Wayne Shorter http://www.bmi.com/affiliate/rss/C2183 This BMI RSS feed contains news articles, events, and musicworld articles for a specific affiliate or group. en affiliates@bmi.com Copyright 2008 2008-12-04T23:00:00-05:00 B.B. King Honored at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Gala http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/537482 Sanchez, Poncho, Blanchard, Terence, Hancock, Herbie, King, B.B., Monk, Thelonious, Rogers, Sherisse, Shorter, Wayne, Jazz, Los Angeles The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz gala concert, held October 26 at the Kodak Theatre, honored B.B King with the Founders Award. The event, dedicated to “The Blues and Jazz: Two American Classics,” brought some of the biggest names in music together to pay homage to the two genres of music. Performers included 2008 Grammy Album of the Year recipient Herbie Hancock, Keb’ Mo’, Cassandra Wilson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Robert Cray, Terence Blanchard, Wayne Shorter, Poncho Sanchez, George Duke and Lee Ritenour to name a few.

The concert was held in conjunction with the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition Finals; BMI awarded the grand prize to an exceptionally talented composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and big band leader, Sherisse Rogers. Proceeds from “The Blues and Jazz: Two American Classics” gala concert will help fund public school’s blues and jazz education programs throughout Los Angeles Unified School District, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Delta.

Shown at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz gala honoring B.B. King (l-r):

photo BMI Vice President of Film & Television Relations, Doreen Ringer-Ross and honoree B.B. King
photo BMI’s Doreen Ringer-Ross and Herbie Hancock
photo BMI’s Sr. Director of Film & Television Relations, Linda Livingston; Keb’ Mo; and BMI’s Doreen Ringer-Ross
photo BMI’s Doreen Ringer-Ross, Thelonious Monk Jazz Saxophone grand prize winner, Sherrise Rogers; and Grammy Foundation President, Neil Portnow
photo Thelonious Monk, Jr., BMI’s Doreen Ringer-Ross; and Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Robert J. Pilon, JR
photo BMI’s Doreen Ringer-Ross and Poncho Sanchez
photo Terrance Blanchard

Photos by Michael Bucker & Charley Gallay (WireImage)

]]> 2008-11-16T16:07:00-05:00 BMI Jazz Composers Top ‘Downbeat’ Readers Poll http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/537459 Brecker, Michael, Carter, James, Corea, Chick, Davis, Miles, DeJohnette, Jack, Elling, Kurt, Hancock, Herbie, Hutcherson, Bobby, Jarrett, Keith, King, B.B., McBride, Christian, Metheny, Pat, Moody, James, Rollins, Sonny, Shorter, Wayne, Turre, Steve, Woods, Phil, Jazz Downbeat has released its 73rd Annual Readers Poll with BMI jazz composers topping 24 of the 29 categories, accounting for 84% of the winners. These composers represent the “who’s who” of jazz performers and BMI’s dominance in the genre.

Sonny Rollins top two categories, Jazz Artist and Tenor Saxophone, while the Pat Metheny Trio garnered the Jazz Group award; Pat Metheny himself nabbed the Guitar title. Top honors went to Keith Jarrett, who was inducted in Downbeat’s Hall of Fame; Michael Brecker’s Pilgrimage received the Jazz Album honor and B.B. King received the Blues Artist title. Additional instrumentalists honored include Herbie Hancock (Piano), James Carter (Baritone Saxophone), Steve Turre (Trombone) and Miles Davis (Historical Album).

