Solid Picks in a Field That Is Very Strong

Though nominations in the R&B; categories have been highly questionable at many points in recent years, this year’s selections are, on balance, impressive indeed.

Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” (which accounted for most of her 10 overall nominations Tuesday, including album of the year) was clearly the most consistently inventive R&B; album of the year, and Hill’s other three nominations in the R&B; field for that album are richly deserved.

To show the strength of the field, any of the other four nominees--especially Brandy’s “Never Say Never” and Maxwell’s “Embrya”--would be creditable winners in almost any other year.

In the best female R&B; vocal category, Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” is again the class of the field--though Aaliyah and Aretha Franklin, for their respective singles “Are You That Somebody?” and “A Rose Is Still a Rose” (which was written by Hill)--are other standout choices.

As for the men, all five R&B; vocal nominees are worthy of inclusion, though Luther Vandross’ “I Know” is fairly pedestrian by his standards. The choice here is Maxwell for “Matrimony: Maybe You.”

There are no stellar performances in the R&B; vocal duo or group category, but, to be fair, there was not a lot to choose from this year. Still, it’s hard to quibble with the academy’s R&B; picks this year--almost everyone who made a good record was recognized.