With the 2022 Grammy nominations just announced, Philadelphia is well represented.
For anyone who engorged themselves on turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving Thursday, here’s your sweet dessert: the 2022 Grammy Awards, whose nominations popped out the day before the T-Day holiday, is littered with Philly area names and noms. All 64th Grammy Award nominations, logged in from recordings released between September 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021, are well deserved even if they are, on occasion, not so sensible. Japanese Breakfast, a New Artist nom? She’s on her fourth album. Here’s a scorecard to hold onto until January 31 when the awards ceremony will be broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
I do want to add an expression of joy for all Philly 2022 Grammy nominations, much like the one that Philly’s Michelle Zauner tweeted out in response to her several nominations.
And the nominations are:
Best Music Film
“SUMMER OF SOUL” (Various Artists)
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, video director; David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent & Joseph Patel, video producers
No shock here. Quest just picked up six Critics Desk documentary division awards for his debut film on 1969’s Harlem Cultural Fest and its guests such as the Staples, Nina, Stevie, Gladys and the Fifth Dimension. And he’ll surely be on his way to several Oscar noms. He should keep his tux pressed in 2022.
Best Choral Performance
“RISING W/THE CROSSING“
Donald Nally, conductor (International Contemporary Ensemble & Quicksilver; The Crossing)
When it comes to contemporary chamber choir work with an emphasis on modern classical music, you can’t do better than the Philly-based The Crossing, conducted by Donald Nally and its dedication to new music and social, environmental, and political issues. Plus, they have already received two Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance (2018, 2019), and six Grammy nominations.
Best Opera Recording
“LITTLE: SOLDIER SONGS”
and
“POULENC: DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES“
Corrado Rovaris, conductor; Johnathan McCullough; James Darrah & John Toia, producers (The Opera Philadelphia Orchestra)
and
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Karen Cargill, Isabel Leonard, Karita Mattila, Erin Morley & Adrianne Pieczonka; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
I have slipped my opera obsession into dosage MAGAZINE on several occasions and know well Philly’s prowess over the art form. Also no shock here. But still? Two noms. Very good. And, just saying Nézet-Séguin and the Philly Orchestra also got Grammy nods for Best Orchestral Performance PRICE: SYMPHONIES NOS. 1 & 3
Best Historical Album
“BEYOND THE MUSIC: HER COMPLETE RCA VICTOR RECORDINGS“
Robert Russ, compilation producer; Nancy Conforti, Andreas K. Meyer & Jennifer Nulsen, mastering engineers (Marian Anderson)
The late great mistress of stately song, Philadelphia’s Marian Anderson, gets celebrated with 15 packed CDs and a coffee table book celebrating contralto Marian Anderson, the first Black singer at the Met.
Best Song Written For Visual Media
“ALL I KNOW SO FAR [FROM P!NK: ALL I KNOW SO FAR]“
Alecia Moore, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Pink)
A Pink song co-written with Philly’s favorite theater songwriters (Dear Evan Hansen) Pasek & Paul, Brava. Pasek & Paul also get a nod for their film soundtrack as a…
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
“DEAR EVAN HANSEN“
(Various Artists)
Best Comedy Album
“ZERO FUCKS GIVEN“
Kevin Hart
Despite heading into drama with his newest Netflix series, True Story, Hart’s laugh lines are estimable. Tough competition from Louis CK and Lavell Crawford in the same category though.
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
“FOR JIMMY, WES AND OLIVER“
Christian McBride Big Band
and
“SWIRLING“
Sun Ra Arkestra
This one is tough. Of course, you want University of the Arts grad McBride to win in the big band stakes, but this is the first Grammy nom for Germantown avant-garde’s finest, in like 70 years. Oh, the humanity.
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“DRUNK (AND I DON’T WANNA GO HOME)“
Elle King & Miranda Lambert
Soul/country shouter Elle King used to live on South Street and attend the University of the Arts. She wins.
Best R&B Album
“HEAUX TALES“
Jazmine Sullivan
Sullivan has other nominations, including “PICK UP YOUR FEELINGS” getting nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance. But Heaux Tales, her first album in a minute tells the story of Sullivan’s missing years. Here’s hoping.
Best Alternative Music Album
“JUBILEE“
Japanese Breakfast
Though Zauner is also nominated for Best New Artist, and should have been nominated for such when it counted, her best hope for a Grammy stems from her gorgeous pained Jubilee.
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album
“MUSIC IS THE WEAPON (RELOADED)“
Major Lazer
“SHOCKWAVE“
Marshmello
Diplo versus the Squarehead? A tough one, but give it to Marshmello.
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