Indian voices at the Grammy 2009

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New Delhi (PTI): The performances, glitz and glamour attached to the Grammy Awards apart, Indians will have much to cheer as three of the country's musicians will vie for a gramophone when the music world's Oscars are announced on Sunday night, in Los Angeles.

One of India's leading jazz musician Louis Banks has earned two Grammy nominations in the "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" category for his work in the albums "Miles From India" and "Floating Point".

This category is for albums containing 51 per cent or more playing time of instrumental tracks. "Miles from India" is a tribute to the founder of modern jazz Miles Davies.

According to Banks it is "an Indian tribute to the maestro who was simply in love with Indian music".

In "Floating Point", Banks plays with legendary guitarist John McLaughlin.

In the "Best Traditional World Music Album" (Vocal or Instrumental) category, two Indians are in the race Kolkata-based classical musician Debashish Bhattacharya and veteran Hindustani classical vocalist Lakshmi Shankar.

While Bhattacharya has been nominated for his album "Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey", Lakshmi has been shortlisted for her album "Dancing In The Light".

"Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey" is a musical journey through the centuries of guitar playing in India. Using three unique guitars that Bhattacharya designed himself, each raga explores influences ranging from gypsy to Sufi with deep sensitivity and free-flowing movement between past and present, tradition and innovation.