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