Samara Joy and Yo-Yo Ma among SCP, CSO artists honored at 2026 Grammys

Several artists appearing (or represented) on this season’s Symphony Center Presents and CSO subscription series were among the honorees at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, announced Feb. 1.

Best classical instrumental solo

Yo-Yo Ma, Shostakovich’s Cello Concertos: On this disc, Ma joins the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andris Nelsons. (Yo-Yo Ma performs in an SCP Featured Concert on March 28.)

Best jazz performance

“Windows Live”: The signature track from the third installment of the final tour by
keyboardist-composer Chick Corea (who died in 2021),
joined by Christian McBride and Brian Blade. (McBride appeared with Brad Mehldau for an SCP Jazz double bill Oct. 10.)

Best jazz vocal album

Samara Joy, "Portrait: For her third studio disc, Samara Joy mixes jazz standards (she riffs on the original lyrics for some of these tracks) and her own original works. (Samara Joy joins the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for a CSO Featured concert on May 12.)

Best large jazz ensemble jazz album

Christian McBride Big Band, “Without Further Ado, Vol. 1”:
Featuring arrangements of classic songs with special guest vocalists, including Sting, Jeffrey Osborne, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Dianne Reeves. (McBride appeared with Brad Mehldau in an SCP Jazz double bill Oct. 10.)

Best Latin jazz album

“A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole”:
Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta & Joey Calveiro lead this salute to the Cuban sonero and American crooner-pianist. (Pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba appears in Miles Davis at 100, a centennial salute to the be-bop icon, in an SCP Jazz concert March 27.)

Best album notes

"Miles ’55: The Prestige Recordings" — Ashley Kahn, album notes writer. (The SCP Jazz concert “titled Miles Davis at 100” is a centennial salute to the be-bop icon on March 27.)

Best music film

“Music by John Williams”:
A documentary about the Oscar-winning composer and conductor, produced and directed by Laurent Bouzereau; co-produced by Sara Bernstein, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Meredith Kaulfers, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg and Justin Wilkes. (The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs a “Musical Tribute to John Williams & Steven Spielberg” on June 23.)

For a complete list of winners, go to grammy.com.