GRAMMY NOMINATIONS!!!!

The Grammy nominations are out, and it is an exceptional batch this year! The catagories had a bit of a change this year - a new collection of awards titled "American Roots". I think they did a decent job. The new "Americana" catagory has allowed for more proper recognition of the other genres.

The traditional folk catagory is a tough one. I am torn between "Singing Through The Hard Times: A Tribute To Utah Phillips" (various Artists - produced by Jacqui Morse, Kendall Morse & Dan Schatz) and "High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project" by Loudon Wainwright III and co-producer Dick Connette.

The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Jan. 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The nominees are:

Field 13 — American Roots

Category 64

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]






Category 65

Best Bluegrass Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Could We Get Any Closer?
Jim Lauderdale
[Sky Crunch Records]

* The Crow / New Songs For The Five-String Banjo
Steve Martin
[Rounder]

* Buckaroo Blue Grass
Michael Martin Murphey
[Rural Rhythm Records]

* Almost Live
Bryan Sutton And Friends
[Sugar Hill Records]

* Destination Life
Rhonda Vincent
[Rounder]






Category 66

Best Traditional Blues Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* A Stranger Here
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
[ANTI]

* Blue Again
The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band Featuring Rick Vito
[429 Records]

* Rough & Tough
John Hammond
[Chesky Records]

* Stomp! The Blues Tonight
Duke Robillard
[Stony Plain Records]

* Chicago Blues: A Living History
(Various Artists)
Larry Skoller, producer
[Raisin' Music]






Category 67

Best Contemporary Blues Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* This Time
The Robert Cray Band
[Nozzle Records/Vanguard]

* The Truth According To Ruthie Foster
Ruthie Foster
[Blue Corn Music]

* Live: Hope At The Hideout
Mavis Staples
[ANTI]

* Back To The River
Susan Tedeschi
[Verve Forecast]

* Already Free
The Derek Trucks Band
[Victor Records]






Category 68

Best Traditional Folk Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Cutting Loose
David Holt And Josh Goforth
[High Windy Audio]

* Naked With Friends
Maura O'Connell
[Sugar Hill Records]

* Polka Cola: Music That Refreshes
Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra
[Starr Records]

* Singing Through The Hard Times: A Tribute To Utah Phillips
(Various Artists)
Jacqui Morse, Kendall Morse & Dan Schatz, producers
[righteous babe records, inc.]

* High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project
Loudon Wainwright III
[2nd Story Sound Records]






Category 69

Best Contemporary Folk Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Middle Cyclone
Neko Case
[ANTI]

* Our Bright Future
Tracy Chapman
[Elektra]

* Live
Shawn Colvin
[Nonesuch]

* Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
Elvis Costello
[Hear Music]

* Townes
Steve Earle
[New West Records]






Category 70

Best Hawaiian Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* He Nani
Tia Carrere & Daniel Ho
[Daniel Ho Creations]

* Friends & Family Of Hawai`i
Amy Hanaiali`i
[UA Records]

* Nani Mau Loa: Everlasting Beauty
Ho`okena
[Ho`omau Inc.]

* Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2
(Various Artists)
Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Paul Konwiser & Wayne Wong, producers
[Daniel Ho Creations]






Category 71

Best Native American Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Siyotanka
Michael Brant DeMaria
[Ontos Music]

* Spirit Wind North
Bill Miller
[Cool Springs Music Group]

* True Blue
Northern Cree
[Canyon Records]

* Wind Songs — Native American Flute Solos
John Two-Hawks
[Circle Studios]

* Riders Of The Healing Road
Johnny Whitehorse
[Silver Wave Records]






Category 72

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]

ODETTA - First Anniversary of her Passing. . .

Below is a note from Doug Yeager.  It is still hard to believe that Odetta has left us.  We were lucky to have been in her presence and to be blessed by the gifts she shared with us.

Ron Olesko

-----Original Message-----
From: YeagerProd@aol.com
To: YeagerProd@aol.com
Sent: Wed, Dec 2, 2009 1:10 pm
Subject: ODETTA - First Anniversary of her Passing. . .

