LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Three years ago, Vancouver-reared avant-jazz composer Darcy James Argue found himself in a "surreal" position: sitting in the audience of the Grammy Awards.
Nominated for best large jazz ensemble album, Argue rejoiced in his unlikely environs. A guest at the lengthy pre-telecast — a boisterous if dizzyingly fleet affair at which the vast majority of the gala's awards are distributed away from cameras — he was nevertheless delighted by the experiences: "incredibly charming" host Bobby McFerrin; a gleeful performance of "Freedom Jazz Dance" by McFerrin and Argue favourite Esperanza Spalding; and the first Grammy win for legendary gospel singer Mavis Staples.
Since Argue went home without a Grammy that day, his highlight was seeing Neil Young win his first Grammy for music, an honour the legendary rocker was on hand to accept in person. Argue was thrilled, so much so he briefly pondered breaking protocol — after all, how often can an artist expect to be in the audience at the Grammys?
"I considered throwing a hand to Neil as he was going up the aisle. But I thought better of it," Argue recalled with a laugh in a recent telephone interview. "I was right on the aisle. I gave him a vigorous head nod. A 'yeah, man!' That was the extent of it."
In hindsight, Argue was probably right to err on the side of caution when it came to Grammy etiquette. Because this year he became a two-time nominee, and he'll be heading back to Los Angeles this weekend for a second opportunity at Grammy gold.
The 38-year-old expected neither nomination, but this second nod — again for best large jazz ensemble album — arrived after an especially ambitious (and taxing) project.
Read more: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/canadian-composer-darcy-james-argue-gets-second-try-140008416.html
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