The nominees for the 40th anniversary of the JUNO Awards were announced this morning in Toronto and, to their credit, CARAS did a fine job of spreading the focus across a range of musical genres and cultures at the presentation. Although we all know the big draws will be the pop acts like Justin Bieber and Drake--who is hosting the awards show on March 27 and snagged six nominations--the jazz, classical and world music categories were also given their due.
Nominees in several categories are favourites of WholeNote too, and have been featured via CD reviews and profiles:
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Beat Goes On Emilie-Claire Barlow
Last Call Jeff Healey
Nina Kellylee Evans
Tracing Light Laila Biali
Nikki Nikki Yanofsky
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Ricochet Adrean Farrugia
Big Sky Chet Doxas
Treelines Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra
Next Exit Kelly Jefferson Quartet
Jerusalem Trilogy Matt Herskowitz
TRADITIONAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Re: Visions, Works for Jazz Orchestra Earl MacDonald
Hieronymus Félix Stüssi 5 & Ray Anderson
Our First Set John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra
Songbook Vol.2 Kirk MacDonald Quartet
Drum Lore Owen Howard
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Spirit Dance David Braid & Canadian Brass
Continent & Western Fond of Tigers
Room of Wonders Jayme Stone
Sundogs The Creaking Tree String Quartet
Rising Sun The Souljazz Orchestra
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Armenian Chamber Music Amici Ensemble
Anton Kuerti : Schumann Anton Kuerti
Beethoven : Piano Trios Op. 70 No. 1, Ghost & No. 2: Op 11 Gryphon Trio
Marc-André Hamelin- Études Marc-André Hamelin
Bach : Six Suites for Solo Cello Winona Zelenka
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LARGE ENSEMBLE OR SOLOIST(S) WITH LARGE ENSEMBLE ACCOMPANIMENT
Arvo Pärt : Portrait Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà Analekta
James Ehnes, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto James Ehnes
Chopin Piano Concertos Janina Fialkowska and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under Bramwell Tovey
Mozart: Scott and Lara St. John/The Knights Lara St. John
Bonbons Les Violons du Roy under Bernard Labadie
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: VOCAL OR CHORAL PERFORMANCE
Salsa baroque Ensemble Caprice
Great Operatic Arias Gerald Finley
Britten - Les Illuminations Karina Gauvin
Night and Dreams Measha Brueggergosman
Into Light musica intima
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
Last Dance Clark Ross
Exaudi Jocelyn Morlock
Piano Concerto Larysa Kuzmenki
Quomodo Sedet Sola Civita (How doth the city sit solitary) Peter-Anthony Togni
Duo For Violin And Piano R. Murray Schafer
WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS)
Aksil Élage Diouf
The Rumba Foundation Jesse Cook
Gakondo Mighty Popo
Supermagique Pacifika
Soy Panamericano Roberto López Project
Check here for a full list of the nominations.
Anyone planning to come in from out of town for the awards show can take advantage of special advance ticket packages being offered by Tourism Toronto. www.SeeTorontoNow.com Otherwise, tickets go on sale February 5 through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 1-855-985-5000.