Wednesday night, the nominees for the 52nd Grammy Awards were announced in Los Angeles, and while the big story of the night for much of the music world was Beyoncé being nominated for ten Grammys and Taylor Swift for eight, the local news is that Allen Toussaint’s The Bright Mississippi and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra’s Book One were nominated for awards. Here’s a Louisiana-centric rundown of the nominations and their ties to the state.
Album Of The Year
(Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.)
• I Am… Sasha Fierce
Beyoncé
Shondrae “Mr. Bangledesh” Crawford, Ian Dench, D-Town, Toby Gad, Sean “The Pen”
Garrett, Amanda Ghost, Jim Jonsin, Beyoncé Knowles, Rico Love, Dave McCracken,
Terius “The Dream” Nash, Radio Killa, Stargate, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart,
Ryan Tedder & Wayne Wilkins, producers; Jim Caruana, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Toby
Gad, Kuk Harrell, Jim Jonsin, Jaycen Joshua, Dave Pensado, Radio Killa, Mark
“Spike” Stent, Ryan Tedder, Brian “B-LUV” Thomas, Marcos Tovar, Miles Walker &
Wayne Wilkins, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
[Music World Music / Columbia]
• The E.N.D.
The Black Eyed Peas
Apl.de.ap, Jean Baptiste, Printz Board, DJ Replay, Funkagenda, David Guetta,
Keith Harris, Mark Knight, Poet Name Life, Frederick Riesterer & will.i.am,
producers; Dylan “3D” Dresdow, Padraic “Padlock” Kerin & will.i.am,
engineers/mixers; Chris Bellman, mastering engineer
[Interscope Records]
• The Fame
Lady Gaga
Flo Rida, Colby O’Donis & Space Cowboy, featured artists; Brian & Josh, Rob
Fusari, Martin Kierszenbaum, RedOne & Space Cowboy, producers; 4Mil, Robert
Orton, RedOne, Dave Russell & Tony Ugval, engineers/mixers; Gene Grimaldi,
mastering engineer
[Streamline/Interscope/Konlive/Cherrytree]
• Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King
Dave Matthews Band
Rob Cavallo, producer; Chris Lord-Alge & Doug McKean, engineers/mixers; Ted
Jensen, mastering engineer
[RCA Records / Bama Rags Recordings, LLC.]
• Fearless
Taylor Swift
Colbie Caillat, featured artist; Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift, producers; Chad
Carlson, Nathan Chapman & Justin Niebank, engineers/mixers; Hank Williams,
mastering engineer
[Big Machine Records]
Louisiana interest: Dave Matthews recorded his album at Piety Street Recording.
Best Dance Recording
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances. Vocal or Instrumental. Singles or tracks only.)
• Boom Boom Pow
The Black Eyed Peas
will.i.am & Jean Baptiste, producers; Dylan Dresdow, mixer
Track from: The E.N.D.
[Interscope Records]
• When Love Takes Over
David Guetta & Kelly Rowland
David Guetta & Frederic Riesterer, producers; Veronica Ferraro, mixer
Track from: One Love
[Astralwerks]
• Poker Face
Lady Gaga
RedOne, producer; Robert Orton, RedOne & Dave Russell, mixers
Track from: The Fame
[Streamline/Interscope/Konlive/Cherrytree]
• Celebration
Madonna
[Warner Bros.]
• Womanizer
Britney Spears
K. Briscoe, producer; Serban Ghenea, mixer
Track from: Circus
[Jive/Zomba]
Louisiana interest: Britney Spears from Kentwood.
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
• A Swingin’ Christmas
Tony Bennett
[Columbia]
• Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden
Michael Bublé
[143/Reprise]
• Your Songs
Harry Connick, Jr.
[Columbia]
• Liza’s At The Palace
Liza Minnelli
[Hybrid Recordings]
• American Classic
Willie Nelson
[Blue Note]
Louisiana interest: Harry Connick, Jr. from the great state of New Orleans.
Best Rock Album
(Vocal or Instrumental. Includes Hard Rock and Metal.)
• Black Ice
AC/DC
[Columbia]
• Live From Madison Square Garden
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
[Reprise/Duck]
• 21st Century Breakdown
Green Day
[Reprise]
• Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King
Dave Matthews Band
[RCA Records / Bama Rags Recordings, LLC.]