BMI’s Downbeat Readers Poll winners:

Keith Jarrett
Hall of Fame

Sonny Rollins
Tenor Saxophone
Jazz Artist

Michael Brecker
Jazz Album

Miles Davis
Historical Album

Pat Metheny Trio
Jazz Group

Pat Metheny
Guitar

Steve Turre
Trombone

Wayne Shorter
Soprano Saxophone

Phil Woods
Alto Saxophone

James Carter
Baritone Saxophone

Paquito D’ Rivera
Clarinet

James Moody
Flute

Herbie Hancock
Piano

Joey DeFrancesco
Organ

Chick Corea
Electric Keyboard/Synthesizer

Christian McBride
Acoustic Bass

Steve Swallow
Electric Bass

Jack DeJohnette
Drums

Poncho Sanchez
Percussion

Bobby Hutcherson
Vibes

Toots Theilemans
Miscellaneous Instrument

Kurt Elling
Vocals

B.B. King
Blues Artist/Group

]]> 2008-11-11T12:02:00-05:00 Monk Institute Sets 2008 Competition Schedule http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/536205 Bryant, Del, Hancock, Herbie, Monk, Thelonious, Redman, Joshua, Shorter, Wayne, Jazz, Las Vegas The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz has announced that the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition finals will take place on Sunday, October 26 at 5 p.m. at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The semi-finals will take place on the campus of UCLA at Schoenberg Hall on Saturday, October 25 from 1-5 p.m. This year’s competition will feature the saxophone, with ten of the world’s most talented young saxophonists performing in front of an esteemed panel of judges including Jimmy Heath, Wayne Shorter, 1991 Competition winner Joshua Redman, and others to be announced.

The winner of the Competition will receive a $20,000 scholarship, second place a $10,000 scholarship and third place a $5,000 scholarship. The Competition application and guidelines are available on the Monk Institute website, www.monkinstitute.org.

The Institute has also announced today that the application for the Thelonious Monk International Composer’s Competition is available on the Institute’s website. Sponsored for the past 15 years by BMI, the Composers Competition awards a $10,000 grand prize to the young composer who best demonstrates originality, creativity and excellence in jazz composition.

"A mutual desire to draw attention to the central role of the composer in creating new works for the jazz idiom, a role epitomized by Thelonious Monk, led to our collaboration with the Institute 15 years ago in developing the Composers Competition, " said BMI President and CEO Del Bryant. "As with the Institute's main competition, the process has identified some of the most exciting young jazz composing talent from around the world, and played a significant role in launching and supporting careers for the young composer/ artists who are creating a new repertoire that will be treasured by generations to come."

In addition, the Monk Institute and Concord Music Group jointly announced an historic partnership that will guarantee the 2008 winner a record deal from Concord. This is the first time in the 21-year history of the competition that the winner will walk off stage with a guaranteed recording contract and the first time Concord Music Group has ever entered into a partnership of this kind. Concord Music Group plans to release the winner’s album in mid-2009.

An All-Star Concert Gala to benefit the Institute’s jazz education programs will immediately follow the Saxophone Competition and will include the presentation of the 2008 Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award. Details on the benefit concert line-up and the 2008 Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award recipient will be announced in the coming months.

“I am so pleased that the Monk Competition will return to Los Angeles and I’m inspired at this historic partnership with Concord. What an incredible opportunity Concord and the Institute are offering young musicians. This is truly a visionary moment in the history of jazz and I am certain that this year’s winner, like many past winners, will have a significant impact on the future of music”, said Herbie Hancock, Institute Chairman and 2008 Grammy Album of the Year winner.

“Today, the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition has been taken to a new level. For 20 years, the competition has consistently discovered some of the most successful young jazz artists of our time. Our partnership with Concord ensures that the competition continues to be the most prestigious and influential jazz competition in the world by identifying and showcasing the young artists who are the future of jazz”, said Thelonious Monk, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

]]> 2008-03-12T14:14:01-05:00 Dave Douglas http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/536074 Byron, Don, Douglas, Dave, Shorter, Wayne, Jazz, Hitmaker "You have to develop your language somewhere. For me, that happens when I’m composing. Putting something on paper means ‘I wouldn’t mind hearing this again.’ That takes guts and develops the inner ear,” explains Dave Douglas. The 44-year trumpeter is a musician of many parts with almost two-dozen albums available from his Greenleaf Music website. He is director of the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music and co-founded the Festival of New Trumpet Music. For this jazzman, “[Improvising and composing] go hand in hand, each illuminating the other.”

