2009 Best of the Beat Winners

By OffBeat Staff

Best Blues Performer – Tab Benoit

Best Blues Album – Wishing Well: Honey Island Swamp Band

Best R&B/Funk Performer – Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk

Best R&B/Funk Album – Live at the Maple Leaf: Joe Krown, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Russell Batiste, Jr.

Best Rock Performer – Theresa Andersson

Best Rock Album – Paper Empire: Better Than Ezra

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Performer – Juvenile

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album – No Ceilings Mixtape: Lil Wayne

Best Traditional Jazz Performer – Kermit Ruffins

Best Traditional Jazz Album – The Bright Mississippi: Allen Toussaint

Best Contemporary Jazz Performer – Terence Blanchard

Best Contemporary Jazz Album – Choices: Terence Blanchard

Best Brass Band – Rebirth Brass Band

Best Cajun Performer – BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Best Cajun Album – Alligator Purse: BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Best Zydeco Performer – Terrance Simien

Best Zydeco Album – Live 2009: Wayne Toups

Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Performer – The Iguanas

Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Album – Stew Called New Orleans: Paul Sanchez and John Boutte

Best Emerging Artist – Honey Island Swamp Band

Best Cover Band – The Bucktown All-Stars

Artist of the Year – Allen Toussaint

Album of the Year – The Bright Mississippi: Allen Toussaint

INDIVIDUAL MUSICIAN AWARD WINNERS

Best Female Vocalist: Irma Thomas

Best Male Vocalist: John Boutte

Best Bass Player: George Porter, Jr.

Best Guitar Player: Sonny Landreth

Best Drummer/Percussionist: Johnny Vidacovich

Best Saxophonist: Donald Harrison, Jr.

Best Trumpeter: Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews

Best Tuba/Sousaphonist: Matt Perrine

Best Piano/Keyboardist: Allen Toussaint

Best Clarinetist: Dr. Michael White

Best Trombonist: Delfeayo Marsalis

Best Accordionist: Terrence Simien

Best Violin/Fiddler: Theresa Andersson

Best Other Instrumentalist: Washboard Chaz, washboard

Best DJ: DJ Soul Sister

Best Songwriter: Paul Sanchez

Best Song: “Hey God” by Paul Sanchez & John Boutte

MUSIC BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS

Best Recording Studio: The Music Shed

Record Label of the Year: Park the Van Records

Best Festival: Voodoo Music Experience

Best Instrument Store: International Vintage Guitars

Best Booking Agency: White Oak

Best Manager: Reuben Williams

Best Music Attorney: Ashlye M. Keaton

Best Music Photographer: Zack Smith

Best Club Owner or Manager: Tom Thayer (d.b.a.)

Best Festival Outside New Orleans: Gretna Heritage Festival

Best Studio Sound Engineer: Chris Finney

Producer of the Year: Tracey Freeman

Best Radio Station: WWOZ

Best Record Store: Louisiana Music Factory

Best Concert Promoter: Hypersoul

Music Awareness Award: WWL-TV

Best Club: The Blue Nile

Music Business of the Year: The Music Shed

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC: Deacon John Moore

Best of the Beat Winners (c/o Louisiana Music Directory)

2008 Best of the Beat Award Winners

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At the Best of the Beat award shows last week, the big winner was Irma Thomas. On Wednesday night at Harrah's Casino, she was named Female Vocalist of the Year, and Saturday night at the House of Blues, she won three awards- for Best Blues Artist, Best Blues Album for Simply Grand, and Artist of the Year. Congratulations to Irma and to our other multi-award winners: Dr. John, Theresa Andersson, Trombone Shorty, Terrance Simien, the Iguanas and Lil Wayne.

MUSIC AWARDS

Best Blues Band or Performer

Irma Thomas

Best Blues Album

Irma Thomas: Simply Grand (Rounder)

Best R&B/Funk Band or Performer

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave.

