54th Annual GRAMMY Award Jazz Category Nominations!

I know that all of you (ok, maybe just a few of you :P) have been waiting with bated breath for the announcement of the jazz nominees for the 2012 GRAMMY Awards!

Here are the four (4) categories that remain in the genre. Keep in mind that NARAS decided to eliminate the "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" and "Best Latin Jazz Album" back in the Spring of 2011.

What do you think about the nominees this year? Any surprises for you?

Good luck to all of the nominees!

BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO

All Or Nothing At All

Randy Brecker, soloist

Track from: The Jazz Ballard Song Book (Randy Brecker with DR Big Band)

[Half Note]

You Are My Sunshine

Ron Carter, soloist

Track from: This Is Jazz (Donald Harrison, Ron Carter and Billy Cobham)

[Half Note]

500 Miles High

Chick Corea, soloist

Track from: Forever (Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke & Lenny White)

[Concord Records]

Work

Fred Hersch, soloist

Track from: Alone At The Vanguard

[Palmetto Records]

Sonnymoon For Two

Sonny Rollins, soloist

Track from: Road Shows Vol.2

[Doxy/Emarcy/Decca]

BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM

‘Round Midnight by Karrin Allyson [Concord Jazz]

The Mosaic Project by Terri Lyne Carrington & Various Artists [Concord Jazz]

The Gate by Kurt Elling [Concord Jazz]

American Road by the Tierney Sutton Band [BFM Jazz]

The Music of Randy Newman by Roseanna Vitro [Motema Music]

BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

Bond: The Paris Sessions by Gerald Clayton [Emarcy/Decca]

Forever by Corea, Clarke & White [Concord Records]

Alone At The Vanguard by Fred Hersch [Palmetto Records]

Bird Songs by Joe Lovano/Us Five [Blue Note]

Timeline by the Yellowjackets [Mack Avenue Records]

BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM

The Jazz Ballard Song Book by Randy Brecker with DR Big Band [Half Note]

The Good Feeling by the Christian McBride Big Band [Mack Avenue Records]

40 Acres And a Burro by Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra [Zoho]

Legacy by the Gerald Wilson Orchestra [Mack Avenue Records]

Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook by Miguel Zenon [Marsalis Music]