Experience Pays Off Again

There are no surprises in the category this year. The tendency to honor established artists is best illustrated in the award to Sonny Rollins for his album “This Is What I Do.” Although it is hardly the best work of his career, the CD provides an opportunity to honor one of the art’s great, legendary figures.

But the most musically deserving award went to Charlie Haden for “Nocturne” (in the Latin jazz category), an album in which gorgeous solos by David Sanchez and Gonzalo Rubalcaba have been blended into a subtle, engaging blend of jazz and Latin song.