Pickerington jazz pianist could win 1st Grammy
Bobby Floyd has performed alongside Ray Charles, Dr. John and Doc Severinsen, but on Sunday night the Pickerington pianist will get to watch music’s biggest stars from the stadium seating in Los Angeles’ Staples Center.
For the first time in his more than 50-year career pumping the pedals of pianos and organs as a jazz musician, Floyd, 64, received an invitation to the Grammy Awards for his work on “All About That Basie,” one of five nominees in the category of best large jazz ensemble album.
Floyd played piano on most of the album, a compilation of classic jazz standards and reworkings of pop and rock songs from artists such as Adele and Leonard Cohen that was released in 2018, the 80th year of the Count Basie Orchestra.
Also featured on the recordings are wellknown musicians such as Stevie Wonder, who contributed a harmonica solo, and jazz singer Carmen Bradford.
Floyd said he can’t remember when he learned of the nomination, but he knew he had to go to the ceremony.
“I figured I should do it,” he said. “It’s a onetime opportunity.”
Floyd said he began playing with the Count Basie Orchestra in 2012, at the invitation of bandleader Dennis Mackrel.
The musician — most notably seen around Columbus performing with his trio on Sunday nights at Copious/notes or with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra — performed with the Count Basie Orchestra until 2018, just long enough for him to perform on the nominated album.
Although current Count Basie Orchestra members received the initial invitation to the Grammys, they had already booked performances in Texas conflicting with the ceremony date. The group then extended the invitation to the nine performers on the album who no longer play with the band.
Reggie Jackson, who plays percussion in Floyd’s trio, learned about the nomination through a Facebook post from Floyd’s daughter.
“He acted like it was nothing,” Jackson said. Jazz performer Bobby Floyd.
“He’s very humble. For him, it’s not a big deal.”
When the two performed together with Dr. John, the tour bus once dropped the singer off at the Grammy ceremony while the rest of the band continued to San Francisco.
Jackson joked that maybe one day Floyd would be the one in attendance. Now his prophecy is coming true.
“He’s more than deserving — of not only this recognition but anything that comes his way,” Jackson said. “Aside from just being an amazing musician, he’s just an amazing human being. There’s nobody else (more amazing) I know of, aside from maybe my mother.”
Floyd flew to California on Thursday with his wife, Marilyn, to attend the pregrammy festivities. He said he kept his preparations minimal, although he opted to glam up for the show.
“I did buy another tuxedo,” Floyd said. “I thought I better upgrade my wardrobe a little bit.”