It’s curious how America centric the Grammys are at least compared with the Oscars where for instance more British and Irish talent get a look in and win regular awards most years.
That isn’t the case at all at the Grammys beyond pop anyway. But great to see pop singer Olivia Dean pick up the best new artist award. Jazz pianist Deschanel Gordon has worked extensively with the singer. That’s as close as it gets for UK jazz! In other words sub footnote.
And yet the estimable Royal Academy of Music/Frost Miami Kenny Wheeler collaboration was nominated and so were, yes, the sleeve notes for the multi-national Anouar Brahem/Dave Holland/Django Bates/Anja Lechner record – the record itself deserved something a bit more! But none of these won anyway.
Casting around elsewhere even though it pipped the RAM Big Band release to scoop the gong I applaud the choice of the Christian McBride Big Band winner in the big band category and wins for Samara Joy and Laufey. But confusingly Laufey is deemed to inhabit another world that is but isn’t jazz. Both at the same time.
But it’s yet another universe entirely, one that leaves nary a trace on jazz in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin and beyond. I don’t think jazzers are in the business of making jazz just to win awards. But it does no harm collecting something for the mantlepiece.
Eurojazz which is also incredibly healthy gets little or no recognition much either. But have a look at the great quality of Eurojazz issued last year and glimpse just what is out there that simply isn’t at all on the awards’ radar.
- Read a full list of the 2026 winners on the LA Times website