• No Line On The Horizon
U2
[Interscope]
Louisiana interest: Dave Matthews, same as before.
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)
• Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Beyoncé
Track from: I Am… Sasha Fierce
[Music World Music/Columbia]
• It Kills Me
Melanie Fiona
[SRC/Universal Motown]
• That Was Then
Lalah Hathaway
Track from: Self Portrait
[Stax Records/Concord Music Group]
• Goin’ Thru Changes
Ledisi
Track from: Turn Me Loose
[Verve Forecast]
• Lions, Tigers & Bears
Jazmine Sullivan
[J Records]
Louisiana interest: Ledisi was born in New Orleans, though her formative years were spent in Oakland.
Best R&B Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
• The Point Of It All
Anthony Hamilton
[So So Def]
• Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
India.Arie
[Soulbird/Universal Republic]
• Turn Me Loose
Ledisi
[Verve Forecast]
• Blacksummers’ Night
Maxwell
[Columbia]
• Uncle Charlie
Charlie Wilson
[Jive Records]
Louisiana interest: Ledisi, same as above.
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
(For established duos or groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
• Cowgirls Don’t Cry
Brooks & Dunn
Track from: Cowboy Town
[Arista Nashville]
• Chicken Fried
Zac Brown Band
Track from: The Foundation
[Home Grown/Big Picture/Atlantic]
• I Run To You
Lady Antebellum
Track from: Lady Antebellum
[Capitol Records Nashville]
• Here Comes Goodbye
Rascal Flatts
Track from: Unstoppable
[Lyric Street Records]
• It Happens
Sugarland
Track from: Love On The Inside
[Mercury Records]
Louisiana interest: Sugarland’s rhythm section is Annie Clements and Travis McNabb, though they don’t play on this track. She might have a backing vocal on it, but I don’t have the liner notes on hand to check.
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
(For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter’s name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.)
• Dancin’ 4 Chicken
Terence Blanchard, soloist
Track from: Watts (Jeff “Tain” Watts)
[Dark Key Music]
• All Of You
Gerald Clayton, soloist
Track from: Two-Shade
[ArtistShare]
• Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey
Roy Hargrove, soloist
Track from: Emergence
[Groovin’ High/Emarcy]
• On Green Dolphin Street
Martial Solal, soloist
Track from: Live At The Village Vanguard
[CamJazz]
• Villa Palmeras
Miguel Zenón, soloist
Track from: Esta Plena
[Marsalis Music]
Louisiana interest: Terence Blanchard’s from the great state of New Orleans. He also won this Grammy last year.
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)
• Quartet Live
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez
[Concord Jazz]
• Brother To Brother
Clayton Brothers
[ArtistShare]
• Five Peace Band – Live
Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band
[Concord Records]
• Remembrance
John Patitucci Trio
[Concord Jazz]
• The Bright Mississippi
Allen Toussaint
[Nonesuch]
Louisiana interest: Allen Toussaint is from the great state of New Orleans.
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
(For large jazz ensembles, including big band sounds. Albums must contain 51% or more INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)
• Legendary
Bob Florence Limited Edition
[MAMA Records]
• Eternal Interlude
John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
[Sunnyside]
• Fun Time
Sammy Nestico And The SWR Big Band
[Hänssler Classic]
• Book One
New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
[World Village]
• Lab 2009
University Of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band
[North Texas Jazz]
Louisiana interest: The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra is from the great state of New Orleans.
Best Americana Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
• Together Through Life
Bob Dylan
[Columbia]
• Electric Dirt
Levon Helm
[Dirt Farmer Music/Vanguard Records]
• Willie And The Wheel
Willie Nelson & Asleep At The Wheel
[Bismeaux Records]
• Wilco (The Album)
Wilco
[Nonesuch]
• Little Honey
Lucinda Williams
[Lost Highway Records]
Louisiana interest: This is the first year for this award. Local rooting interests include Lucinda Williams, who spent a significant part of her life in Louisiana, and Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel, who added Shamarr Allen to the touring band for this album.
Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
• Alligator Purse
Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet
[Yep Roc Records]
• Lay Your Burden Down
Buckwheat Zydeco
[Alligator]
• Stripped Down
The Magnolia Sisters
[Arhoolie Records]
• Live At 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Pine Leaf Boys
[MunckMix, Inc.]