Douglas’s septet — with a standard horns-and-rhythm line up — plays his compositions as well as those of Don Cherry, Marylou Williams, Booker Little, and Wayne Shorter. Other projects have featured music by Stravinsky, Messiaen, Webern, and Weill. Keystone performs music to accompany shorts by the silent film actor/director Fatty Arbuckle. The Tiny Bell Trio focuses on Eastern European folk music. Brass Ecstasy — five-pieces, inspired by Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy — covers tunes by Rufus Wainwright, Mary J Blige and Bjork.

“I try to arrange my own material as freely as if I don’t owe myself anything,” explains Douglas. “That way you can make the unkindest cuts, which are sometimes necessary. But I think that with someone else’s material you have to ask yourself if the piece still makes sense or if you want it to. Do you want it to be recognizable?”

Educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, Berklee, the New England Conservatory, and NYU, Douglas’s discography lists John Zorn, Don Byron and Anthony Braxton as well as Sean Lennon, Suzanne Vega, Cibo Matto, and Tom Waits. His first big break came in the late ’80s when he joined Horace Silver’s band.

“Horace thought that what makes a player great is not what they play over each chord, but how they get from one chord to the next: voice leading, resolution. Horace really drove home that what was hip was the movement in the line,” notes Douglas. That’s a lesson I have kept with me even in the most abstract situations.”

]]> 2008-02-17T19:44:00-05:00 Rae’s ‘Records’ Wins Honor http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/535688 Bailey Rae, Corinne, Hancock, Herbie, Shorter, Wayne, Singer-Songwriter British singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, currently at Abbey Road Studios working with Herbie Hancock, was presented with her first BMI Pop Award for “Put Your Records On”. The award honors the songwriters, composers, and publishers of the most performed songs on US radio and television for the past 12 months. BMI’s Tabitha Capaldi presented the award to Rae during her recording session for Hancock’s upcoming Joni Mitchell Tribute album, River: The Joni Letters, which features Wayne Shorter and other well-known jazz musicians.

Rae, who released her eponymous debut album in February 2006, was predicted to be the number one breakthrough act of 2006 in an annual BBC poll of music critics. She then went on to become the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at number one. She has been nominated for Grammy and BRIT awards and won two MOBO Awards.

]]> 2007-11-28T19:32:00-05:00 BMI Jazz Giants Score in Down Beat 2007 Critics Poll http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/535262 Byron, Don, Davis, Miles, Douglas, Dave, Elling, Kurt, Hill, Andrew, Holland, Dave, Hutcherson, Bobby, Jarrett, Keith, King, B.B., Moody, James, Rollins, Sonny, Shorter, Wayne, Thielemans, Toots, Turre, Steve, Zawinul, Joe, Jazz BMI composers dominated the 2007 Down Beat Critics Poll, winning 69% of the awards. Celebrated bassist and bandleader Dave Holland was a multiple winner, taking home honors both for Bassist of the Year and Band of the Year for his quintet. The late pianist Andrew Hill was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame, and Miles Davis’s Legendary Prestige Sessions won in the Historical Album of the Year category.

A number of jazz masters were honored in various categories: Sonny Rollins (Tenor Saxophonist), Keith Jarrett (Pianist), Wayne Shorter (Soprano Saxophonist), Roy Haynes (Drummer), Joe Zawinul (Electric Keyboard & Synthesizer Player), Bobby Hutcherson (Vibist), James Moody (Flutist) and Toots Thielemans (Miscellaneous Instrumentalist). B.B. King was also honored as Blues Artist/Group of the Year.

Many of the most accomplished young lions received honors: Kurt Elling (Male Vocalist), Poncho Sanchez (Percussionist), Dave Douglas (Trumpeter), Steve Turre (Trombonist), Gary Smulyan (Baritone Saxophonist), Don Byron (Clarinetist), Joey DeFrancesco (Organist). The innovative blues performer Otis Taylor won Blues Album of the Year for Definition of a Circle.

