I just got back from a tour of the Joy Theater on the corner of Canal and Loyola Streets. I’ve seen many a movie there, but the theater had gotten pretty dilapidated over the years, and Hurricane Katrina pretty much put it out of its misery. Thanks to a group of developers, the Joy will [...]
Tag Archives: Grammys
The Grammys: Behind Closed Doors
August 1, 2011 – 12:04 am
[OffBeat gave NARAS’ Bill Freimuth a chance to respond to some of the questions raised in the story below. They didn’t arrive in time to be included in the physical magazine, but they’re included at the end of the story.] Did you hear the one about the guy that went to a fight and a [...]
Grammys Aren’t Budging
July 8, 2011 – 11:13 am
We’ve been reporting on the backlash against the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ decision to consolidate a number of Grammy categories including the Best Zydeco or Cajun Album into the newly formed Best Regional Roots Music award. Those affected by the dropping of the Best Latin Jazz categories have been particularly vocal in [...]
The Grammy Up Sides
July 1, 2011 – 12:04 am
Earlier this year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) decided to reduce the number of Grammy Awards that are contested each year by “consolidating”—their word—many categories. Needless to say, those whose categories were consolidated are unhappy about it and many have been protesting in one way or another. The young Best Zydeco [...]
Grammys Nix Cajun Zydeco, and a lot more
June 8, 2011 – 6:51 pm
After the many years of hard work and politicking to establish a “Cajun-Zydeco” category at the Grammys, NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences—the organization that presents the Grammys) announced that they had eliminated this category, along with many others, including Traditional Blues. Last year there were 109 categories; for the upcoming year, there [...]
NOCCA Recognized by Grammys Wednesday
April 21, 2011 – 1:20 pm
“You’re in NOCCA. People love you.” Entertainment attorney Ashlye Keaton reminded performing arts students at NOCCA of this fact Wednesday as part of Grammy Career Day, where she sat on a panel with musician Delfeayo Marsalis, Basin Street Records’ Mark Samuels and the Music Shed’s Chris Finney. The session gave students practical insight into how [...]
Grammy Come, Grammy Go
April 7, 2011 – 9:55 am
I have a hard time feeling a sense of great injustice for the Recording Academy’s decision to consolidate categories, in the process wiping the Best Cajun/Zydeco Album category. I’d prefer that they still have it, but the reasons are largely selfish for the region. It has helped drive local membership in NARAS (a good thing) [...]
Cajun/Zydeco and Other Grammy Awards Eliminated
April 6, 2011 – 1:24 pm
The Grammy Award categories for the upcoming year have been pared down to 78 categories from 109, and one of those that lost out was the Best Zydeco or Cajun Album award. was part of the now heavily reorganized American Roots Music field. That field will now feature a Best Regional Roots Music Album award, [...]
YouTube du Jour: Trombone Shorty
February 15, 2011 – 9:23 am
Trombone Shorty lost the Best Contemporary Jazz Album award to Stanley Clarke at the Grammys Sunday, but the best revenge is a killing performance. Here he is in the Grammy “pre-tel” event–when they actually give out Grammys–performing “Hurricane Season” from Backatown. After this host Esperanza Spalding announced, “That settles it; I’m moving to New Orleans.”
New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Homecoming at House of Blues
January 19, 2011 – 7:33 pm
This Friday night at House of Blues, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra will perform the entirety of their 2009 album Book One. While it has toured extensively in support of the album, this will be the first time the NOJO performs Book One in New Orleans. Book One won a 2010 Grammy [...]
