You have spoken.
 |
New Orleans music fans from around the world voted for the artists they thought had the best year at WWLTV.com, and they named Troy Andrews Performer of the Year and Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint’s The River in Reverse Album of the Year. Both are exciting choices we wholeheartedly endorse. Andrews may have just turned 21, but he has matured as an artist into someone whose music has roots in jazz, funk and soul, and in performance, the mix seems completely contemporary.
Costello and Toussaint revisited Toussaint’s multi-volume songbook for some of his less-performed gems, paired them with new collaborations and found ways for all the songs to speak to the human reality of life during and after Katrina. In the musical context provided by a mix of Costello and Toussaint’s bands, older songs sounded current and the new songs sound like they could have been around for years. The album successfully dealt with Katrina, but it’s hard to imagine that it will seem dated with the passing years.
All the winners were honored at a private party at the Howlin’ Wolf Thursday, January 25 and were announced to the public at the Best of the Beat at the House of Blues Saturday, January 27. Our congratulations to all the award recipients.
Best Blues Band or Performer
Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters
Best Blues Album
Tab Benoit: Brother to the Blues (Telarc)
Best R&B/Funk Band or Performer
Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
 |
Best R&B/Funk Album
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: The River in Reverse (Verve/Forecast)
Best Rock Band or Performer
Better Than Ezra
Best Rock Album
Cowboy Mouth: Voodoo Shoppe (Eleven Thirty)
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Band or Performer
Lil’ Wayne
Best Traditional Jazz Band or Performer
Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers
Best Traditional Jazz Album
New Orleans Jazz Vipers: Hope You’re Comin’ Back (NOJV)
Best Contemporary Jazz Band or Performer
Troy Andrews
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Branford Marsalis: Braggtown (Marsalis Music)
Best Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band
Best Brass Band Album
Dirty Dozen Brass Band: What’s Going On (Shout! Factory)
Best Gospel Band or Performer
Zion Harmonizers
Best Cajun Band or Performer
BeauSoleil
Best Cajun Album
BeauSoleil: Live in Louisiana (Way Down in Louisiana)
Best Zydeco Band or Performer
Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
Best Zydeco Album
Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas: Hang it High, Hang it Low (Rounder)
Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Band or Performer
Theresa Andersson
Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Album
Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy (The ZoZo Sisters): Adieu False Heart (Vanguard)
Best World Band or Performer
Fredy Omar con su Banda
Best Emerging Artist
Deadboy & the Elephantmen
Best Cover Band
Bucktown Allstars
Album of the Year
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: The River in Reverse (Verve/Forecast)
Band or Performer of the Year
Troy Andrews
Best Female Vocalist
Irma Thomas
Best Male Vocalist
John Boutte
Best Bass Player
George Porter, Jr.
Best Guitar Player
Sonny Landreth
Best Drummer/Percussionist
Johnny Vidacovich
Best Saxophone
Kidd Jordan
Best Clarinet
Dr. Michael White
Best Trumpet
Kermit Ruffins
Best Trombone
Mark Mullins
Best Piano /Keyboards
Allen Toussaint
Best Harmonica
Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone
Best Tuba /Sousaphone
Kirk Joseph
Best Accordion
Terrance Simien
Best Other Instrument
Theresa Andersson (violin)
Music Business
Best Club
Maple Leaf
Best Radio Station
KBON 101.1 FM (Eunice)
Best Recording Studio
Piety Street Studios
Best Record Label
Flat Town Records
Best Producer
Delfeayo Marsalis
Best Record Store
Louisiana Music Factory
Best Instrument Store
International Vintage Guitars
Best Pro-Audio Store
Guitar Center
Best Sound Engineer
Michael Paz
Best Booking Agency
White Oak Productions
Best Manager
Kimball Packard
Best Music Attorney
Dino Gankendorff
Best Music Photographer
Terri Fensel
Best Festival
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Best Festival Outside of New Orleans
Festival Acadiens
Music Awareness
Louis Armstrong International Airport
Music Business of the Year
Piety Street Studio
Published February 2007, OffBeat Louisiana Music & Culture Magazine, Volume 20, No. 2.
