Email this article | Printer friendly page

VOTE NOW for 2006

Best of The Beat Awards Nominees

By offBeat Staff

Once again, it’s time for the public to help OffBeat recognize musical excellence in 2006. We need you to go online to WWLTV.com and vote for the best performers of 2006. The winners will be honored at OffBeat’s Best Of The Beat Awards, Saturday, January 27 at House of Blues at a show that will include an all-star tribute to Fats Domino with Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Kermit Ruffins, Jon Cleary, George Porter, Jr., Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, David Egan, Derek Huston, C.C. Adcock and the Lil’ Band of Gold Rhythm Section. Also performances by Troy Andrews, Bonerama, Robert Walter, Rob Wagner, Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Susan Cowsill, Bobby Lounge, the Imagination Movers, Gal Holiday and other surprise guests.

The Fats Domino Tribute is presented by Bernard Productions and will benefit the New Orleans Musicians’ Hurricane Relief Fund. The Best Of The Beat Awards are sponsored by Miller Brewing Company, Capital One Bank, House of Blues New Orleans, The Howlin’ Wolf, Glazer’s Companies of Louisiana, and WWL TV.

A limited number of tickets are available in advance for a mere $20 which includes food from many local restaurants including Jacques-Imo’s, Whole Foods, the Gumbo Shop, the Mother-In-Law Lounge, Schiro’s, Tomatillo’s, Aurora Country Club Catering, Slice Pizzeria, Hubig’s Pies, and many, many more. Tickets at the door will be $25. Call 504-944-4300 or sign up to OffBeat’s weekly email The Weekly Beat at OffBeat.com for more information and ticket sales. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7.

OffBeat will also host its 2006 Best of the Beat Business Awards at the Howlin’ Wolf Wednesday, January 25. The event is invitation-only; New Orleans music industry professionals can contact OffBeat for invitations.

The nominations are:

BEST BLUES BAND OR PERFORMER
Tab Benoit
Eric Lindell
Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters

BEST BLUES ALBUM
Tab Benoit: Brother to the Blues (Telarc)
Eric Lindell: Change in the Weather (Alligator)
John Mooney: Big Ol’ Fiya (LML)

BEST R&B / FUNK BAND OR PERFORMER
Galactic
Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
Papa Grows Funk

BEST R&B / FUNK ALBUM
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: The River in Reverse (Verve/Forecast)
New Orleans Social Club: Sing Me Back Home (Burgundy/Sony)
Irma Thomas: After the Rain (Rounder)

BEST ROCK BAND OR PERFORMER
Better Than Ezra
Morning 40 Federation
World Leader Pretend

BEST ROCK ALBUM
Cowboy Mouth: Voodoo Shoppe (Eleven Thirty)
Deadboy & the Elephantmen: We Are Night Sky (Fat Possum)
Quintron & Miss Pussycat: Swamp Tech (Rhinestone)

BEST RAP / HIP-HOP BAND OR PERFORMER
Impulss
Juvenile
Lil’ Wayne

BEST TRADITIONAL JAZZ BAND OR PERFORMER
New Orleans Jazz Vipers
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Kermit Ruffins and the Barbeque Swingers

BEST TRADITIONAL JAZZ ALBUM
Lionel Batiste, Sr.: Lars Edegran presents Uncle Lionel (GHB)
New Orleans Jazz Vipers: Hope You’re Comin’ Back (NOJV)
Don Vappie: Banjo a la Creole (Vappielle)

BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ BAND OR PERFORMER
Troy Andrews
Nicholas Payton
Christian Scott

BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM
Kidd Jordan, Hamid Drake and William Parker: Palm of Soul (AUM Fidelity)
Branford Marsalis: Braggtown (Marsalis Music)
Christian Scott: Rewind That (Concord Jazz)

BEST BRASS BAND
Bonerama
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band

BEST BRASS BAND ALBUM
Big Sam’s Funky Nation: Take Me Back (Independent)
Dirty Dozen Brass Band: What’s Going On (Shout! Factory)
The Original Pin Stripe Brass Band: I Wanna Go Back to New Orleans (Orleans)

BEST GOSPEL BAND OR PERFORMER
Jo Cool Davis
Betty Winn and One A-Chord
Zion Harmonizers

BEST CAJUN BAND OR PERFORMER
BeauSoleil
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Pine Leaf Boys

BEST CAJUN ALBUM
BeauSoleil: Live in Louisiana (Way Down in Louisiana)
Lost Bayou Ramblers: Lost Bayou Ramblers present the Mello Joy Boys (Swallow)
Pine Leaf Boys: La Musique (Arhoolie)

BEST ZYDECO BAND OR PERFORMER
Travis Matte & the Zydeco Kingpins
Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas
Terrance Simien

BEST ZYDECO ALBUM
Travis Matte & the Zydeco Kingpins: Zydeco Train (Independent)
Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas: Hang it High, Hang it Low (Rounder)
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience: Across Parish Lines (AIM)

BEST COUNTRY / FOLK / ROOTS ROCK BAND OR PERFORMER
Theresa Andersson
Susan Cowsill
Anders Osborne

BEST COUNTRY / FOLK / ROOTS ROCK ALBUM
Spencer Bohren: The Long Black Line (Valve)
Bobby Lounge: Ten Foot Woman (Abitan)
Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy (The ZoZo Sisters): Adieu False Heart (Vanguard)

BEST WORLD BAND OR PERFORMER
Julio y Cesar
Fredy Omar con su Banda
Vivaz

BEST EMERGING ARTIST
Deadboy & the Elephantmen
Impulss
The Magnetic Ear

BEST COVER BAND
Bag of Donuts
Bucktown All Stars
The Molly Ringwalds

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: The River in Reverse (Verve/Forecast)
Dirty Dozen Brass Band: What’s Going On (Shout! Factory)
Irma Thomas: After the Rain (Rounder)

BAND OR PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
Troy Andrews
John Boutte
Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters

FEMALE VOCALIST
Charmaine Neville
Irma Thomas
Marva Wright

MALE VOCALIST
John Boutte
George French
Clint Maedgen

BASS PLAYER
Tony Hall
George Porter, Jr.
James Singleton

GUITAR PLAYER
Sonny Landreth
Walter “Wolfman” Washington
June Yamagishi

DRUMMER / PERCUSSIONIST
Stanton Moore
Shannon Powell
Johnny Vidacovich

SAXOPHONE
Tim Green
Kidd Jordan
Rob Wagner

CLARINET
Tim Laughlin
Ben Schenck
Dr. Michael White

TRUMPET
Troy Andrews
Irvin Mayfield
Kermit Ruffins

TROMBONE
Mark Mullins
Rick Trolsen
Big Sammy Williams

PIANO / KEYBOARDS
Jon Cleary
Tom McDermott
Allen Toussaint

HARMONICA
Andy J. Forrest
J Monque D
Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone