OffBeat’s ninth annual Best of the Beat awards honor Louisiana’s finest musicians, as nominated by their fellow musicians and music industry professionals with the final balloting determined by the public voting online. The Beat of the Beat party is one of the few instances where the majority of local musicians are under one roof, at one time, listening to their fellow players’ music and swapping notes—musical or otherwise. Louisiana’s musician’s are the greatest in the world and OffBeat wishes to salute them all.
BLUES
Best Band or Performer
Tab Benoit
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Sonny Landreth: The Road We’re On
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Eric Lindell
R&B / FUNK / SOUL
Best Band or Performer
Deacon John
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Fats Domino: Live at the Jazz & Heritage Festival
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Eric Lindell
ROCK
Best Band or Performer
Better Than Ezra
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes: Bandicoot
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Doctor À Go-Go
RAP / HIP-HOP
Best Band or Performer
Big Tymers
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Big Tymers: Big Money Heavyweight
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Ballzack
TRADITIONAL JAZZ
Best Band or Performer
Kermit Ruffins
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Tim Laughlin: The Isle of Orleans
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Jazz Vipers
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ
Best Band or Performer
Los Hombres Calientes
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Harry Connick, Jr: Other Hours: Connick on Piano, Volume 1
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Troy Andrews
BRASS BAND
Best Band or Performer
ReBirth Brass Band
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Coolbone: Brothers in Swing: Volume I
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
GOSPEL
Best Band or Performer
Zion Harmonizers
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Aaron Neville: Believe
CAJUN
Best Band or Performer
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: Bon Rêve
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Amanda Shaw
ZYDECO
Best Band or Performer
Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr.
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie: Everybody’s Dancing
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Li’l Nathan
COUNTRY / FOLK / SINGER-SONGWRITER
Best Band or Performer
Kim Carson
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
David Egan: Twenty Years Of Trouble
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Lynn Drury
ROOTS ROCK
Best Band or Performer
Iguanas
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Iguanas: Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart
Best Emerging Band or Performer
Marc Broussard
LATIN / WORLD
Best Band or Performer
New Orleans Klezmer AllStars
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
New Orleans Klezmer AllStars: Borvis
ONLY IN NEW ORLEANS
Best Band or Performer
Wild Magnolias
Best Album by a Louisiana Artist
Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles: Mr. Stranger Man
COVER BAND
Best Band or Performer
Top Cats
“BEST OF THE YEAR” AWARDS
SONG OF THE YEAR
Iguanas: “Sugar Cane”
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Deacon John: Deacon John’s Jump Blues
OVERALL BAND
Deacon John
FEMALE VOCALIST
Irma Thomas
MALE VOCALIST
Aaron Neville
BASS PLAYER
George Porter, Jr.
GUITAR PLAYER
Walter “Wolfman” Washington
DRUMMER / PERCUSSIONIST
Johnny Vidacovich
SAXOPHONE PLAYER
Tim Green
CLARINET PLAYER
Alvin Batiste
TRUMPET PLAYER
Kermit Ruffins
TROMBONE PLAYER
Mark Mullins
PIANO / KEYBOARDS
Jon Cleary
HARMONICA / HARP PLAYER
Johnny Sansone
TUBA / SOUSAPHONE PLAYER
Tuba Fats
ACCORDION PLAYER
Dwayne Dopsie
OTHER INSTRUMENT
Theresa Andersson (violin)
BEST SONGWRITER
Anders Osborne
ALBUM ARTWORK
Deacon John: Deacon John’s Jump Blues
Business Awards
MAYOR’S MUSIC CHAMPION
Tipitina’s Foundation
BEST CLUB
Tipitina’s
BEST RADIO STATION
WWOZ
BEST RADIO PERSONALITY
Bob French
BEST LOCAL MUSIC TV
Louisiana Jukebox
BEST RECORDING STUDIO
Piety Street Recording Studio
BEST RECORD LABEL
Basin Street Records
BEST PRODUCER
William “Buzzy Beano” Langford
BEST RECORD STORE
Louisiana Music Factory
BEST INSTRUMENT STORE
New Orleans Music Exchange
BEST PRO AUDIO STORE
Guitar Center
BEST SOUND ENGINEER
Tim Stambaugh
BEST BOOKING AGENCY
White Oak
BEST TALENT BOOKER
Sonny Schneidau
BEST MANAGER
Jared Zeller
BEST MUSIC ATTORNEY
Dino Gankendorff
BEST MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHER
Jenny Bagert
BEST MUSIC EDUCATOR
Edward “Kidd” Jordan
BEST CLUB OWNER/MANAGER
John Blancher, Rock ‘n’ Bowl
BEST CONCERT PROMOTER
Superfly Productions
BEST FESTIVAL
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
BEST MUSIC JOURNALIST
Keith Spera
BEST MUSIC WEBSITE
MasterDigital.com
BEST LOCAL MUSIC AWARENESS
(Local Business using local music in promotions or advertising)
City Of New Orleans Music Office
MUSIC BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Basin Street Records
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
PERFORMER
Eddie Bo
MUSIC EDUCATION
Alvin Batiste
MUSIC BUSINESS
Jim Russell
SIDEMAN
Smokey Johnson
RECOGNITION AWARDS
BOURBON STREET AWARD
Chris Owens
HEARTBEAT AWARD
Sylvester Frances
LIVING LEGEND
Wardell Querzergue
LIVING LEGEND
Wallace Davenport
Trumpeter Wallace Davenport initially made his mark in 1938 with The Original Tuxedo Brass Band, then with Papa Celestin before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. Upon his return, Wallace Davenport played with Lionel Hampton, Roy Brown, Earl Hines and others before joining the swingingest jazz big band of all time, Count Basie’s Orchestra in 1964. He is featured on some of Basie’s finest recordings including At The Sands, as well as Frank Sinatra’s Live at The Sands. Upon his return to New Orleans, Davenport played in several traditional jazz groups and recorded as both a leader and a sideman. Wallace Davenport has enjoyed a long career in music and has left us with an incredible recording legacy in the wake of his retirement.
SIDEMAN OF THE YEAR
Freddy Lonzo
Traditional jazz trombonist Freddy Lonzo always makes his presence known. He plays the trombone with gusto! Lonzo’s tailgating gutbucket style is ripe, ribald, and dripping with flavor that honors the rich history of his instrument going back to the sound of Kid Ory. He’s played in just about every traditional jazz group in town ranging from the late Tuba Fats’ Chosen Few Brass Band, to Bob French’s Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, Henry Butler’s Steamin’ Syncopators, as well as his long stint with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Freddy Lonzo has also made his presence known on the Grammy Award winning recording Doc Cheatham & Nicolas Payton and on Wynton Marsalis’ classic Majesty of the Blues. Lonzo’s also quite the crooner, as noted on his hilarious rendition of “Last Night on the Back Porch.” One thing’s for certain, when you hire Freddy Lonzo to be in your band, you’ve got yourself quite a handful.