For complete coverage of the awards, consult downbeat.com.

]]> 2007-07-27T17:27:00-05:00 BMI Jazz Greats Sweep ‘Downbeat’ Critics Poll http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334902 Artists, Barretto, Ray, Byron, Don, Caine, Uri, Carter, James, Coltrane, John, Cooder, Ry, Cullum, Jamie, Cullum, Jamie, DeJohnette, Jack, Douglas, Dave, Drake, Hamid, Elling, Kurt, Frisell, Bill, Hill, Andrew, Holland, Dave, Hutcherson, Bobby, Jarrett, Keith, King, B.B., McLean, Jackie, Mitchell, Nicole, Monk, Thelonious, Moody, James, Rollins, Sonny, Shorter, Wayne, Souza, Luciana, Speed, Chris, Thielemans, Toots, Trucks, Derek, Turre, Steve, Woods, Phil, Zawinul, Joe, Zenón, Miguel, Musical Styles, Jazz Downbeat magazine, the voice of jazz since 1934. BMI's dedication to the advancement of original forms of American music exists as a cornerstone of the organization's very conception, and remains a priority today.

Sonny Rollins Wayne Shorter B.B. King

Sonny Rollins and Wayne Shorter both lead the gaggle of BMI winners with two awards apiece. Rollins earned the 2006 Jazz Artist of the Year and Tenor Saxophone Musician of the Year trophies, while the Wayne Shorter Quartet was declared Jazz Group of the Year; Shorter himself landed the Soprano Saxophone Player of the Year title.

Jackie McLean Jamie Cullum Thelonious Monk

The iconic B.B. King was recognized as Blues Artist of the Year, while saxophonist Jackie McLean was inducted into Downbeat's Hall of Fame.

Best Jazz Album went to Andrew Hill for Time Lines, his first original album since the 90s. Thelonious Monk won a posthumous award for Best Historical Album for his collaboration with John Coltrane.

BMI also dominated categories designated for the jazz community's brightest up-and-comers, as worldwide phenomenon Jamie Cullum was named Rising Star Male Vocalist and Luciana Souza earned the Rising Star Female Vocalist title. SFJAZZ Collective nabbed Rising Star Jazz Group honors as well, while Derek Trucks was honored as Rising Star Blues Artist.

BMI's Downbeat Critics Poll Winners:

