Once again, OffBeat will take over the House of Blues for our Best of the Beat, which this year takes place January 31. The evening starts at 6 p.m. with food in the dining room from some of New Orleans’ finest restaurants including Theo’s Pizza, the Flaming Torch, Mat & Naddie’s, Tomatillo’s, the Hookah Café, the Praline Connection, Aurora Catering, Hubig’s Pies, Whole Foods Market, the Joint, Juan’s Flying Burrito, and Slice. Then music starts in the Main Room at 7:30 with the New Orleans Bingo! Show and at 7:45 in the Parish with the city’s newest Latin soul combo, Los Po-Boy-Citos with guest Derek Huston. Over the course of the evening, we’ll pay tribute to our Lifetime Achievement honorees: Antoinette K-Doe, Maggie Warwick, Donald Harrison and Cherice Harrison-Nelson, Harold Battiste, and the Wild Magnolias’ Bo Dollis. This year, we’ll also award our first posthumous Lifetime Achievement in Music Award to the late James Booker, who passed away 25 years ago last November.
In the following pages, we’ll introduce you to our honorees, who deserve all the love and respect that we can muster and more, and we look forward to presenting them at the House of Blues and at a special invitation-only event January 28 at the Harrah’s Theater, where Jesse McBride and the Next Generation will pay musical tribute to Harold Battiste. At the House of Blues, we’ll have performances by Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave.; pianists Jon Cleary, Joe Krown, Tom McDermott, John “Papa” Gros and Josh Paxton; the Wild Magnolias with Big Chiefs Bo Dollis, Monk Boudreaux and Donald Harrison and Bo Dollis, Jr.; Rotary Downs; Little Freddie King; the Happy Talk Band; and last year’s Grammy nominees the Lost Bayou Ramblers.
While the Lifetime Achievement honorees loom large at the Best of the Beat, both events are first and foremost opportunities to recognize excellence in Louisiana music, and as always, we need your help making these decisions. Who released the Album of the Year? Who’s the Artist of the Year? The Emerging Artist of the Year? In a year that saw excellent albums from Irma Thomas, David Egan, Sonny Landreth, Kenny Neal and Eric Lindell, what’s the Best Blues Album? As our feature “A Very Good Year” demonstrates, there are a lot of fine performers and performances to choose from.
Best Blues Band or Performer
Tab Benoit
David Egan
Little Freddie King
Sonny Landreth
Irma Thomas
Best Blues Album
David Egan: You Don’t Know Your Mind (Independent)
Sonny Landreth: From the Reach (Landfall)
Eric Lindell: Low on Cash, Rich in Love (Alligator)
Kenny Neal: Let Life Flow (Blind Pig)
Irma Thomas: Simply Grand (Rounder)
Best R&B/Funk Band or Performer
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Bonerama
Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen
Porter-Batiste-Stoltz
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave.
Best R&B/Funk Album
Big Sam’s Funky Nation: Peace, Love & Understanding (Independent)
Henry Butler: PiaNOLA Live (Basin Street)
Dr. John: City That Care Forgot (429/Savoy)
Joe Krown, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Russell Batiste, Jr.: Live at the Maple Leaf (Independent)
Walter “Wolfman” Washington: Doin’ the Funky Thing (Zoho Roots)
Best Rock Band or Performer
Theresa Andersson
The Happy Talk Band
The New Orleans Bingo! Show
Quintron and Miss Pussycat
Rotary Downs
Best Rock Album
Theresa Andersson: Hummingbird, Go! (Basin Street)
The Bad Off: Lady Day (Independent)
The Happy Talk Band: THERE there (Independent)
The New Orleans Bingo! Show: Vol. 2: For a Life Ever Bright (New Orleans Bingo! Show)
Quintron and Miss Pussycat: Too Thirsty 4 Love (Goner)
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Band or Performer
B.G. and the Chopper City Boyz
Fifth Ward Weebie
Juvenile
Lil Wayne
Truth Universal
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album
B.G. and the Chopper City Boyz: Life in the Concrete Jungle (Chopper City)
Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III (Cash Money)
Truth Universal: Self-Determination (Independent)
Best Traditional Jazz Band or Performer
John Boutte
Tom McDermott
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Don Vappie
Dr. Michael White
Best Traditional Jazz Album
John Boutte: Good Neighbor (Independent)
