cleary parties hearty and funkily on GoGo Juice on which he brought in a host of musicians who have been particularly hot on the scene of late including keyboardist/vo-calist Nigel Hall and trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom. Tons of New Orleanians appear on this release including the essential guitarist Derwin “Big D” Perkins, the only member of Cleary’s regular group, the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, to perform in the core band, and the horn players from the mighty Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Hailing from Lafayette, The Revelers, a “supergroup” composed of members from the noted Red Stick Ramblers and the Pine Leaf Boys, were nominated in the Regional Roots division for its album Get Ready. This band parties too in the southwest Louisiana fashion of Cajun, zydeco and swamp pop.

Bluesman Buddy Guy may have left his home state of Louisiana for Chicago when he was just 21 years old but his musical roots stayed with him though they certainly became electrified. From the small town of Lettsworth near the Atchafalaya River, the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductee has already won five Grammys and goes for his sixth with this year’s nomination of his appropriately named Born to Play Guitar in the Best Blues Album list.

New Orleans Lil Wayne got into this year’s Grammy scene for his work with Nicki Minaj in the Best Rap Performance for “Truffle Butter” and in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Only” both from her album Pinkprint.

The 2016 Grammy Awards will be televised on February 15, 2016 on CBS.

Leo Nocentelli – He’s Baaack!

“Oh yeah, he’s funky – whenever he’s in the house things get stinky,” exclaims saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr. of guitar slinger Leo Nocentelli. Harrison will be one of a myriad of musicians who will welcome Nocentelli back home to New Orleans at what promises to be an exceptional night at Tipitina’s on Thursday, December 17, 2015.

The guitarist was an original member of the highly influential New Orleans funk kings, the Meters and the composed some of the group’s most famous tunes including “Cissy Strut.” Nocentelli has been living and working in California for decades as a much called upon guitarist, session musician and composer. He has returned for an occasional special reunion with the Meters, a group that in 2001 was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The star-studded musical guests at the Tip’s show include vocalist Irma Thomas, vocalist/percussionist Cyril Neville who was a later-addition to the Meters band, keyboardist/vocalist Davell Crawford, guitarist/vocalist Deacon John, guitarist/vocalist Walter “Wolfman” Washington, and members of the group the Revivalists. The evening will be hosted by WWL-TV’s Eric Paulsen. Showtime is 9 p.m.

This article originally published in the December 14, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.