No Jazz Related Artist Honored in the Grammys
by John Lawrence, January 27, 2020
The only jazz artists even mentioned in passing were Jimmy Heath and Jack Sheldon in a collage with others who died in 2019. Andre Previn, who had an illustrious career which included both jazz and classical, was mentioned in the same category: those who had died in 2019. They say that country music is "three chords and the truth." Most of the music presented at the Grammys gala was one chord and a bunch of whining. Seriously, the piano accompaniment given to some of these singer songwriters could have been performed by an 8 year old piano student. My major criticism of most of this "award winning" music is that there is no melody, no harmony and no rhythm. It took Aerosmith and Run DMC to get the crowd moving and their music consisted of the same riff repeated ad nauseum. Most of the acts are more in the realm of an exaggerated version of performance art with the most important elements being costumes, hair, make-up, background scenes, dancing including strutting and prancing, video, pyrotechnics etc. So it's more than just vapid, puerile music; it's a whole stage and set meant to create a spectacle of which music is only an. incremental element
Meanwhile, such great jazz artists and vocalists like Eliane Elias, Diana Krall and Karrin Alyson were completely overlooked. I quote from Eliane Elias' five star review in down beat magazine in 2019 for her recording, "Love Stories":
Elias’ prodigious talent grows stronger as the years pass; a feat capable by only the true elites of the music world. Her romantic vocals invite the listener to delve into her timeless grace and sophisticated presence as a commanding singer, pianist, composer, producer and lyricist. Her stately arrangements, soothing, sensual vocals and piano musings are enhanced by a majestic string orchestra as standards, Brazilian classics and three originals are locked in with laid-back ease.
I don't think Diana Krall released any albums in 2019 but here's what Jazz Times said about Karrin Allyson's album, "Shoulder to Shoulder: Centennial Tribute to Women’s Suffrage."
A celebration and deep historical dive into the women’s suffrage movement, the album is pegged to the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which established the vote for American women (except African-American women living in Southern states, who—along with their male counterparts—didn’t have much shot at the franchise until the 1965 Voting Rights Act). Allyson has found 19th- and early 20th-century songs that fueled the movement and treated them to arrangements by John Daversa and a stellar band featuring Ingrid Jensen, Allison Brown, Helen Sung, Mindi Abair, and rising star Endea Owens. Several all-star guests recite relevant texts, like Harry Belafonte reading Frederick Douglass and Rosanne Cash performing Susan B. Anthony. And there’s another dazzling roster of guest vocalists, including Kurt Elling, Denise Donatelli, Madeleine Peyroux, and Veronica Swift.
Do you think there is enough historical significance here? There is so much good music in the jazz world that for it to be totally ignored by the Grammys is just unconscionable. It just goes to show that popular tastes in music have arrived at new lows. But take heart, there is still great music out there. It just isn't recognized by extravaganzas like the Grammys which are more about glitz and glamour than about music. Alicia Keys was a gracious host, however.