Evan Christopher: Delta Bound (Arbors)
Tom McDermott and Connie Jones: Creole Nocturne (Arbors)
Seva Venet: Mens Working (Jazzology)
Dr. Michael White: Blue Crescent (Basin Street)
Best Contemporary Jazz Band or Performer
Astral Project
Terrence Blanchard
The Magnetic Ear
Jesse McBride & the Next Generation
Christian Scott
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
The Magnetic Ear: Live at the Saturn Bar (Independent)
Ellis Marsalis Quartet: An Open Letter to Thelonious (ELM)
Jesse McBride: Jesse McBride presents the Next Generation (AFO)
Christian Scott: Live at Newport (Concord)
Frederick “Shep” Sheppard: Tradition: The Habari Gani Sessions (Drumparade)
Best Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Free Agents Brass Band
Hot 8 Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band
The Soul Rebels
Best Gospel Band or Performer
Electrifying Crown Seekers
Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Choir
Tyronne Foster & the Arc Singers
Trin-i-tee 5:7
Zion Harmonizers
Best Cajun Band or Performer
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
Feufollet
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Pine Leaf Boys
Cedric Watson
Best Cajun Album
Michael Doucet: From Now On (Smithsonian Folkways)
Feufollet: Cow Island Hop (Valcour)
Pine Leaf Boys: Homage au Passé (Lionsgate)
The Savoy Family Band: Turn Loose but Don’t Let Go (Arhoolie)
Cedric Watson: Cedric Watson (Valcour)
Best Zydeco Band or Performer
Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys
Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
Travis Matte and the Kingpins
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
Best Zydeco Album
Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys: Keep the Tradition Alive! (Maison de Soul)
Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames: Holla @ Me (Independent)
Travis Matte: Hip Hop Zyde-Rock (Mhat)
Earl “Washboard” Sally: Home Grown (Catfish Zydeco)
Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Band or Performer
Susan Cowsill
The Iguanas
Paul Sanchez
The subdudes
The Zydepunks
Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Album
Bobby Charles: Homemade Songs (Rice ’N’ Gravy)
The Iguanas: If You Should Ever Fall on Hard Times (Yep Roc)
Paul Sanchez: Exit to Mystery Street (Independent)
Amanda Shaw: Pretty Runs Out (Rounder)
The Zydepunks: Finisterre (Independent)
Best Emerging Artist
Antenna Inn
The Figs
Los Po-Boy-Citos
The Other Planets
The Vettes
Best Cover Band or Performer
Bag of Donuts
The Bucktown Allstars
The Top Cats
Female Vocalist
Theresa Andersson
Susan Cowsill
Irma Thomas
Male Vocalist
John Boutte
Marc Broussard
Clint Maedgen
Bass Player
Robert Mercurio
George Porter, Jr.
James Singleton
Guitar Player
Sonny Landreth
Jimmy Robinson
Walter “Wolfman” Washington
Drummer/Percussionist
Russell Batiste, Jr.
Stanton Moore
Johnny Vidacovich
Saxophone
Tony Dagradi
Tim Green
Donald Harrison
Clarinet
Evan Christopher
Tim Laughlin
Dr. Michael White
Trumpet
Trombone Shorty
Terence Blanchard
Irvin Mayfield
Trombone
Craig Klein
Mark Mullins
Rick Trolsen
Tuba / Sousaphone
Matt Perrine
Phil Frazier
Kirk Joseph
Piano/Keyboards
Henry Butler
Jon Cleary
Tom McDermott
Accordion
Steve Riley
Wilson Savoy
Terrance Simien
Violin/Fiddle
Michael Doucet
Cedric Watson
Linzay Young
Other Instrument
Dave Easley (steel guitar)
Don Vappie (banjo)
Washboard Chaz (washboard)
Album of the Year
Theresa Andersson: Hummingbird, Go! (Basin Street)
Michael Doucet: From Now On (Smithsonian Folkways)
Dr. John: City That Care Forgot (429/Savoy)
Irma Thomas: Simply Grand (Rounder)
Dr. Michael White: Blue Crescent (Basin Street)
Artist/Band of the Year
Theresa Andersson
Lil Wayne
Tom McDermott
Irma Thomas
Trombone Shorty
The Beat Goes On
Here’s the schedule for the House of Blues:
The Main Room
7:30: The New Orleans Bingo! Show
8:30: The Awards Presentation
9:15: Tribute to Bo Dollis with the Wild Magnolias, Bo Dollis, Jr., Monk Boudreaux and Donald Harrison
10:15: Little Freddie King
11:15: Tribute to James Booker with Jon Cleary, Joe Krown, John “Papa” Gros, Tom McDermott and Josh Paxton
12:15: Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave.
The Parish
7:45: Los Po-Boy-Citos with Derek Huston
9:30: The Lost Bayou Ramblers
10:30: The Happy Talk Band
11:30: Rotary Downs
