The Grammys

Several musicians with local connections were in the news for Grammy nominations today.

Guitarist Peter Frampton, the producer and engineer of a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra recording, a Cincinnati-born jazz musician and a former principal guest conductor of the CSO are among the nominees for Grammy Awards, it was announced today.

Frampton, our favorite British-born rocker who made his Cincinnati Pops debut this past summer, was nominated for best pop instrumental album for "Fingerprints." He also received a nod for best rock instrumental performance for his version of the 1994 Soundgarden song "Black Hole Sun" on that album.

The disc, you will recall, is his first all-instrumental album, recorded with a few of his favorite buddies -- some of it in his basement studio in Indian Hill.

In the best engineered album, classical category, Telarc's Michael Bishop has been nominated for "Elgar: Enigma Variations; Britten: The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Four Sea Interludes" performed by Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

And in the producer of the year, classical category, Elaine Martone was nominated for five albums, including the Cincinnati Symphony’s Britten and Elgar disc on Telarc. (Elaine is the wife of Telarc producer Bob Woods.)

Cincinnatian Fred Hersch, a jazz pianist, was nominated for best instrumental composition for "Valentine," which he performs on the album, "In Amsterdam: Live At The Bimhuis" (Palmetto Records).

And remember Ivan Fischer, former principal guest conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony? Fischer, now principal guest of the National Symphony in Washington DC was nominated for best orchestral performance for "Mahler: Symphony No. 6" (Channel Classics) with his Budapest Festival Orchestra.

The 49th annual Grammy Awards ceremony will be held Feb. 11th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

So how long will it be before Paavo and the CSO get a Grammy for a performance, and not just engineering or sound? Enquiring minds want to know.