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Event Search
Soul Brass Band, led by Derrick Freeman (center, holding the band’s award), won Best Emerging Artist. The band posed with Khris Royal, showing off his award for Best Saxophonist. Photo by Willow Haley.

The Winners at Best of the Beat

February 8, 2017 by: Joseph Irrera Leave a comment

The 22nd annual Best of the Beat Music Awards and party were held on January 19 at Generations Hall. The house was packed with the nominees, not only hoping to be recognized for their work in 2016, but to join in the celebration.

As our readers may know, the Best of the Beat Awards started as a private party for the Louisiana music community. Although we now sell tickets to the general public, the party is for Louisiana musicians.

The big winners of the evening were the Revivalists, who captured five awards: Artist of the Year, Best Rock Artist, Songwriter of the Year for Dave Shaw, Song of the Year for “Wish I Knew You” and Best Music Video also for “Wish I Knew You.” Accepting was the Revivalists’ drummer Andrew Campanelli, who was visibly touched when Alison Toussaint LeBeaux, Allen Toussaint’s daughter, presented him with the Allen Toussaint Songwriter of the Year award for Revivalists singer-songwriter Dave Shaw. Most of the Revivalists were already in Florida for the Jam Cruise leaving the following day and were unable to attend.

Alison LeBeaux also accepted the Album of the Year award for her father’s American Tunes.

Other big winners included Louis Michot, accepting for Best Violin Player, along with Best Cajun Artist for Lost Bayou Ramblers. Delfeayo Marsalis accepted the awards for Best Contemporary Jazz Artist and Best Contemporary Jazz Album for Make America Great Again! Honey Island Swamp Band picked up Best Roots Rock Artist as well as Best Roots Rock Album for Demolition Day.

The evening included performances by Valerie Sassyfras, Mia Borders (who received Best Female Vocalist), Soul Brass Band (who received Best Emerging Artist), Khris Royal and Dark Matter (Khris Royal received Best Saxophonist), Naughty Professor, the Fortifiers featuring Bobby Rush, who wanted to do one number but ended up doing three, and a tribute to Johnny Vidacovich curated by Galactic drummer Stanton Moore.

The tribute to Johnny Vidacovich was a true highlight of the Best of the Beat Awards. Saxophonist Tony Dagradi, bassist James Singleton, guitarist Steve Masakowski (Vidacovich’s compatriots in Astral Project) and pianist David Torkanowsky played together for the tribute. It was a reunion of sorts, in that Torkanowsky left the band in 2000 and hasn’t played with the group as a whole since then. Brian Blade had first crack at the drum set with the group. It wasn’t long before another former Vidacovich student, drummer Stanton Moore, slid in to take over the kit. Naturally, Vidacovich, the man of the hour, wanted a piece of the action. Without missing a beat, these three smiling drummers seamlessly took turns throughout an entire tune.

Later, Vidacovich stepped up to the microphone to sing “Old Folks.” During the instrumental section, Torkanowsky joined him at center stage and began slow dancing with Johnny—as the crowd screamed and laughed the two old friends continued dancing. “It was really fun,” said Torkanowsky, “and a nice honor for Johnny.”

 

Johnny Vidacovich wrote to OffBeat:

“Thanks for the best time of my life! What a surprise and honor to receive such a prestigious honor. Over so many years I have been lucky enough to receive awards from the voters and you [OffBeat] but this was the ultimate ‘knock out.’ I’m dancing every day with joy and love for the fine job that Stanton Moore did of putting the tribute band together. Astral Project with David Torkanowsky, himself and Brian Blade! Brian was stellar and made my heart fly. Now I say that I love you sincerely. I love all the readers and listeners that make the music complete. I’d like to say thanks and I love you to all the people who voted me Best Drummer this year, not only for this year but for all the previous years that I have won. Thank you thank you thank you. It’s you folks who fill me with so much joy, inspiration and energy. I love you deeply. I will play forever, for you.”

As usual, many of the city’s finest restaurants served up some tasty eats. Many attendees are still raving about the food. If you couldn’t make it, you missed out, but there is always a next time.

Once again, this year’s award trophies were designed by Louisiana glass artist Ginger Kelly, based in Breaux Bridge.

