Grammy Nominees for Best Latin Jazz Album

This year's Grammy Awards will see the reinstatement of the Latin Jazz category that was deleted in the recent "consolidation" of ethnic music categories by the Recording Academy.

Nominated for 2013 Best Latin Jazz Album:

Manuel Valera   New Cuban Express

A versatile pianist and bandleader, Valera's New Cuban Express band is his first to specifically address Cuban music.

Luciana Souza  Duos III

Luciana's  warm and engaging voice and Romero Lubambo's guitar is truly a beautiful combination.

Bobby Sanabria Big Band   Multiverse

Percussionist, educator, crusader for Latin Jazz leads his stellar big band on an expedition through the expanding universes of the music.

The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band  Ritmo

Clare Fischer, pianist, composer and arranger with a deep love of Latin Jazz, died in January of this year.  He collaborated with his son Brent for this big band recording, with lots of guest artists and a mix of new and old material.

Chano Dominguez  Flamenco Sketches

The celebrated Flamenco-Jazz pianist takes on Miles Davis' masterpiece Kind of Blue.  It was originally commissioned by Barcelona Jazz Festival and recorded Live at the Jazz Standard in NYC.

Listen for award-winning Latin Jazz on Jazz Caliente, Thursdays at 2pm on KPLU's Mid Day Jazz!