ODETTA

December 31, 1930 - December 2, 2008

 

 

In my heart, I know she is up there leading the choir,

while still correcting any and all injustices she sees down here

 

We all dearly miss you down here. . .  

 

God Bless You Odetta

 

 

 

 

 

LOOKING BACK AT NERFA 2009

Photo of Ron Olesko
at 2009 NERFA Formal Showcase
courtesy of Neale Eckstein

Where to begin. NERFA for 2009 has come and gone, and the music is still keeping a smile on my face. NERFA is the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, and every November a large gathering of artists, festival and venue bookers, radio folk, and other people involved in the perpetuation of "folk" music gather to do business and to showcase talent.

There was just so much music this year, I loved it all, but there were a few artists who really impressed me.

I guess I will start with Tripping Lily (www.trippinglily.com) . I had a sampler that I’ve been playing since the summer, and it was great to see them live (and get the whole CD!). They were amazing. I love their harmonies and their interplay on stage.

I echo Barbara’s comments about Matt & Shannon Heaton (www.mattandshannonheatom.com) . Not only were they exciting and powerful on stage, but their homemade gingerbread that they were sharing was finest kind – the best I’ve ever had! They are exceptional artists and deserve to be on more playlists!

I also was blown away by Red Hen (www.redhen.net) – an old-timey band featuring Jane Rothfield and Alan Carr. Great tunes and songs, wonderful style and poise, they were an unexpected surprise and a highlight of the weekend!

Matt Brown (www.fiddler1.com)had my jaw dropping with his incredible skill on the fiddle and his haunting old-timey singing.

Michael McNevin (www.michaelmcnevin.com) was wonderful, I had not seen him previously that I can recall. A Canadian singer-songwriter named Amy Campbell (www.amycampbell.ca) was very impressive. Also “new” and noteworthy to my ears – Jude Roberts (www.judesongs.com - loved his CD that I’ve been playing, seeing him on stage was amazing!), Gypsy Dave and The Stumpjumpers (www.thegypsydave.com - a young band that shows potential), and Lisa Bigwood (www.lisabigwoodmusic.com) were a few that come to mind.

I also find it exciting to watch performers who are still relatively new continue growing. I remember first meeting Danielle Miraglia (www.daniellem.com) at NERFA several years ago, and to watch the poise and power that she brings to a stage is inspiring. Her songwriting is also a joy – check out “Moment by Moment” if you have not heard her!

Greg Klyma (www.klyma.com) keeps impressing as well. He gave me his new CD “KlymaLive” which is simply incredible. A great live performance with some new songs. Check him out!

While NERFA is always great for “discovering” new artists, it is also a great place to become reacquainted with established artists. For me, Buskin & Batteau (www.buskinandbatteau.com) was the highlight of NERFA. I had the pleasure of emceeing the formals with Rich Warren the night they performed, and as I said after they finished their showcase – I felt like I was 25 years old again and sitting back at Speakeasy in the Village. Their harmonies and wonderful presence onstage is as captivating as ever – and their new songs are so good! Personally, I think “Choose Joy” might be the song of the year! I’m presenting them at the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club on December 5th, along with another standout performer from NERFA – Kelleigh McKenzie (www.kelleighmckenzie.com) It will be an incredible show.

Speaking of old favorites, what is it about Joel Mabus (www.joelmabus.com) that knocks me out every single time I see him? Since I first saw him perform, Joel is consistently at the top of his game and I’ve never seen him give a bad performance. He is the primer on what folk music is all about.

I could go on and on, but this is a quick snapshot of my impressions of this year. I’ve been attending NERFA for about 10 years now, and I have to say that this was the most productive conference I’ve attended. The quality of music was inspiring. Folk music, in all it’s shades and forms, is in great hands! Can’t wait until next year! I can’t wait to do my radio show this Sunday and share some of it!

Ron Olesko