UMass Jazz Trombonist Ben Barnett Receives Second Grammy Nomination
Ben Barnett, adjunct faculty member of jazz trombone in the Department of Music and Dance, recently received his second career Grammy Award nomination. As a member of The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Barnett earned a nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album on the newly released live album “The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico.”
Released in October by Shore Fire Media, the album is a recording of a 2023 concert by the 18-piece orchestra and special guests at New York City’s Town Hall, celebrating the groundbreaking collaboration between Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo in 1947, a watershed moment that birthed Latin jazz and historic works such as “Manteca.”
Belongó – a non-profit organization founded by Arturo O’Farrill of which Barnett is a long-time member – presented the concert and is an executive producer of the album, which is also a celebration of the role that O’Farrill’s father, Chico O’Farrill, played in this musical evolution.
“I am thankful to have been able to contribute to this incredible and unique audio experience,” says Barnett, who was previously nominated in 2021 for his performance on “Virtual Birdland,” another collaboration with O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It will be broadcast on CBS and available to stream on Paramount+.
More information about Barnett, his Grammy nomination and the album can be found on the music and dance and Shore Fire Media websites.