Recapping last nights awards with a little commentary:
- Best Americana Album – Levon Helm – Electric Dirt
Helm beat out heavyweights Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel, Lucinda Williams and Wilco to win his second GRAMMY in three years. I honestly thought Dylan would win just because he’s Dylan.
- Best Bluegrass Album – Steve Martin – The Crow
Good choice. He won not only because he’s Steve Martin and because GRAMMY voters have heard of him, he won because this is a stellar instrumental bluegrass album with an all-star cast of pickers. I’m a little disappointed for Rhonda Vincent, though.
- Best Traditional Folk Album – Loudon Wainwright III – High Wide and Lonesome – The Charlie Poole Project
Quite a week for Loudon Wainwright III – his ex-wife Kate McGarrigle died earlier in the week and yesterday he won a GRAMMY. And let’s pause here to remember Kate and her family, as today is the funeral in Montreal. I’m a little disappointed that the Utah Phillips CD didn’t win, though – that would have made a lot of folkies very happy. Also glad that the Jimmy Sturr GRAMMY train derailed this year.
- Best Contemporary Folk Album – Steve Earle – Townes
It was indeed the Year of the Tribute Album in the folk categories. Did I call it, or what?
- Best Traditional Blues Album – Ramblin’ Jack Elliott – A Stranger Here
Gotta love Ramblin’ Jack and the shout-out to the cowboy poets at Elko in his acceptance speech.
- Best Contemporary Blues Album – Derek Trucks Band – Already Free
Would have liked to see Mavis Staples win her first GRAMMY ever here, but can’t complain too much. Another category full of deserving nominees.
- Best Cajun/Zydeco Album – Buckwheat Zydeco – Lay Your Burden Down
I guar-on-tee that Radiowayne is disappointed about this.
- Best Native American Album – Bill Miller – Spirit Wind North
Bill Miller is a respected artist not only in the Native American community, but also on the folk singer/songwriter circuit, and his victory here is well-earned.
- Best Hawaiian Music Album – Masters of the Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2
Compilation CDs seem to have traditionally won most of the awards in this slot over the last few years, so this is no surprise.