The Best of the Beat Awards are presented by the OffBeat Music and Cultural Arts Foundation. The Foundation was developed to create opportunities that support Louisiana artists in leading sustainable creative lives. The OffBeat Music and Cultural Arts Foundation merges education, advocacy, community engagement and creative collaboration to foster and uplift Louisiana music, arts and culture. This year was the first where OMACAF partnered with the Positive Vibrations Foundation to support the musicians who are honored and who play each year at the Best of the Beat Awards.

The winners are…

 

MUSIC AWARDS

 

Artist of the Year

The Revivalists

Album of the Year

Allen Toussaint: American Tunes (Nonesuch)

Best Emerging Artist

Soul Brass Band

Song of the Year

“Wish I Knew You” by David Shaw and Zack Feinberg of the Revivalists

Best Blues Performer

Walter “Wolfman”

Washington

Best Blues Album

Bobby Rush: Porcupine Meat (Rounder)

Best R&B/Funk Artist

Dumpstaphunk

Best R&B/Funk Album

Aaron Neville: Apache (Tell It Records)

Best Rock Artist

The Revivalists

Best Rock Album

Anders Osborne: Flower Box (Back on Dumaine)

Best Rap / Hip-Hop Artist / Bounce Artist

5th Ward Weebie

Best Traditional Jazz Artist

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Best Traditional Jazz Album

Leroy Jones: I’m Talkin’ Bout New Orleans (Independent)

Best Contemporary Jazz Artist

Delfeayo Marsalis

Best Contemporary Jazz Album

Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra: Make America Great Again! (Troubadour Jazz Records)

Best Brass Band

Soul Rebels

Best Cajun Artist

Lost Bayou Ramblers

Best Cajun Album

Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars: Gulfstream (Octavia Records)

Best Zydeco Artist

Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers

Best Roots Rock Artist

Honey Island Swamp Band

Best Roots Rock Album

Honey Island Swamp Band: Demolition Day (Ruf Records)

Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Artist

Paul Sanchez

Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album

Amanda Shaw: Amanda Shaw (Independent)

Best Gospel

McDonogh #35 High School Gospel Choir

Best Cover Band

Bag of Donuts

Songwriter of the Year

Dave Shaw

Best Female Vocalist

Mia Borders

Best Male Vocalist

Aaron Neville

Best Bass Player

George Porter, Jr.

Best Guitarist

Anders Osborne

Best Drummer

Johnny Vidacovich

Best Saxophonist

Khris Royal

Best Clarinetist

Doreen Ketchens

Best Trumpeter

Leroy Jones

Best Trombonist

Corey Henry

Best Tuba/Sousaphonist

Matt Perrine

Best Piano/Keyboardist

Jon Cleary

Best Accordionist

Chubby Carrier

Best Violin/Fiddle Player

Louis Michot

Best DJ

Mannie Fresh

Best Other Instrument

Washboard Chaz (washboard)

Best Music Video

The Revivalists: “Wish I Knew You” directed by Mikey Cosentino & Sam Green of Rite Media Group

 

MUSIC BUSINESS AWARDS

 

Best Club

Howlin’ Wolf

Best Large Festival

Voodoo Music Experience

Best Festival Outside New Orleans

Voice of the Wetlands

Best Neighborhood Festival

Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival

Best Recording Studio

Word of Mouth

Record Label of the Year

Valcour Records

Producer of the Year

John Porter

Best Record Store

Euclid Records

Best Instrument Store

Guitar Center

Best Studio Sound Engineer

Tim Stambaugh (Word of Mouth)

Best Booking Agency

Hep Cat Entertainment

Best Manager

Jon Phillips (Silverback Artist Management)

Best Music Attorney

Tim Kappel

Best Club Owner or Manager

Howie Kaplan/Stu Schayot (Howlin’ Wolf)

Best Concert Promoter

Winter Circle Productions

Bourbon Street Award

Earl Bernhardt and Pam Fortner (Tropical Isle)

Musician Resource Award

The Ella Project

Best Use of Local Music or Musicians in Advertising

Juan LaFonta & Associates, L.L.C. for Juan LaFonta ft. Big Freedia directed by Nicholas Manuel Pino

Music Business of the Year

Esplanade Studios

Community Music Award

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA)

 

Also, another round of congratulations to our Lifetime Achievement Award winners: Johnny Vidacovich (Music); Detroit Brooks and Darryl Young/Dancing Man 504 (Positive Vibrations Heartbeat Award); Sonny Schneidau (Music Business) and Dr. Bruce Raeburn (Music Education).

See you again next year!

Best of the Beat Awards

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