On Wednesday April 6th, The National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences announced a “restructuring” of The Grammy Awards, a move that included the elimination of the Latin Jazz Grammy. This unfortunate decision undermines the integrity of Latin Jazz and disregards its importance as a major piece of the cultural landscape in the United States.
I would encourage all LJC readers to protest this decision and demand that NARAS reinstate the Latin Jazz Grammy immediately - you can do this by sending an e-mail to NARAS President and CEO Neil Portnow here - neil@grammy.comGet additional information and updates on LJC’s Support Page For The Latin Jazz Grammy.
The Grammy Awards provide a good deal of recognition and promotion for Latin Jazz artists, helping them build stable careers and make further gains in their business. With the removal of the Latin Jazz category, this opportunity will become a rarity for Latin Jazz artists, relegated them to second tier status in the music world. Recent Grammy nominee and presenter Wayne Wallace speaks about the power of the Grammys and the ramifications of the elimination of the Latin Jazz Grammy.
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To the Governors and members of NARAS,
To the Governors and members of NARAS,
So when does a genre stop being a genre? I am still pondering the logic in dropping the “Best Latin Jazz Recording” category from the Grammy Awards. The award will be discontinued from 2012 in a major overhaul of Grammy categories. From 2012, Latin jazz recordings will be shifted to either the Best Jazz Instrumental Album or Best Jazz Vocal Album categories.
As many of you are aware, many thinking folks have blogged and commented already. Does this mean that Latin Jazz no longer merits consideration as being special and unique? According to Webster’s Dictionary “Latin jazz is the general term given to music that combines rhythms from African and Latin American countries with jazz and classical harmonies from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and United States”.
Originally called the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Performance, the award was first presented to Arturo Sandoval in 1995. The name of the category was changed to Best Latin Jazz Album in 2001, the same year producers, engineers and/or mixers associated with the winning work became award recipients in addition to the recording artists.According to the category description guide for the 52 Grammy Awards, the award is presented to “vocal or instrumental albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material”, with the intent to recognize the “blending” of jazz music with Argentine, Brazilian and Iberian-American music.
Randy Klein, the President of Jazzheads, a New York based music label had this to say:
“NARAS which is the governing organization for the Grammy’s has announced today that they have eliminated the Latin Jazz category.
Over the years, I have had thoughts that NARAS wouldn’t recognize a musical note if it hit them in their face. I have, up until now, given NARAS the benefit of the doubt, but, now they have proved to me and the rest of the global musical world that they don’t know what music is or where it comes from.
Latin Jazz is a genre deeply rooted in the history of Jazz and our country. By eliminating it is like telling Tito Puente and Dizzy Gillespie that their musical contributions were worth zilch or less. Excuse me NARAS, but it is due to your lack of knowledge of music that has caused the music business to be in the shape it is today.
Please stop telling us that NARAS is giving back by conducting music education programs for the youth of America. What could NARAS possibly be teaching? For sure it isn’t Latin Jazz.This is simply insulting to our intelligence and worse it is a prevarication. By eliminated Latin Jazz from the Grammy’s proves that you, NARAS are the cause of the demise.” Sincerely, Randy Klein,
One would have to assume that there has been a major shift in the genre paradigm that has moved Latin Jazz back to it’s pre 1995 status as a sub genre. I guess that means when Music Awards are held in Brazil, Jazz is not considered a genre but a sub genre to Samba or Bossa Nova.
I have been a member of NARAS (The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) for over 20 years and a recent Grammy nominee in the 2010 Best Latin Jazz category. It was one of the greatest honors of my life to be present at the Grammy Awards this year as a nominee and presenter.
There are other categories that have been eliminated in this “downsizing”. I understand the thought behind consolidation, but at what cost? I am sure this will alienate artists who were considering becoming NARAS members.
I strongly urge the governing body of NARAS to bring this issue to the table for all members to vote on. Without a majority consensus this is an act of patronization that smacks of arrogance and is demeaning to all parties concerned.
I am sure this conversation has only just begun.
Musically yours,
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