Nominations for this year’s ECHO Jazz Awards, which will take place in a ceremony at the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg on 28 May, have been announced. They include a good sprinkling of artists who record for the OKeh, ACT, and Nonesuch labels. The nominations at this significant German music industry event include:
National ensemble of the year: Hans Lüdemann Trio Ivoire for Timbuktu; Michael Wollny Trio Weltentraum, Rainer Böhm Quartet, Familia
International ensemble of the year: Hildegard lernt fliegen, The Fundamental Rhythm of Unpolished Brains; Pat Metheny Unity Group Kin; Vincent Peirani & Emile Parisien, Belle Époque
National singer of the year: Johanna Borchert, FMbiography; Tobias Christl, Wildern; Ulita Knaus The Moon On My Doorstep
International singer of the year: Rebekka Bakken, Little Drop Of Poison; Andreas Schaerer, The Fundamental Rhythm of Unpolished Brains; Somi, The Lagos Music Salon
National pianist of the year: Rainer Böhm, Familia; Julia Kadel, Im Vertrauen; Michael Wollny, Weltentraum
International pianist of the year: Stefano Bollani, Sheik Yer Zappa; Chick Corea, Solo Piano Portraits; Brad Mehldau, Mehliana: Taming The Dragon
National saxophonist/woodwinds player of the year: Niels Klein, Tubes And Wires; Christof Lauer, Petite Fleur; Max Merseny, Everlasting
International saxophonist/woodwinds player of the year: Branford Marsalis, In My Solitude: Live in Concert at Grace Cathedral; Emile Parisien, Spezial Snack; Joshua Redman, Trios Live
National drummer of the year: Eva Klesse, Xenon; Diego Pinera, Strange Ways; Eric Schaefer, Weltentraum
International drummer of the year: Jeff Ballard, Time’s Tales; Brian Blade, Landmarks; Manu Katché, Live in Concert
National bassist of the year: Eva Kruse, In Water; Robert Landfermann, Tiefgang; Omar Rodriguez Calvo, Beat
International bassist of the year: Lars Danielsson, Liberetto II; Dave Holland, The Art Of Conversation; Steve Swallow, Simple Songs
National brass instrumentalist of the year: Till Brönner, The Movie Album; Sebastian Studnitzky, KY The String Project; Reiner Winterschladen, Rio Bravo
International brass instrumentalist of the year: Ambrose Akinmusire, The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier To Paint; Theo Croker, Afro Physicist; Nils Petter Molvaer Switch;
National guitarist of the year: Hanno Busch, Absent; Tobias Hoffmann, 11 Famous Songs Tenderly Messed Up; Peter Meyer, Hymnolia
International guitarist of the year: Bill Frisell, Guitar In The Space Age; Nguyên Lê, Celebrating The Dark Side Of The Moon; Pat Metheny, Kin
The full list including newcomer, big band and miscellaneous instruments categories may be found here
Somi, above, nominated in the international singer of the year category