Holly Cole, Dave Restivo and Michael Occhipinti are among the Canadian jazz musicians nominated for Juno Awards this year.
The list of nominees for the 51st annual Juno Awards features other familiar names including Amanda Tosoff and Avataar, the dynamic world-jazz ensemble led by multiple Juno nominee Sundar Viswanathan. But the list includes even more first-time nominees, such as Caity Gyorgy, Jesse Ryan and Alex Bird.
The newly reunited Holly Cole Trio’s live album Montreal is nominated for vocal jazz album of the year. If it wins, it’ll be Cole’s first Juno since 2004’s Shade. It’s the vocalist’s fourth nomination in that category and sixth Juno nomination overall.
The power duo of Elizabeth Shepherd and Michael Occhipinti have 15 previous Juno nominations between them, and will look to add another with their ES:MO album The Weight of Hope.
Amanda Tosoff has followed up her Juno-nominated 2016 album Words with another nomination for Earth Voices, and the category of vocal jazz album of the year is rounded out by newcomers Caity Gyorgy and Alex Bird.
Meanwhile, Occhipinti has nabbed a second nomination this year thanks to his work with Avataar, whose record Worldview is nominated for jazz album of the year – group. The other nominees in that category are the Dave Restivo Trio, the Christine Tassan Quintette, the Esteban Herrera Quintet and the Lina Allemano Four.
In the solo category, Jesse Ryan is nominated for his exciting debut album Bridges. He’s up for the award alongside fellow nominees Andrés Vial, Efajemue, Jon Gordon and Will Bonness.
Sue Foley, Colin James and Steve Marriner are some of the familiar names up for blues album of the year.
Among the nominees for world music album of the year are Alex Cuba’s Mendó and Donné Roberts’ OYA.
The 51st annual Juno Awards will be hosted at the Budweiser Stage in Toronto on May 15, hosted by actor Simu Liu. Performances will include Arkells, Avril Lavigne, Charlotte Cardin and Mustafa.
Here are all the 2022 nominees in the Junos’ jazz and blues categories.