Jackie McLean
Hall of Fame

Sonny Rollins
Jazz Artist
Tenor Saxophone

Wayne Shorter Quartet
Jazz Group

Wayne Shorter
Soprano Saxophone

Andrew Hill
Jazz Album

Thelonious Monk/John Coltrane
Historical Album

SFJAZZ Collective
Rising Star Jazz Group

Dave Douglas
Trumpet

Steve Turre
Trombone

Joe Zawinul
Electric Keyboard/Synthesizer

Uri Caine
Rising Star Electric Keyboard/Synthesizer

Dave Holland
Bass

Jack DeJohnette
Drums

Ray Barretto
Percussion

Hamid Drake
Rising Star Percussion

Bobby Hutcherson
Vibes

Kurt Elling
Male Vocalist

Jamie Cullum (PRS)
Rising Star Male Vocalist

Luciana Souza
Rising Star Female Vocalist

Toots Thielemans
Harmonica

B.B. King
Blues Artist/Group

Derek Trucks
Rising Star Blues Artist

Phil Woods
Alto Saxophone

Miguel Zenón
Rising Star Alto Saxophone

James Carter
Baritone Saxophone

Don Byron
Clarinet

Chris Speed
Rising Star Clarinet

James Moody
Flute

Nicole Mitchell
Rising Star Flute

Bill Frisell
Guitar

Keith Jarrett
Acoustic Piano

Ry Cooder
Beyond Album
]]> 2006-07-17T18:00:00-05:00 BMI Writers Take Home Majority of This Year’s Grammys http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334680 Artists, Adams, Yolanda, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Audio Adrenaline, Black Eyed Peas, Bolcom, William, Boyd, Bobby E., Carey, Mariah, Casting Crowns, Cerf, Christopher, Childs, Billy, Chirino, Willy, De La Soul, Del McCoury Band, The, Du Prez, John, Fatman Scoop, Foxx, Jamie, Franklin, Aretha, Gil, Gilberto, Gorillaz, Hanna, Jeff, Hill, Faith, Holland, Dave, Hummon, Marcus, Idle, Eric, King, B.B., Krauss, Alison, Legend, John, Linkin Park, Little Joe y La Familia, Maroon 5, McClinton, Delbert, McClurkin, Donnie, McGraw, Tim, Metheny, Pat, Miguel, Luis, Palmieri, Eddie, Prine, John, Rollins, Sonny, Shakira, Shorter, Wayne, Sturr, Jimmy, System of a Down, Turtle Island String Quartet, Urban, Keith, Valdés, Bebo, Vega, Louie, West, Kanye, White Stripes, The, Winans, CeCe, Winter, Paul, Awards, Industry Awards, Grammy Awards 48th Annual Grammy Awards, held February 8 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Mariah Carey Alison Krauss

Adding to BMI's 53% take of the night's awards, triple winners Mariah Carey, Alison Krauss, John Legend and Kanye West led the list with the most trophies, dominating the r&b, rap and country categories.

John Legend Kanye West

Carey, whose comeback release The Emancipation of Mimi was named Best Contemporary R&B Album, also took home Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for the album's smash hit "We Belong Together."

CeCe Winans Black Eyed Peas

Bluegrass fiddler Alison Krauss and her band Union Station added Best Country Album (Lonely Runs Both Ways), Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Restless") and Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Unionhouse Branch") to an impressive career Grammy haul that now totals 20.

Shakira Gorillaz

The coveted Best New Artist Grammy went to neo-soul artist John Legend, who also picked up Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the moving "Ordinary People" and Best R&B Album for his debut entitled Get Lifted.

Tim McGraw Linkin Park

Kanye West cleaned up in the rap field, winning Best Rap Solo Performance for the Jamie Foxx duet "Gold Digger," Best Rap Song for "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" and Best Rap Album for his sophomore effort Late Registration. The BMI Award-winning rapper also won three awards at last year's ceremony.

Aretha Franklin Maroon5

Earning two Grammys apiece were pianist Billy Childs for Best Instrumental Composition ("Into The Light") and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists ("What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?"), and gospel singer CeCe Winans for Best Gospel Performance ("Pray") and Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album (Purified).

Keith Urban System of a Down

Other big BMI winners included the Black Eyed Peas, Gorillaz, Shakira, Audio Adrenaline, Keith Urban, Gilberto Gil, Bobby Boyd, William Bolcom, Aretha Franklin, Maroon5, Linkin Park, Tim McGraw, System of a Down, the White Stripes and Luis Miguel.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Winners:

Yolanda Adams
Best Gospel Song
"Be Blessed"

Audio Adrenaline
Best Rock Gospel Album
Until My Heart Caves In

Black Eyed Peas
Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group
"Don't Phunk With My Heart"

William Bolcom
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
"Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and of Experience"

Bobby Boyd
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Mariah Carey
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
"We Belong Together"
Best R&B Song
"We Belong Together"
Best Contemporary R&B Album
The Emancipation of Mimi

Billy Childs
Best Instrumental Composition
"Into The Light"
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists
"What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?"

Casting Crowns
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Lifesong

Christopher Cerf
Best Spoken Word Album for Children
Marlo Thomas & Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long

Willy Chirino
Best Salsa/Merengue Album
Son Del Alma

John Du Prez (PRS)
Best Musical Show Album
Monty Python's Spamalot

Aretha Franklin
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
"A House Is Not A Home"

Gilberto Gil
Best Contemporary World Music Album
Eletrac?stico

Gorillaz (PRS) featuring De La Soul
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
"Feel Good Inc."