• L’Ésprit Créole
Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole
[Valcour Records]
Louisiana interest: Louisiana owns this category.
Best Comedy Album
(For comedy recordings, spoken or musical)
• Back From The Dead
Spinal Tap
[The Label Industry/Artist2Market Distribution]
• A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All!
Stephen Colbert
[Comedy Central Records]
• Internet Leaks
“Weird Al” Yankovic
[Volcano]
• My Weakness Is Strong
Patton Oswalt
[Degenerate/Warner Bros.]
• Suckin’ It For The Holidays
Kathy Griffin
[Music With A Twist]
• Tall, Dark & Chicano
George Lopez
[Comedy Central Records]
Louisiana interest: Part-time New Orleanian Harry Shearer is part of Spinal Tap.
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
(Award to the Artist(s) and/or Producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album, or to the individual(s) actively responsible for the concept and musical direction and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable.)
• Cadillac Records
(Various Artists)
[Music World Music/Columbia]
• Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds
(Various Artists)
[A Band Apart/Warner Bros.]
• Slumdog Millionaire
(Various Artists)
[N.E.E.T./Interscope Records]
• True Blood
(Various Artists)
[Elektra]
• Twilight
(Various Artists)
[Summit Ent./Chop Shop/Atlantic]
Louisiana interest: True Blood is set in Louisiana, and the soundtrack includes tracks by C.C. Adcock, Lucinda Williams, Lee Dorsey, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John.
Best Recording Package
• Back From The Dead
Brian Porizek, art director (Spinal Tap)
[The Label Industry/Artist2Market Distribution]
• Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Stefan Sagmeister, art director (David Byrne & Brian Eno)
[Todomundo/Opal]
• Middle Cyclone
Neko Case & Judge, art directors (Neko Case)
[ANTI]
• Splitting Adam
Jeff Harrison, art director (Splitting Adam)
[Independent]
• Tathagata
Szu Wei Cheng & Hui Chen Huang, art directors (Various Artists)
[Wind Music]
Louisiana interest: Harry Shearer, same reason as above.
Best Album Notes
• The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935-1946)
Dan Morgenstern, album notes writer (Louis Armstrong)
[Mosaic Records]
• Dance-O-Mania: Harry Yerkes And The Dawn Of The Jazz Age, 1919-1923
Mark Berresford, album notes writer (The Happy Six)
[Rivermont Records]
• Gonzo: The Life And Work Of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson – Music From The Film
Douglas Brinkley & Johnny Depp, album notes writers (Various Artists)
[Legacy Recordings]
• My Dusty Road
Ed Cray & Bill Nowlin, album notes writers (Woody Guthrie)
[Rounder]
• Origins Of The Red Hot Mama, 1910-1922
Lloyd Ecker & Susan Ecker, album notes writers (Sophie Tucker)
[Archeophone Records]
Louisiana interest: Louis Armstrong is from the great state of New Orleans, and Doug Brinkley was a long-time New Orleanian before he move to Rice University in Houston.
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
(A Producer’s Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.))
• T Bone Burnett
• Moonalice (Moonalice) (A)
• Secret, Profane & Sugarcane (Elvis Costello) (A)
• Ethan Johns
• Gossip In The Grain (Ray LaMontagne) (A)
• Larry Klein
• Acadian Driftwood (Zachary Richard) (T)
• Bare Bones (Madeleine Peyroux) (A)
• My One And Only Thrill (Melody Gardot) (A)
• Our Bright Future (Tracy Chapman) (A)
• Tide (Luciana Souza) (A)
• Greg Kurstin
• It’s Not Me, It’s You (Lily Allen) (A)
• Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future (The Bird And The Bee) (A)
• Brendan O’Brien
• Black Ice (AC/DC) (A)
• Crack The Skye (Mastodon) (A)
• The Fixer (Pearl Jam) (S)
• Killswitch Engage (Killswitch Engage) (A)
• Working On A Dream (Bruce Springsteen) (A)
Louisiana interest: One of Larry Klein’s production credits is for Zachary Richard’s cover of “Acadian Driftwood” from his Last Kiss album.
The Grammys will be announced January 31, 2010, and only the Dave Matthews-contested categories will appear on the actual telecast. The others will be awarded in a pre-telecast event that takes place earlier that day.