Best R&B/Funk Album

Dr. John: City That Care Forgot (429/Savoy)

Best Rock Band or Performer

Theresa Andersson

Best Rock Album

Theresa Andersson: Hummingbird, Go! (Basin Street)

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Band or Performer

Lil Wayne

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album

Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III (Cash Money)

Best Traditional Jazz Band or Performer

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Best Traditional Jazz Album

John Boutte: Good Neighbor (Independent)

Best Contemporary Jazz Band or Performer

Terrence Blanchard

Best Contemporary Jazz Album

Ellis Marsalis Quartet: An Open Letter to Thelonious (ELM)

Best Brass Band

Rebirth Brass Band

Best Gospel Band or Performer

Zion Harmonizers

Best Cajun Band or Performer

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Best Cajun Album

Michael Doucet: From Now On (Smithsonian Folkways)

Best Zydeco Band or Performer

Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience

Best Zydeco Album

Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys: Keep the Tradition Alive! (Maison de Soul)

Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Band or Performer

The Iguanas

Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Album

The Iguanas: If You Should Ever Fall on Hard Times (Yep Roc)

Best Emerging Artist

Los Po-Boy-Citos

Best Cover Band or Performer

The Bucktown Allstars

Female Vocalist

Irma Thomas

Male Vocalist

John Boutte

Bass Player

George Porter, Jr.

Guitar Player

Sonny Landreth

Drummer/Percussionist

Johnny Vidacovich

Saxophone

Donald Harrison

Clarinet

Dr. Michael White

Trumpet

Trombone Shorty

Trombone

Mark Mullins

Tuba / Sousaphone

Matt Perrine

Piano/Keyboards

Henry Butler

Accordion

Terrance Simien

Violin/Fiddle

Michael Doucet

Other Instrument

Washboard Chaz (washboard)

Album of the Year

Dr. John: City That Care Forgot (429/Savoy)

Artist/Band of the Year

Irma Thomas

BUSINESS AWARDS

Best Club

d.b.a.

Best Radio Station

WWOZ

Best Festival

French Quarter Festival

Best Festival Outside New Orleans

Festivals Acadiens et Creole

Best Recording Studio

Studio in the Country

Record Label of the Year

Basin Street Records

Producer of the Year

Mark Bingham

Best Record Store

Louisiana Music Factory

Best Instrument Store

Ray Fransen’s Drum Center

Best Pro Audio Store

Guitar Center

Best Studio Sound Engineer

Ben Mumphrey (Studio in the Country)

Best Booking Agency

White Oak

Best Manager

Howie Kaplan

Best Music Attorney

Ashlye M. Keaton

Best Music Photographer

Skip Bolen

Best Club Owner or Manager

Jessie Page (The Blue Nile)

Best Concert Promoter

Ponderosa Stomp Foundation

Music Awareness Award

The New Orleans Hornets

Music Business of the Year

Preservation Hall

LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT

Lifetime Achievement in Music

Harold Battiste

Lifetime Achievement in Music

Bo Dollis

Posthumous Lifetime Achievement in Music

James Booker

Lifetime Achievement in Music Business

Maggie Warwick

Lifetime Achievement Music Education

Donald Harrison and Cherice Harrison-Nelson

The Heartbeat Award

Antoinette K-Doe

Offbeat Best of the Beat Nominees

Click here to vote for your favorites.

Here’s the list of nominees:

Best Blues Band or Performer
Tab Benoit
David Egan
Little Freddie King
Sonny Landreth
Irma Thomas

Best Blues Album
David Egan: You Don’t Know Your Mind (Independent)
Sonny Landreth: From the Reach (Landfall)
Eric Lindell: Low on Cash, Rich in Love (Alligator)
Kenny Neal: Let Life Flow (Blind Pig)
Irma Thomas: Simply Grand (Rounder)

Best R&B/Funk Band or Performer

Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Bonerama
Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen
Porter-Batiste-Stoltz
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave.

Best R&B/Funk Album
Big Sam’s Funky Nation: Peace, Love & Understanding (Independent)
Henry Butler: PiaNOLA Live (Basin Street)
Dr. John: City That Care Forgot (429/Savoy)
Joe Krown, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Russell Batiste, Jr.: Live at the Maple Leaf (Independent)
Walter “Wolfman” Washington: Doin’ the Funky Thing (Zoho Roots)

Best Rock Band or Performer
Theresa Andersson
The Happy Talk Band
The New Orleans Bingo! Show
Quintron and Miss Pussycat
Rotary Downs

Best Rock Album
Theresa Andersson: Hummingbird, Go! (Basin Street)
The Bad Off: Lady Day (Independent)
The Happy Talk Band: THERE there (Independent)
The New Orleans Bingo! Show: Vol. 2: For a Life Ever Bright (New Orleans Bingo! Show)
Quintron and Miss Pussycat: Too Thirsty 4 Love (Goner)

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Band or Performer
B.G. and the Chopper City Boyz
Fifth Ward Weebie
Juvenile
Lil Wayne
Truth Universal

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album
B.G. and the Chopper City Boyz: Life in the Concrete Jungle (Chopper City)
Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III (Cash Money)
Truth Universal: Self-Determination (Independent)

