OffBeat

When Allen Toussaint’s The Bright Mississippi was released, we said, “(Producer Joe) Henry treats these recordings not as pop, jazz nor R only ones who feel that way &B but as art song—an elevated, sophisticated thing that draws from vernacular traditions. As an American treasure, it’s the sort of treatment Toussaint merits, and it’s a treatment that is sympathetic with his piano playing. He is relentlessly tasteful and elegant, choosing notes with care and sensitivity to space and context.”

Evidently, we’re not the about the album. It was nominated for a Grammy, and you selected it as Album of the Year and Toussaint, Artist of the Year and Best Piano Player.

We presented these and all of the Best of the Beat awards January 20 at the Harrah’s Theatre and January 22 at the House of Blues. Since we went to press before these events, we can’t show you photos from those nights here, but go to OffBeat.com for pictures and reports. Thanks to our sponsors—Harrah’s New Orleans, Abita Beer, WWL-TV, Louisiana Entertainment Office, Capital One Bank, Sweet Home New Orleans, MusicSwingsVotes.org and Loyola School of Music Business Studies—and all the musicians and restaurants who helped make the Best of the Beat happen. We’ll be back this time next year; will you join us?

MUSIC AWARDS

Best Blues Performer
Tab Benoit

Best Blues Album
Wishing Well: Honey Island Swamp Band

Best R&B/Funk Performer
Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk

Best R&B/Funk Album
Live at the Maple Leaf: Joe Krown, Walter
“Wolfman” Washington, Russell Batiste, Jr.

Best Rock Performer
Theresa Andersson

Best Rock Album
Paper Empire: Better Than Ezra

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Performer
Juvenile

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album
No Ceilings Mixtape: Lil Wayne

Best Traditional Jazz Performer
Kermit Ruffins

Best Traditional Jazz Album
The Bright Mississippi: Allen Toussaint

Best Contemporary Jazz Performer
Terence Blanchard

Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Choices: Terence Blanchard

Best Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band

Best Cajun Performer
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Best Cajun Album
Alligator Purse: BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Best Zydeco Performer
Terrance Simien

Best Zydeco Album
Live 2009: Wayne Toups

Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Performer
The Iguanas

Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Album
Stew Called New Orleans: Paul Sanchez and John Boutte

Best Emerging Artist
Honey Island Swamp Band

Best Cover Band
The Bucktown All-Stars

Song of the Year
“Hey God”: John Boutte and Paul Sanchez
(written by John Boutte and Paul Sanchez)

Songwriter of the Year
Paul Sanchez

Best Female Vocalist
Irma Thomas

Best Male Vocalist
John Boutte

Best Bass Player
George Porter, Jr.

Best Guitarist
Sonny Landreth

Best Drummer
Johnny Vidacovich

Best Saxophonist
Donald Harrison

Best Clarinetist
Dr. Michael White

Best Trumpeter
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews

Best Trombonist
Delfeayo Marsalis

Best Tuba/Sousaphonist
Matt Perrine

Best Piano/Keyboardist
Allen Toussaint

Best Accordionist
Terrance Simien

Best Violinist/Fiddler
Theresa Andersson

Best DJ
DJ Soul Sister

Best Other Instrumentalist
Washboard Chaz, washboard

Artist of the Year
Allen Toussaint

Album of the Year
The Bright Mississippi: Allen Toussaint

BUSINESS AWARDS

Best Club
The Blue Nile

Best Radio Station
WWOZ

Best Festival
Voodoo Music Experience

Best Festival Outside New Orleans
Gretna Heritage Festival

Best Recording Studio
The Music Shed

Record Label of the Year
Park the Van Records

Producer of the Year
Tracey Freeman

Best Record Store
Louisiana Music Factory

Best Instrument Store
International Vintage Guitars

Best Studio Sound Engineer
Chris Finney

Best Booking Agency
White Oak

Best Manager
Reuben Williams

Best Music Attorney
Ashlye M. Keaton

Best Music Photographer
Zack Smith

Best Club Owner or Manager
Tom Thayer (d.b.a.)

Best Concert Promoter
Hypersoul

Music Awareness Award
WWL-TV

Music Business of the Year
The Music Shed