© 2024 WBGO
Discover Jazz...Anywhere, Anytime, on Any Device.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Miguel Zenon, Eddie Palmieri, Chucho Valdes Are Among This Year's Latin Grammy Nominees

Courtesy of the artist
Miguel Zenon, center, with the Spektral Quartet; 'Yo Soy La Tradicion' is a nominee for Best Instrumental Album

The Latin Academy for Recording Arts and Sciences announced thier nominees for the 20th Annual Latin Grammy Awards today, with good news for pop-flamenco powerhouse Rosalía and pop star Alejandro Sanz. They're among a handful of Spanish artists who dominate this year's nominations, as observed by NPR's Felix Contreras in a piece for alt.Latino.

But there are a few notable jazz names scattered throughout the nominations, including pianist and bandleader Eddie Palmieri, whose Mi Luz Mayor is up for Best Salsa Album; and alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón, whose collaboration with the Spektral Quartet, Yo Soy La Tradición, will compete for Best Instrumental Album. 

The category of Best Latin Jazz Album includes five additional nominees:

  • Claudia Acuña, for Turning Pages (Delfin)
  • Branly, Ruiz & Haslip, for Elemental (Blue Canoe)
  • Hugo Fattoruso & Tomohiro Yahiro, for Dos Orientales (Montevideo)
  • André Marques, for Rio - São Paulo (Blaxtream)
  • Chucho Valdés, for Jazz Batá 2 (Mack Avenue)

The Latin Grammy Awards will be held on Nov. 14, and broadcast live from Las Vegas on Univision. Here is a complete list of nominees.

A veteran jazz critic and award-winning author, and a regular contributor to NPR Music.