So the Grammy nominations are out today, and, while I’m pleased to see the names of so many friends and colleagues listed (more on those anon), I’m particularly delighted to see that the sovereign mezzo-soprano Devony Smith— who, on her first album, with the equally excellent pianist Danny Zelibor and cellist Michael Nicolas, made an immaculate and soulful first recording of my cycle 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘸—has been singled out for that début recording 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 in the category of Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. I was witness, in the studio, to just how hard these artists worked on getting every last detail of that technically demanding and emotionally exposed work; I’m so heartened, then, that it’s reached so many and, now, been so warmly recognized. Chapeau, too, to the many other nominees with whom I’ve worked: Blanton Alspaugh, Steven Blier (who gave the premiere of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘸!), Christopher Cerrone, Amanda Forsyth, Craig Johnson, Nina Yoshida Nelsen, and Sidney Outlaw; champions, all.
