Fresh faces? Fresh out

When the Grammy nominations in the six jazz categories were first announced, it was obvious that the Recording Academy had little interest in honoring any new, out-of-the-box musical thinking. With a few exceptions, those nominations can best be described as studies in conservatism.

So one probably shouldn’t be surprised that the winners announced Sunday were even less adventurous. The few nominees with envelope-stretching potential -- Luciana Souza in the jazz vocal category, Carla Bley in the large jazz ensemble category, Jane Bunnett in the Latin jazz grouping -- obviously never had a chance. And a trio of other nominees -- pianist Mike Melvoin in the best jazz instrumental solo category and the Wayne Bergeron Band and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band in the large jazz ensemble category -- were similarly overlooked in favor of safe, middle-of-the-road efforts by mature, well-established names.

Viewed from the conservative perspective that dominated, one can hardly dispute the excellence of Chick Corea’s artistry (instrumental soloing), Wayne Shorter’s composing and arranging (instrumental album), the musicality of the Brecker brothers (large ensemble album and contemporary album), the dependability of Dianne Reeves (vocal album) or the liveliness of Michel Camilo (Latin album). But the academy’s disregard of a talented, arriving generation of imaginative jazz artists suggests that the jazz field nomination process needs a serious overhaul.

-- Don Heckman