Press Release
For Immediate Release:
December 12, 2005
New England Conservatory Reaps Grammy Nominations
Jazz Alumni, Faculty Cited in Vocal, Instrumental, Large Ensemble Categories
New England Conservatory musicians, particularly alumni and faculty in jazz performance, have been nominated in several categories for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards. The nominations included vocal, instrumental, large ensemble performances. There were also two nominations in classical music categories that honored NEC musicians.
The Awards ceremony will be televised live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 8, 8pm EST, on CBS.
Here’s the rundown of NEC Nominations:
NEC at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards
Category 45
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Dave Douglas '83
Keystone
This tribute to silent comedy star Fatty Arbuckle is the second release on Douglas's own independent label, Greenleaf, and is packaged as a twofer with CD/DVD. Jamie Saft '94 TU (graduate of Tufts/NEC joint degree program) also plays on this CD.
Meshell Ndegeocello
The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel
Players on this CD include Michael Cain of the faculty and alumni Don Byron '84, Takuya Nakamura '93 M.M., and Joshua Roseman.
Category 46
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Luciana Souza '94 M.M
Duos II
Category 48
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Kenny Wheeler with Dave Holland, Chris Potter & John Taylor
What Now?
Dave Holland is NEC's Visiting Artist-in-Residence, with funding from NEC Board of Visitors member Jimmy Earl '81.
Category 49
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Dave Holland Big Band
Overtime
John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
A Blessing
J.C. Sanford '97 M.M., '01 D.M.A. conducts a 17-player ensemble that includes fellow alumni Chris Speed '90, clarinet, Tony Kadleck '87, trumpet, and Matt Moran '95 M.M., mallets.
Category 50
Best Latin Jazz Album
Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels
Here And Now - Live in Concert
Dave Samuels is a member of NEC's jazz and improvisation faculty.
Category 73
Best Contemporary World Music Album
Kronos Quartet & Asha Bhosle
You've Stolen My Heart - Songs from R.D. Burman's Bollywood
Kronos Quartet cellist is Jennifer Culp '83 M.M.
Category 96
Best Classical Album
Southwest Chamber Music
Carlos Chávez: Complete Chamber Music, Vol. 3.
Pianist of this group is Ming Tsu '93 B.M. Both previous volumes have received Grammy Awards, and Vol. 4 is on its way next year.
Category 104
Best (Classical) Small Ensemble Performance
David Hoose, conductor; Janice Felty & Margaret Lattimore; Collage New Music
Harbison: Mottetti di Montale
Collage New Music was founded by NEC brass and percussion chair (and Boston Symphony Orchestra percussionist) Frank Epstein; also among the 8 core members are Robert Annis '71, Christopher Oldfather '74 M.M., and faculty members Christopher Krueger and James Orleans.
NOTE: Southwest Chamber Music is also nominated in this category.
For more information, visit NEC on the web at www.newenglandconservatory.edu/faculty
ABOUT NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY
Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader among music schools, New England Conservatory offers rigorous training in an intimate, nurturing community to 750 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral music students from around the world. Its faculty of 225 boasts internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. Its alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios, and arts management positions worldwide. Nearly half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is composed of NEC trained musicians and faculty.
The oldest independent school of music in the United States, NEC was founded in 1867 by Eben Tourjee. Its curriculum is remarkable for its wide range of styles and traditions. On the college level, it features training in classical, jazz, Contemporary Improvisation, world and early music. Through its Preparatory School, School of Continuing Education, and Community Collaboration Programs, it provides training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, adults, and seniors. Through its outreach projects, it allows young musicians to engage with non-traditional audiences in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes—thereby bringing pleasure to new listeners and enlarging the universe for classical music and jazz.
NEC presents more than 600 free concerts each year, many of them in Jordan Hall, its world- renowned, 100-year old, beautifully restored concert hall. These programs range from solo recitals to chamber music to orchestral programs to jazz and opera scenes. Every year, NEC’s opera studies department also presents two fully staged opera productions at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.
NEC is co-founder and educational partner of “From the Top,” a weekly radio program that celebrates outstanding young classical musicians from the entire country. With its broadcast home in Jordan Hall, the show is now carried by more than two hundred stations throughout the United States