New Urban Music Buzz- Meet 2017's GRAMMY Nominees for Best R&B Album!

The Music Community's Top Picks of the Year for Soulful Sounds: Best & R&B Album Nominees (from L-R)
DANIEL CAESAR, MUSIQ SOULCHILD, LEDISI,  PJ MORTON, and BRUNO MARS

As awards season has kicked into full-swing internationally, the global music industry is all abuzz with the recent announcements from America's National Academy for Recording Arts and Sciences, as they've released news of nominee picks  for the 2017 Grammy Awards, set to take place in January of 2018.  It's no secret that just as the Oscars can do for a film actor, the Grammys heavily influence the global reach of a recording artist, and it's no less true for those who make it to audiences here in Germany, as music lovers search for the hippest, hottest, and newest in sounds from US shores. While digital media has been in a frenzy this past week, wildly debating over Grammy nominee choices for 2017 Record & Song of the Year categories, here at NUY 40+,  our eyes have been squarely on the top NARAS picks in the arenas of R&B, Jazz, and Gospel-  as after all, those musical genres are our cultural contribution to the world of arts and humanities. Today, we're highlighting the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences 2017 nominees for Best R&B Album, featuring some of our favorite entertainment mainstays, and introducing us to newer solo artists of equal creative measure.  If you're looking for something fresh to add to your music playlist, or perhaps a gift idea for your favorite music lover this holiday season, the Grammy Class of 2018 offers an interesting variety R&B music stylings to appeal to everyone from R&B traditionalists, to 80s Retro Heads &  to modern, moody, ambient soul searchers.  Without further adieu, we introduce to you the 2017 Grammy nominees for Best R&B Album:

DANIEL CAESAR - for the Album, "FREUDIAN"

A relative newcomer to the music industry machine, Canadian singer/songwriter/rapper Daniel Caesar began his career as an indie artist around 2015, building an audience attracted to his acoustic pop offerings and soul compositions nuanced with ambient & electronic influences.  Caesar's full-on debut album "FREUDIAN" follows several self-released digital EPs, and marks his first Grammy award nomination by the National Academy for Recording Arts & Sciences.

LEDISI, for the ALBUM, "LET LOVE RULE"

Perennial R&B favorite Ledisi Young makes magic once again this year with the release of her 8th CD, "LET LOVE RULE". The New Orleans -born, California-based artist is currently signed to Vervé Records, where the electrifying live performer continues to showcase her penchant for gospel-tinged melodies & lyrics framed by valiance and positivity. "LET LOVE RULE" marks Ledisi's 12th Grammy nomination.

BRUNO MARS, for the Album, "24 K MAGIC"

Though may have begun his career some fourteen years ago as a songwriter for underground hip-hop artists, Bruno Mars (neé Peter Hernandez) has established a rock solid career as a mainstream entertainer of note since the 2010 release of his multi-platinum EP, "IT'S BETTER IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS".  Mar's current album "24K MAGIC" is an carefree, ultra-slick, synthesizer infused tribute to 1980's black radio, with sounds reminiscent of classic R&B mainstays of that era i.e.  Zapp & Roger, The Gap Band, Midnight Starr, Carl Carlton, and the 1980s uptempo classics of The Whispers.  2017's R&B Album of the Year consideration makes the 23rd Grammy nomination for Bruno Mars.

PJ MORTON, for the Album, "GUMBO"

Since 2012, mass audiences have known PJ Morton as a member of pop supergroup MAROON 5, but this Grammy award-winning songwriter and producer (for India.Arie's "Interested") has a singular sound all his own, as showcased on his latest album "GUMBO". Released on MortonRecords/EMPIRE, Gumbo hails back to Morton's southern bayou music roots in the black church as the son of a Bishop-  a sound audiences may be familiar with in his previous work on Gospel recordings by Le'Andria Johnson & Israel Houghton, and as a composer & producer for Fred Hammond and Heather Headley. In addition to playing keys for Maroon 5, this Morehouse College graduate has also produced and written music in the secular arena for superstars Jermaine Dupri, Monica, LL Cool J, and fellow 2018 nominee Musiq Soulchild.  PJ Morton's album "GUMBO" marks his second & third Grammy nominations as a solo artist, the first being with the 2014 single, "Only One" featuring Stevie Wonder.

MUSIQ SOULCHILD, for the Album "FEEL THE REAL"

Philadelphia native Musiq Soulchild returned to the airwaves this year with his ninth studio album, "FEEL THE REAL" on eOne Music. An original pillar of the Neo-Soul music movement of the early 21st century, Musiq's latest offerings contains very au courant, contemporary vocal & lyrical stylings, but manages to fuse classic R&B influences with a few fusion jazz arrangements for good measure. The double-disk release also features collaborations with soul artists Syleena Johnson & Marsha Ambrosius, and a surprise pop-up spoken word appearance by scientist Neil Degrasse Tyson. "FEEL THE REAL"  brings Musiq Soulchild his 13th Grammy nomination from the National Academy for Recording Arts and Sciences.

For your personal listening pleasure, be sure to visit these artists via Youtube, or by clicking on their names in each post to discover their music via their personal websites.  If you really like what you hear, be sure to show your love and  support to keep R&B alive by purchasing their work via Amazon, iTunes,  and Google Play.

Happy Listening, NUY Divas!