The Academy Jazz Orchestra has been recognised in the ‘Best Large Jazz Ensemble’ category for the album, Kenny Wheeler Legacy - Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores.
In collaboration with John Daversa and the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, the recording at Abbey Road Studios features Academy students and alumni, alongside visiting artists who include Norma Winstone, Evan Parker, James Copus, Chris Potter and Ingrid Jensen, and colleagues from the Frost School of Music.
The Academy’s Head of Jazz, Professor Nick Smart, spearheaded the project as producer, conductor and trumpet soloist. It was released internationally on the Greenleaf record label in the US, led by trumpeter Dave Douglas, who is an honorary member of the Academy. The album immediately received plaudits upon its release, including a 5-star review in The Times, which stated ‘these young musicians are incredibly good…a joy to hear. Wheeler’s legacy is safe.'
Principal Jonathan Freeman-Attwood said: ‘This is huge news. To be among the world’s best – and not just in the context of education – is quite an accolade. Collaboration with fellow students and extraordinary international pros, in side-by-sides, is what the Academy is all about.
The Academy was fortunate to have had a strong connection with Kenny Wheeler in his final years, with the additional privilege of housing his archive and so encouraging further performance of his work, as well as ongoing research into his unique legacy.
Congratulations to other nominees at the 2026 Grammy Awards.'
The list of nominations also includes recognition for Academy alumni, including Sir Elton John, Jacob Collier, Edward Gardner and Steven Fox. We look forward to the Awards Ceremony to be held in Los Angeles on 1 February 2026.
Since 1996, we have produced critically acclaimed commercial recordings with leading artists and a generation of students. This project also builds on ongoing collaborations with major international organisations including The Juilliard School and Frick Collection in New York, Czech Philharmonic and Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris.
Read more about Kenny Wheeler Legacy - Some Days Are Better: The Lost Scores.