Jeff Hanna
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Faith Hill
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
"Like We Never Loved At All"

Dave Holland Big Band
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Overtime

Marcus Hummon
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Eric Idle (PRS)
Best Musical Show Album
Monty Python's Spamalot

B.B. King
Best Traditional Blues Album
80

Alison Krauss and Union Station
Best Country Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
"Restless"
Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Unionhouse Branch"
Best Country Album
Lonely Runs Both Ways

John Legend
Best New Artist
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
"Ordinary People"
Best R&B Album
Get Lifted

Linkin Park
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"Numb/Encore"

Little Joe y La Familia
Best Tejano Album
Chicanisimo

Maroon5
Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
"This Love"

Delbert McClinton
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Cost Of Living

Donnie McClurkin
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs

The Del McCoury Band
Best Bluegrass Album
The Company We Keep

Tim McGraw
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
"Like We Never Loved At All"

Pat Metheny Group
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
The Way Up

Luis Miguel
Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album
México En La Piel

Eddie Palmieri
Best Latin Jazz Album
Listen Here!

John Prine
Best Contemporary Folk Album
Fair & Square

Sonny Rollins
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Why Was I Born?

Fat Man Scoop
Best Short Form Music Video
"Lose Control"

Shakira
Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
Fijación Oral Vol. 1

Wayne Shorter Quartet
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Beyond The Sound Barrier

Jimmy Sturr
Best Polka Album
Shake, Rattle And Polka!

System of a Down
Best Hard Rock Performance
B.Y.O.B.

Turtle Island String Quartet
Best Classical Crossover Album
4 + Four

Keith Urban
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
"You'll Think Of Me"

Bebo Valdés
Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album
Bebo De Cuba

Louie Vega
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
"Superfly (Louie Vega EOL Mix)"

Kanye West
Best Rap Solo Performance
"Gold Digger"
Best Rap Song
"Diamonds From Sierra Leone"
Best Rap Album
Late Registration

The White Stripes
Best Alternative Album
Get Behind Me Satan

CeCe Winans
Best Gospel Performance
"Pray"
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
Purified

Paul Winter Consort
Best New Age Album
Silver Solstice]]> 2006-02-08T17:00:00-05:00 It’s Eight Grammy Nods for Mariah, Kanye and Legend http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334631 Artists, Adams, William, Adams, Yolanda, Aguilera, Christina, Audio Adrenaline, Audioslave, Austin, Dallas, Ayala, Ramon, Ball, Marcia, Barretto, Ray, Big & Rich, Black Eyed Peas, Blanchard, Terence, Blue Highway, Bolcom, William, Boyer, Peter, Brooks & Dunn, Bush, Sam, Carey, Mariah, Carr, Kurt, Casting Crowns, Cerf, Christopher, Chapman, Steven Curtis, Cherryholmes, Childs, Billy, Chirino, Willy, Clapton, Eric, Clark-Cole, Dorinda, Common, Cooder, Ry, Copeland, Stewart, Crow, Sheryl, Cunliffe, Bill, D'Rivera, Paquito, Daft Punk, Daniels, Charlie, De La Soul, Death Cab For Cutie, Del McCoury Band, The, DiFranco, Ani, Dixie Chicks, Douglas, Dave, Douglas, Jerry, Du Prez, John, Elfman, Danny, Eminem, Fall Out Boy, Floetry, Foo Fighters, Foster, David, Foxx, Jamie, Franklin, Aretha, Franklin, Kirk, Game, The, Gatlin, Larry, Gil, Gilberto, Gill, Vince, Golijov, Osvaldo, Gorillaz, Guy, Buddy, Haggard, Merle, Hancock, Herbie, Hanna, Jeff, Hill, Faith, Holland, Dave, Houghton, Israel, Hummon, Marcus, Hunt, Van, Idle, Eric, Intocable, Jamiroquai, Jars of Clay, Jerkins, Rodney, Jones, Norah, Keane, Kee, John P., Keith, Toby, Kelly, R., King, B.B., Krauss, Alison, La Tropa F, LaBelle, Patti, Lawrence, Donald, Legend, John, Linkin Park, Los Lonely Boys, Maroon 5, McBride, Martina, McClinton, Delbert, McClurkin, Donnie, McGehee, Vicky, McGraw, Tim, McLachlan, Sarah, Metheny, Pat, Miguel, Luis, Mo, Keb, Molotov, Mos Def, Munizzi, Martha, Murphy, Walter, Nelson, Willie, Neptunes, The, Nickelback, Orishas, Palmieri, Eddie, Prine, John, Queens of the Stone Age, Rascal Flatts, Redman, Joshua, Rollins, Sonny, Seal, Shakira, Shorter, Wayne, Souza, Luciana, Sturr, Jimmy, Sugarland, System of a Down, Turtle Island String Quartet, Urban, Keith, Vega, Louie, Vincent, Rhonda, West, Kanye, White Stripes, The, Williams, John, Wilson, Brian, Winans, Bebe, Winans, CeCe, Winter, Paul, Yazbek, David, Ying Yang Twins 48th Annual Grammy Awards with eight nods each when contenders were announced at a star-studded press conference held December 8 at Gotham Hall in New York City. Their three-way tie pushed the total number of BMI-nominated songwriters and artists to an astounding 70% in the general fields.

