Grammys give love to Lamar, women
NEW YORK — The music of “Black Panther,” with Kendrick Lamar in its starring role, officially owns the 2019 Grammy Awards, where women are heavily represented in the four major categories following a year where their presence was barely felt.
The Recording Academy announced Friday, Dec. 7, that Lamar is the top contender with eight nominations, including seven for his musical companion to the Marvel Studios juggernaut starring Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan. “Black Panther: The Album, Music From and Inspired By” is up for album of the year, a category where women make up five of the eight nominees. Cardi B, Kacey Musgraves, Janelle Monáe, H.E.R. and Brandi Carlile also are up for the top prize, along with Drake and Post Malone.
The classical nominations included plenty of recognition for Bay Area artists this year. Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony were nominated for best orchestral recording for their set of the complete Schumann symphonies on the in-house SFS Media label. This marks their 23rd nomination.
The Kronos Quartet was nominated for “Landfall,” a collaboration with performer Laurie Anderson, and three of the region’s most prominent composers were nominated. Berkeley composer John Adams’ “Doctor Atomic” got a nod for best opera, and “The John Adams Edition,” a box set released by Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, was nominated for best classical compendium. Mason Bates’ “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” got two nominations, for best opera and best classical composition. Also nominated for best