On Sunday, a local jazz polymath could have a Grammys for the ages

Whether you know it or not, you’ve heard John Beasley play. Beasley is nominated for two Grammys for his arranging work: In the category of arrangement, instrumental and vocals, he’s nominated for the track “Asas Fechadas,” from Maria Mendes’ album “Close to Me”; and in arrangement, instrumental and-or a cappella, for “Donna Lee,” from his own group Monk’estra, an explosive 15-piece big band devoted to exploring the work of jazz composer Thelonious Monk. He’s also nominated for jazz vocal album, as conductor-arranger, on “Holy Room: Live at Alte Oper,” from jazz singer Somi with Frankfurt Radio Big Band; and finally, for large jazz ensemble album on “Monk’estra Plays John Beasley.” His touch hasn’t gone unnoticed by the greats. “The first thing they hired me to do was the ‘Star Trek’ theme — kind of like Switched-On Bach.” If you hear futuristic music on “Next Generation,” that’s Beasley’s work. “What’s really exciting is to hear this brassy orchestral-sized German band interpreting a lot of the African music and rhythms.” × Somi performs music from her Grammy nominated album, “Holy Room: Live at Alte Oper with Frankfurt Radio Big Band” Hancock, who has since traveled the world with Beasley as part of International Jazz Day, watched Beasley work the rooms at the White House in 2016, when then-President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the event there.