Mariah CareyKanye WestJohn Legend

Mariah Carey's multi-platinum comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi, and its smash single "We Belong Together," helped the pop singer score three of the most coveted Grammy nominations: Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The hit ballad also picked up mentions for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while Mimi added Best Contemporary R&B Album to Carey's haul.

Presenters for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards nominations included BMI songwriter/artists John Legend, CeCe Winans, Mariah Carey, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and Patti LaBelle. Photo by S. Lovekin/WireImage

Rapper Kanye West continued his red hot streak, also earning nominations in the Album and Record of the Year categories with his sophomore release Late Registration and the hit "Gold Digger," respectively. He will compete against himself for the Album of the Year title as a producer on Carey's disc. As a songwriter, West will battle for the Best Rap Song crown with his "Diamonds from Sierra Leone," as well as Best R&B Song as a co-writer on the Alicia Keys track "Unbreakable."

Black Eyed Peas Brooks & Dunn

Soul singer John Legend is up for Best New Artist, Best R&B Album for his debut Get Lifted, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Song of the Year for "Ordinary People," which he also co-wrote. Legend joins his mentor Kanye West and rapper Common on the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ticket with "They Say."

Casting Crowns Common

Coming in with six nominations was Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas who, as a songwriter, has a shot at Song of the Year and Best R&B Song as co-writer of Legend's "Ordinary People" and Best Rap Song for the Peas' hit "Don't Phunk with My Heart." The band is also up for Best Rap and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Death Cab for Cutie Foo Fighters

In addition to Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Common earned three other mentions, including Best Rap Album for Be. Four nods also went to Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Billy Childs and BMI producer/songwriters the Neptunes, who have production credits on two Album of the Year nominees -- Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi and Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

The Game GorillazJohn Williams

Earning three nominations apiece were Sheryl Crow, with Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Good is Good"), Best Pop Vocal Album (Wildflower) and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for the single "Building Bridges," featuring Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill; Eminem (Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Album); and film composer John Williams, up for Best Score for Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, as well as for Best Instrumental Composition for both "Anakin's Betrayal" (from Revenge of the Sith) and "The Ferry Scene" (from the War of the Worlds soundtrack).

Maroon 5 Norah Jones Sheryl Crow

Double nominees included rappers The Game and T.I., songwriter Marcus Hummon, singer Norah Jones and gospel diva CeCe Winans.

Other BMI songwriters and artists collecting Grammy nominations were Christina Aguilera, Dallas Austin, Casting Crowns, Eric Clapton (PRS), Death Cab for Cutie, Paquito D'Rivera, Danny Elfman, Fall Out Boy, Osvaldo Golijov, Dave Holland Big Band, Intocable, Keane (PRS), Maroon 5, Sugarland, Ying Yang Twins, and BMI Icons Charlie Daniels and Brian Wilson.

