When Jimmy Jam read off the nominees for album of the year and paused to look at Hancock, he had to say, "Yes, you."
Hancock's "River: The Joni Letters" is a pretty reimagining of Joni Mitchell's music, with some superstar help from Tina Turner, Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, and even Mitchell herself. It's a grand album and Hancock is clearly a master, but it will be interesting to hear the defense of this nomination as the months unfold. Clearly, excellence should be rewarded in the album of the year category, but so should impact. Does "River" really stand up against Bruce Springsteen's "Magic" or even Paul McCartney's "Memory Almost Full"?
Verve Records, which is also home to best new artist nominee Ledisi, clearly put on a great campaign with Grammy voters.
And as much as I like the Foo Fighters, I admit I was rooting for Linkin Park's ambitious "Minutes to Midnight" to get the "rock slot" in the nominations. That said, Dave Grohl and friends are still pretty deserving after all these years.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
Foo Fighters, "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace"
Vince Gill, "These Days"
Herbie Hancock, "River: The Joni Letters"
Kanye West, "Graduation"
Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black"
Check out Hancock and Norah Jones tackle "Court and Spark" on the jump