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.
http://youtu.be/x5Li_f3VuPU
Luciana Souza Duos III
Luciana's warm and engaging voice and Romero Lubambo's guitar is truly a beautiful combination.
http://youtu.be/aJpRDiwa0NQ
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.
http://youtu.be/iDh1aQwivHg
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.
http://youtu.be/eeKIB7fqV4A
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.
http://youtu.be/h3Rv1A4ZUZA
Listen for award-winning Latin Jazz on Jazz Caliente, Thursdays at 2pm on KPLU's Mid Day Jazz!