Two with Skidmore ties win Grammy Awards

Grammy awards went Sunday to two performing artists with close ties to the Skidmore community.

One is Terence Blanchard, well-known to the campus because he has twice been a guest artist in the Summer Jazz Institute; is the current McCormack Artist-in-Residence; and his Grammy-award winning CD A Tale of God's Will: A Requiem for Katrina was the required "reading" for this year's First-Year Experience. Blanchard won a Grammy this year for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo.

Blanchard, who performed at Skidmore last fall, returns to the campus March 31 through April 3, guest teaching in classes and performing with his quintet in Filene Recital Hall on Friday, April 3. He records with Blue Note Records, a legendary jazz label that has been a Jazz Institute sponsor for more than 20 years. Blue Note CEO Bruce Lundvall received a doctor of humane letters degree and addressed the graduating students at Skidmore's 2004 Commencement.

The other winner is Arturo O'Farrill, who has twice been a guest artist at the Jazz Institute. His Song for Chico won a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album. A pianist, composer, educator and winner of the Latin Jazz USA Outstanding Achievement Award for 2003, O'Farrill was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. In 2002, he created the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra for Jazz at Lincoln Center. His debut album with the orchestra, Una Noche Inolvidable, earned a Grammy nomination in 2006. Song for Chico is named for O'Farrill's father, musician and bandleader Arturo "Chico" O'Farrill (1921?2001).