Concord's Grammy Nods Jackpot

by Bob Powers

G21 Music Writer

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Bob Powers

MARIETTA, OH, USA - The staff at Concord Records on the West Coast will be paying strict attention to the telecast of the Grammy Awards coming up on Feb. 27. Chances for Concord artists to win a boatload of Grammys could be rated from excellent to a dead-on certainty.

When the Grammy Award nominees were announced a while ago, I could imagine watching Concord's publicity director, Audrey Faine, and other staffers dancing around the office.

Why? Because Concord snagged a total of eleven nominations, thought to be the highest number of potential winners in the history of the most prestigious events honoring the music industry.

In one category, the array of riches seems almost embarrassing. For Traditional Pop Vocal Album, there were five nominees. Except for Harry Connick Jr.'s nomination, all of the others went to Concord artists.

Tops, as far as this writer is concerned, is the nomination given to Rosemary Clooney, for her wondrous album from last fall, "Sentimental Journey."

You may recall that Rosemary has been nominated several times in the past. For years her work received the honor of nominations, but the terrific Tony Bennett snagged the award.

In the category this year, there's no Tony Bennett.

Rosemary's "Sentimental Journey," received wide applause. The album put Rosemary in front of a fantastic big band from the Hawaiian Islands. The work done by the Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack helped make this album one of the best she's delivered in the past two decades. The songs selected are all exceptional, ranging from some golden oldies from the distant past and several winners from the current generation. There are a couple of cuts from the Rosemary Clooney Music Festival, staged each fall in Rosemary's hometown of Maysville, Ky. (And I used to work on the morning newspaper in that lovely metropolis. Please don't ask how long ago that was, but I was a mere child). Hearing Rosemary work a lively crowd is an aural masterpiece.

Other Concord artists competing for the vocal honors include the esteemed Betty Buckley, for her album called "Stars and the Moon: Live at the Donmar." Keely Smith, who made a national reputation working with then-hubby Louis Prima back in the 50s, made a resounding splash with two albums last year. She's nominated for her work on "Keely Sings Sinatra." If you've got a few gray hairs amongst the dark ones, this album should prove to be a kick.

When he was a very young man, Michael Feinstein managed to win a job from the famous lyricist Ira Gershwin. Feinstein proved to be such a devoted worker that Gershwin and his wife invited the native of Columbus, Ohio, to move in. Because of that, Feinstein was invited to stop over and meet the next-door neighbor, who happened to be (you guessed it!) Rosemary Clooney. Rosemary has for years counted Feinstein as her "other son." They remain close friends to this day.

Feinstein's album, "Romance on Film, Romance on Broadway," has been chosen for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal category. The voting should be close, because these albums share a single quality: they're all damned good.

For Concord Records, the news kept getting bigger and better. Two Concord albums were named to the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album category. They are Regina Belle's dynamite "This Is Regina," and "Three Wishes" by Miki Howard. Peak Records, an affiliate of Concord, released both albums.

Karrin Allyson created a rumble across the land when her album, "Ballads -- Remembering John Coltrane" came out last year. The album won great reviews and has been a frequent feature on jazz radio around the country. She received a nomination for Best Jazz Vocal. A nomination also went to Josiah Gluck, as engineer for Karrin's "Ballads" release.

I've been a fan of Gary Burton since hearing him in person at the Cincinnati Jazz Festival at old, long-gone Crosley Field, the former home of the Reds. It was either the late 70s or perhaps a couple of years into the 70s. Looking like a high school student, Burton seemed to be a sure bet for jazz fame. And he has been for many years. His album, "For Hamp, Red, Bags, and Cal," received a Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for the track called "Move."

Finally, Concord received two nominations in Best Instrumental Composition, for John Patitucci's "Communion" from the "Communion" album for Concord Jazz, and Patrick Williams' "Theme from 'Blonde'" from the "Blonde" soundtrack. The album came out on the Playboy Jazz/Concord label.

I would be excited to see many honors handed out on Feb. 27 to the folks at Concord. But the night will be a special one when Rosemary Clooney receives the overdue Lifetime Achievement Award.

Rosemary, you're the best and I'll be sitting with nose close to the TV screen. Don't forget, Ms. Clooney, the wonderful words from that James Taylor song that you often do in concert, "The secret of life is enjoying the ride."

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