Terence Blanchard will be honored as the Entertainer of the Year.
The Grammy Awards just added Cajun and zydeco music to the categories it explicitly recognizes, but locally, the Big Easy Music Awards have honored achievements in a wide variety of indigenous and broader genres for two decades. In fact, Grammy-winner Terrance Simien won the first Big Easy zydeco award 20 years ago. The Big Easy Awards continue to honor everything from traditional and contemporary jazz to country and folk to hip-hop and electronica. This year's awards will honor several indivduals and groups for their musical achievements and support of the music community. The list of nominees has been released for 23 categories including Best Male and Female performers, Best Emerging Group or Artist and Best Album of 2007. Winners will be announced at the awards gala at Harrah's New Orleans Casino on Monday, April 21. Actor/comedian Harry Shearer will host the event, and the program will include performances by many of the nominated musicians.
Terence Blanchard will be honored as the Entertainer of the Year. The trumpeter, who is artistic director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at Loyola University, originally developed music for the soundtrack to Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke with his quartet. Blanchard expanded that material for symphony and released A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina). In 2007, local music fans were able to hear the material for both sized ensembles, first at Jazz Fest with the quartet and then in concert with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. The music also reached much wider audiences, and Blanchard won the 2008 Grammy for Best Large Ensemble Jazz Album. That recording is also nominated for the Big Easy Best Album award.
Two bands from both the Big Easy Cajun and zydeco categories were nominated for the combined-genre Grammy award. Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience took home the trophy. Also nominated were Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, the Pine Leaf Boys and Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars.
A few R&B legends will be honored at the Big Easy Awards as well. Eddie Bo will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The pianist has released more R&B singles than anyone except Fats Domino. Al 'Carnival Time" Johnson will receive the Music Heritage Award.
Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff
Al "Carnival Time" Johnson will receive a Music Heritage Award.
The Business Recognition Award will be shared by the Downtown Development District and the Young Leadership Council for the Wednesday at the Square spring concert series, which presents free performances in the CBD by a wide variety of local musicians.
The awards gala is sponsored by Gambit Weekly, Harrah's New Orleans Casino & Hotel, Abita Beer, WWOZ 90.7 FM, the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism and Coleman E. Adler & Sons. The event includes open bar, hors d'oeuvres and an after party at Masquerade at Harrah's. Tickets are $100; a limited number of tables for 10 are $1,000. Call 483-3129 to purchase tickets or for information. Proceeds benefit the Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education.
2008 Big Easy Music Awards
Photo by Alyce Labry
The Figs Band is nominated for Best Country/Folk Band.
Honorary Music Chairman
Don Marshall
Entertainer of the Year
Terence Blanchard
Lifetime Achievement in Music
Eddie Bo
Ambassador of Music Donald Harrison
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience is nominated for Best Zydeco Band.
Music Heritage Award
Al ' Carnival Time" Johnson
Business Recognition Award
Downtown Development District and Young Leadership Council
WWOZ Guardian of the Groove Award
Clinton Scott, Patti Averbuck and David Averbuck
Eddie Bo will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.
2008 Big Easy Award Nominations
Gospel Choir
Greater St. Stephen's Choir
Ninevah Baptist Church Choir
Tyrone Foster & The Arc Singers
Gospel Group/Individual
Bishop Lester Love
Bishop Paul Morton
Trinitee 5:7
Photo by Rick Olivier
Jon Cleary is nominated for Best Rhythm and Blues Artist.
Blues
Jumpin' Johnny Sansone
Little Freddie King
Washboard Chaz
Rhythm and Blues
Jon Cleary
Al 'Carnival Time" Johnson
Walter 'Wolfman" Washington
Rap/Hip-Hop
Cupid
DJ Jubilee
Lil Wayne
Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship? is nominated for Best Emerging Group or Artist.
Traditional Jazz
Tom McDermott & Evan Christopher
Matt Perrine
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Contemporary Jazz
Terence Blanchard
Martin Krusche
Herlin Riley
Traditional Brass Band
Pinstripe Brass Band
Storyville Stompers
Treme Brass Band
Photo by Steven Forster
Marva Wright is nominated for Best Female Performer.
Contemporary Brass Band
Hot 8 Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band
Soul Rebels
Roots Rock
Susan Cowsill
Anders Osborne
Happy Talk Band
Rock
Big Blue Marble
Morning 40 Federation
Rotary Downs
Donald Harrison has been named an Ambassador of Music.
Funk
Big Sam's Funky Nation
Dumpstaphunk
Galactic
Zydeco
Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys
Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience
Cajun
Pine Leaf Boys
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Red Stick Ramblers
Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars
Shamarr Allen is nominated for Best Emerging Group or Artist.
Country/Folk
Country Fried
The Figs Band
Michael Hurtt and His Haunted Hearts
Latin
AsheSon
OTRA
Vivaz
World Music/Reggae
Casa Samba
Michael Skinkus and Moyuba
Zydepunks
Mixed Bag
New Orleans Bingo! Show
Bonerama
Alex McMurray and the Tin Men
Electronica
Chef Menteur
MC Trachiotomy
Quintron
Male Performer
Troy Andrews
Clint Maedgen
George Porter Jr.
Female Performer
Susan Cowsill
Irma Thomas
Marva Wright
Emerging Group or Artist 101 Runners
Shamarr Allen
Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship?
Best Album of 2007 A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem For Katrina)
Terence Blanchard
Blue Note
From the Corner to the Block
Galactic
Anti-
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