SugarlandT.I.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 8.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Nominees:

8 NOMINATIONS
Mariah Carey
John Legend
Kanye West

6 NOMINATIONS
William Adams

4 NOMINATIONS
Billy Childs
Common
Foo Fighters
Gorillaz (PRS)
The Neptunes

3 NOMINATIONS
Yolanda Adams
The Black Eyed Peas
Sheryl Crow
De La Soul
Eminem
Herbie Hancock
Faith Hill
Alison Krauss & Union Station
John Williams

2 NOMINATIONS
Bobby Boyd
Brooks & Dunn
Andrew Coleman
Andrew Dawson
Dixie Chicks
The Game
Michael Giacchino
Jeff Hanna
Marcus Hummon
Norah Jones
Delbert McClinton
Donnie McClurkin
Joel Moss
Willie Nelson
Al Schmitt
Fat Man Scoop
T.I.
The White Stripes
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]]> 2005-12-11T17:00:01-05:00 For Herbie Hancock, Music Is More Than Notes http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/234066 Artists, Blow Up, Corea, Chick, Davis, Miles, Hancock, Herbie, Shorter, Wayne, Musical Styles, Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Musicworld, Feature, Type, Foundation Herbie Hancock is not just one of the giants of contemporary jazz. As a keyboard player and composer, Hancock is a paragon of innovation and vision within contemporary music whose work has enthralled listeners across the musical spectrum.

A native of Chicago who was a classical piano prodigy in his youth and embraced jazz in his teens, Hancock arrived in New York City's thriving jazz scene in 1960 to play with trumpeter Donald Byrd after graduating from Grinnell College. His 1962 debut album, Takin' Off , yielded his first standard, "Watermelon Man," later a hit for Mongo Santamaria. He soon joined Miles Davis's band and was instrumental in the trumpeter's shift from acoustic be-bop to electric fusion and funk. At the same time, he composed yet another classic song with the title tune to his 1965 album, Maiden Voyage .

Hancock also began composing a string of acclaimed film soundtracks, starting with the score to Blow Up in 1966 and winning an Academy Award in 1987 for his soundtrack to ’Round Midnight . By the end of the 1960s, he had left Davis's group to form his band Headhunters, which took jazz innovations to the rock and pop audience and was a leading force within the fusion movement.

From that time on, Hancock has continued to push the envelope of modern music while also continuing to pay musical homage to the jazz tradition. He was one of the first keyboard players to make both the Fender Rhodes electric piano and the synthesizer mainstream musical instruments, and on his 1983 album, Future Shock, Hancock explored the burgeoning electronic and hip-hop styles. His single from that set, "Rock It," earned him a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental and was an r&b and dance hit, while the video for the song won five MTV Video Music awards. In 1977, he reunited the classic Davis quintet of the early 1960s as V.S.O.P. for an album and tour (with Freddie Hubbard on trumpet in Davis's stead). His 1998 album, Gershwin's World, found Hancock collaborating with Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Kathleen Battle, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea in a masterful tribute to George Gershwin. The set won Hancock three more Grammys (out of his total of eight Grammy Awards to date).

Hancock's career has also seen him produce the debut album by Wynton Marsalis, host the TV shows "Rock School" for PBS and "Coast to Coast" for Showtime, and recently tour with the Dave Matthews Band. He also formed the Rhythm of Life Foundation in 1996 to provide financial support to individuals or companies that are using technology for the advancement of humanity and recently started Transparent Music to promote groundbreaking musical endeavors.

Behind all of Hancock's musical achievements and endeavors is a sensibility that believes that music is something greater than mere notes and tones offered for entertainment. As Hancock observes, "Creativity and artistic endeavors have a mission that goes far beyond just making music for the sake of music."]]> 2004-05-19T18:00:01-05:00