Shiny Objects and other gifts

Tonight The Grammy Nominations Live! concert was held in Nashville and televised on CBS.  I have been looking forward to this event for a number of reasons but pertinent to this blog was the consideration of nominations for Jacaranda, my favorite album (and I hope one of yours) of 2012.  It is a landmark work fully deserving of all the accolades and trophies it can possibly receive.  And one of the most important is the Grammy, still considered prestigious among many.

Trevor is, of course, no stranger to awards in general and has earned the right to use "Grammy award-winning artist" before his name.  As we can see in this shot from the video for "Anerley Road" he has a number of what I call "doorstoppers" in his collection:

I tried to count all the awards but I was too distracted by Trevor's pants.

I had the opportunity to hold an actual Grammy once, and it's an interesting combination of impressions: solid enduring marble base and shiny almost gaudy plastic decoration on top.  I rather wonder if they switched to plastic at some point because the gramophone had a tendency to crack or break when dropped.  Otherwise the marble base would definitely crack or break whatever it happened to hit (as it is very heavy, you could hurt someone with one of those).

I had made a series of predictions two weeks ago on the Yesfans discussion forum but unfortunately none of it panned out, as there were no nominations for Jacaranda nor for Grouplove.  Some of the band's peers were nominated, such as Florence & the Machine, LMFAO, Gotye, Foster the People, Fun., and Mumford & Sons, so I believe it's only a matter of time before NARAS feels the love too. :)

I had wondered if a father-and-son were ever concurrently nominated across the field but this year a father-and-daughter are nominated in the same category: Ravi Shankar and his daughter Anoushka are both nominated for Best World Music Album, which will make for a good trivia question years from now, especially if one of them wins.

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In the new year I am planning an entry with a roundup of the best interviews Trevor has given in this promotional cycle (and with over two dozen to choose from it's an embarrassment of riches...sort of) but unless some other is to come along between now and the dawn of 2013 I'd say the best was definitely saved for last:
Trevor Rabin: All Colors Considered
Interestingly the website All About Jazz featured two different interviews: one a short Q&A and the one I noted above, an in-depth narrative-style article covering the album as well as biographical material (which treads familiar ground as these things tend to do, but I've come to accept that many writers feel they have to utilize that same form no matter how many times it's already been done).  I would be shocked - shocked I tell you - if an interviewer actually acknowledged the existence of the Internet in regards to what readers already know or can use to find out about a subject.

However, I do have one major disagreement with Ian Patterson:

Fans of Rabin the guitarist will be thrilled to hear his playing on Jacaranda, as he's simply never sounded this good.

I take issue with this statement because although we are treated to amazing bravura moments on Jacaranda by Trevor on a variety of instruments - stringed and otherwise - his playing has always displayed a level of excellence which established him as one of the very best melodic guitarists (and as some are quick to proclaim, a Rock God) of this or any other era.   However, I know Trevor might not see it that way, as he commented to me - and likely others - that he believes he continues to evolve in regards to his own abilities.  My version of this value judgment, as I commented to a friend a few months back, was: "Trevor plays as wonderfully as he ever has."

But if I were to make a quick recommendation of any interview to read other than my own it would be this one, so if you haven't already...happy reading once more.

Speaking of my interview, it is now available on the blog under the "Rabin-esque links of interest" section on the left side of the page.  My version utilizes the layout I would have preferred (as well as the use of italics) but of course one doesn't always have the luxury of editorial decisions when dealing with an external publication.

Finally I'd like to extend my fondest wishes for a Happy Holidays to all my readers around the globe, whatever tradition you observe. Thank you so much for your interest in my blog and I will continue to entertain and elucidate in 2013...and let's all hope the Maestro keeps the momentum going and brings us lots of wonderful music...because we always want more!

To celebrate some festive inclusiveness let's listen to a Jewish guitar player offer his electric interpretation of a Christian hymn, "Adeste Fideles."  This will put the jingle in your bells, Rabinites!