Best Traditional Jazz Band or Performer
John Boutte
Tom McDermott
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Don Vappie
Dr. Michael White

Best Traditional Jazz Album
John Boutte: Good Neighbor (Independent)
Evan Christopher: Delta Bound (Arbors)
Tom McDermott and Connie Jones: Creole Nocturne (Arbors)
Seva Venet: Mens Working (Jazzology)
Dr. Michael White: Blue Crescent (Basin Street)

Best Contemporary Jazz Band or Performer
Astral Project
Terrence Blanchard
The Magnetic Ear
Jesse McBride & the Next Generation
Christian Scott

Best Contemporary Jazz Album
The Magnetic Ear: Live at the Saturn Bar (Independent)
Ellis Marsalis Quartet: An Open Letter to Thelonious (ELM)
Jesse McBride: Jesse McBride presents the Next Generation (AFO)
Christian Scott: Live at Newport (Concord)
Frederick “Shep” Sheppard: Tradition: The Habari Gani Sessions (Drumparade)

Best Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Free Agents Brass Band
Hot 8 Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band
The Soul Rebels

Best Gospel Band or Performer
Electrifying Crown Seekers
Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Choir
Tyronne Foster & the Arc Singers
Trin-i-tee 5:7
Zion Harmonizers

Best Cajun Band or Performer
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
Feufollet
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Pine Leaf Boys
Cedric Watson

Best Cajun Album
Michael Doucet: From Now On (Smithsonian Folkways)
Feufollet: Cow Island Hop (Valcour)
Pine Leaf Boys: Homage au Passé (Lionsgate)
The Savoy Family Band: Turn Loose but Don’t Let Go (Arhoolie)
Cedric Watson: Cedric Watson (Valcour)

Best Zydeco Band or Performer
Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys
Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
Travis Matte and the Kingpins
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience

Best Zydeco Album
Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys: Keep the Tradition Alive! (Maison de Soul)
Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames: Holla @ Me (Independent)
Travis Matte: Hip Hop Zyde-Rock (Mhat)
Earl “Washboard” Sally: Home Grown (Catfish Zydeco)

Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Band or Performer
Susan Cowsill
The Iguanas
Paul Sanchez
The subdudes
The Zydepunks

Best Country/Folk/Roots Rock Album
Bobby Charles: Homemade Songs (Rice ’N’ Gravy)
The Iguanas: If You Should Ever Fall on Hard Times (Yep Roc)
Paul Sanchez: Exit to Mystery Street (Independent)
Amanda Shaw: Pretty Runs Out (Rounder)
The Zydepunks: Finisterre (Independent)

Best Emerging Artist
Antenna Inn
The Figs
Los Po-Boy-Citos
The Other Planets
The Vettes

Best Cover Band or Performer
Bag of Donuts
The Bucktown Allstars
The Top Cats

Female Vocalist
Theresa Andersson
Susan Cowsill
Irma Thomas

Male Vocalist
John Boutte
Marc Broussard
Clint Maedgen

Bass Player
Robert Mercurio
George Porter, Jr.
James Singleton

Guitar Player
Sonny Landreth
Jimmy Robinson
Walter “Wolfman” Washington

Drummer/Percussionist
Russell Batiste, Jr.
Stanton Moore
Johnny Vidacovich

Saxophone
Tony Dagradi
Tim Green
Donald Harrison

Clarinet
Evan Christopher
Tim Laughlin
Dr. Michael White

Trumpet
Trombone Shorty
Terence Blanchard
Irvin Mayfield

Trombone
Craig Klein
Mark Mullins
Rick Trolsen

Tuba / Sousaphone
Matt Perrine
Phil Frazier
Kirk Joseph

Piano/Keyboards
Henry Butler
Jon Cleary
Tom McDermott

Accordion
Steve Riley
Wilson Savoy
Terrance Simien

Violin/Fiddle
Michael Doucet
Cedric Watson
Linzay Young

Other Instrument
Dave Easley (steel guitar)
Don Vappie (banjo)
Washboard Chaz (washboard)

Album of the Year
Theresa Andersson: Hummingbird, Go! (Basin Street)
Michael Doucet: From Now On (Smithsonian Folkways)
Dr. John: City That Care Forgot (429/Savoy)
Irma Thomas: Simply Grand (Rounder)
Dr. Michael White: Blue Crescent (Basin Street)

Artist/Band of the Year
Theresa Andersson
Lil Wayne
Tom McDermott
Irma Thomas
Trombone Shorty