Eight members of the New York University community received a total of ten nominations when the Recording Association announced its annual list of contenders for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards yesterday.
Grammy Awards are selected annually to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency, and overall excellence in the recording industry.
Three faculty members from the Jazz Studies program in the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions at NYU’s Steinhardt School received a total of four 2017 Grammy Award nominations. John Scofield, an instructor in the Jazz Studies program at NYU Steinhardt, received two nominations, one for Best Instrumental Jazz Album for his album Country For Old Men and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Scofield, an internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist, took home a 2016 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Album for his album Past Present.
Trombonist and composer Alan Ferber, also an instructor in the Jazz Studies program at NYU Steinhardt, was nominated for Best Instrumental Composition for “Flow” off of his latest album Roots & Transitions. Ferber was nominated for a 2014 Grammy for his album March Sublime.
Jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Alan Broadbent was nominated in the category of Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for “I'm a Fool to Want You,” recorded by Kristin Chenoweth. Broadbent, also of the Jazz Studies program at NYU Steinhardt, won two Grammy Awards for Best Instrumental Arrangement in 1996 and 1999.
Kevin Killen, adjunct professor at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at the Tisch School of the Arts was nominated in the category of Best Engineered Album for his work on David Bowie’s final album, Blackstar. Killen has previously won five Grammy Awards, including four Latin Grammys and an award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album for Fijación Oral Vol. 1, which he recorded with the artist Shakira.
Two NYU alumni of NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study received a total of three nominations. Alex Pall (BA '08) of the band The Chainsmokers received nominations for Best New Group as well as for Best Duo/Group Pop Performance for the song “Closer,” which featured the artist Halsey. Christopher Gallant (BA '12), known professionally as Gallant, was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album for his debut studio album Ology.
Ari Hest (BS '02), a graduate of NYU Steinhardt, received his first Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album for Silver Skies Blue, a duet album and collaboration with singer-songwriter Judy Collins.
Jeanne Montalvo (MM '12), also a graduate of NYU Steinhardt, was nominated for Best Historical Album for her work as a mastering engineer on Vladimir Horowitz: The Unreleased Live Recordings 1966-1983.
Winners of the 59th Annual Grammy Awards will be announced on February 12, 2017 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.