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Trombone Shorty, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet and Jon Cleary Nominated For OffBeat Magazine 2013 Best Of The Beat Awards

Trombone Shorty, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet and Jon Cleary have all been nominated for OffBeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards 2013. Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews has been honored with an impressive 8 nods, doubling his nominations from last year and scoring the most nominations of any artist. Following on his wins from last year, Trombone Shorty has once again been recognized in the Artist of the Year, Best R&B/Funk Artist and Best Trombonist categories. Adding to these nominations, Trombone Shorty has been recognized in the Album of the Year and Best R&B / Funk Album categories for his latest release Say That To Say This; plus Song Of The Year and Best Music Video from the CD's lead single, "Fire & Brimstone"; and for Best Trumpeter.

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet have been recognized in the Best Cajun Album category for their 2013 CD From Bamako to Carencro and have been nominated for Best Cajun Artist, a category they have won an amazing 13 times. Once again Jon Cleary appears in Best Piano / Keyboardist category. Cleary will also be performing at the awards show, with his band Absolute Monster Gentlemen featuring Nigel Hall. The awards event will be held at Generations Hall on January 18, 2014. To buy tickets, see here.

Voting in the Best of the Beat is open to the general public. Cast your vote today!

Best of luck to Trombone Shorty, BeauSoleil, Jon Cleary and all the other nominees. To catch Rosebud's artists perform live, see Tour Dates >>

..The Savoy Doucet Cajun Band and BeauSoleil's David Doucet also appear on Best Folk Album nominee, They All Played For Us: Arhoolie Records 50th Anniversary Celebration, produced by long-time Rosebud friend, Chris Strachwitz.

read the full news >>

HBO's hit show Treme, which is now entering it's fourth and final season, premiered it's opening episode of the season on December 1 and features, once more, music from Rosebud artists Allen Toussaint and Trombone Shorty plus features, for the first time, an appearance by Michael Doucet followed by an on-screen performance with BeauSoleil. The episode will continue to be available On Demand until January 12, 2014 (see here and click 'Schedule' for further broadcast information).

This new episode, titled "Yes We Can Can", is named after Allen Toussaint's song and is played by the fictional WWOZ DJ Davis McAlary (Steve Zahn) in the opening scenes. Past seasons of Treme have also had episodes named after the legendary New Orleans musician's compositions including episodes in season two; "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky" and "On Your Way Down".

BeauSoleil's Michael Doucet appears in this latest episode greeting one of the main characters, Annie Tee (Lucia Micarelli), as she leaves the stage after her performance. Michael is then joined by the rest of BeauSoleil for an on-screen performance of their song "L'Amour ou La Folie", a track taken from their 1995 release of the same name.

Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews is also referenced a number of times during this episode. Firstly, his song "Hurricane Season", taken from his 2009 CD Backatown, is played in a scene featuring the characters McAlary and Simply (Henry Griffin). Then later, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue appear for an on-screen performance of "Hurricane Season" and "One Night Only" (also taken from Backatown).

Once again we Thank the team at Treme for their consistent support of Rosebud artists, having also featured the music and / or performances of Marcia Ball, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Jon Cleary and Charlie Musselwhite.

Check out all these artists performing individually live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

BeauSoleil will release From Bamako to Carencro on February 26, 2013 via Compass Records. From Bamako to Carencro, the twenty-fifth release of BeauSoleil's recording career, distills a range of styles and influences including Jazz, Blues Rock, Folk, Cajun, Zydeco, Country, and Bluegrass to create a diverse new record. Bandleader Michael Doucet comments, "The diversity is really what excites me about this record - it's nothing like we've done before and the songs are played only as we could play them." Featured on the new album is a reimagining of James Brown's 1962 Live at the Apollo version of "I'll Go Crazy" as well as a swing version of John Coltrane's "Bessie's Blues".

BeauSoleil titled its new record referencing the musical and cultural connection between Louisiana and Mali, West Africa. BeauSoleil's music draws deeply from this sonic bloodline, and the album's title as well as its content support Doucet's message that "it takes all kinds to make a culture's history survive." BeauSoleil's version of "Bamako" is its tribute to friend and sometimes collaborator, Roswell Rudd, who originally wrote the song for the people of Mali. The entire album is available for preview at A Prairie Home Companion through March 1, 2013. Since becoming the first Cajun band to win a GRAMMY with L'amour Ou La Folie in 1998, BeauSoleil has garnered many accolades including a GRAMMY win in 2010 for Live at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, twelve GRAMMY nominations, having their music featured in HBO's Treme (watch for an on-camera performance coming in Season 4), and being dubbed "the best Cajun band in the world" by NPR's Garrison Keillor (A Prairie Home Companion). BeauSoleil has performed in each of the fifty states and in thirty-three countries. They continue to tour actively with extensive US dates coming up this March.

To Catch BeauSoleil Live, See Tour Dates >>

DECEMBER 2012: Rosebud Artists Nominated For 13+ OffBeat Magazine 2012 Best Of The Beat Awards

Rosebud Artists have been honored with a total of thirteen nominations for OffBeat Magazine's Best Of The Beat Awards. The 2012 awards mark the publication's 25th anniversary and its long history of promoting and spreading the music of Louisiana, which Rosebud artists have played a key role in over the years. This year, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band garnered four nominations including a nomination for Best Brass Band Album for Twenty Dozen. Members Roger Lewis, Kirk Joseph and Terrence Higgins were nominated for Best Saxophonist, Best Tubaist/Sousaphonist and Best Drummer respectively. Trombone Shorty was nominated in four categories as well: Artist Of The Year, Best Trumpeter, Best Trombonist and Best R&B/Funk Artist. Shorty has scored wins in each of these categories in the past, with multiple wins for Artist Of The Year, Best Trumpeter and Best R&B/Funk Artist. Additionally, Preservation Hall Jazz Band's St. Peter & 57th Street (recorded live at Carnegie Hall) on which Shorty performs, was nominated for Best Traditional Jazz Album.

Jon Cleary proves himself again to be a master of taste. In addition to his Occapella CD project (based exclusively on Allen Toussaint compositions) being nominated for both Album Of The Year and Best R&B/Funk Album, his regular collaborators from Jon Cleary's Philthy Phew are each up for an award on their own instruments. Philthy Phew members James Singleton and Matt Perrine, who alternate playing bass in the group, are both nominated for Best Bassist, and Doug Belote is nominated for Best Drummer. Jon himself is nominated for Best Pianist/Keyboardist for the fifth year in a row. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet was nominated for Best Cajun Artist, a category that the band has won an astounding fifteen times previously. And Michael Doucet was also nominated for Best Violinist/Fiddler, a category he has also won in past years.

The Best Of The Beat Awards Nominees are selected by the editors and writers of OffBeat Magazine and voted on by the public. To vote and for more information click here. The Best Of The Beat Awards ceremony will take place January 18, 2013 at Generations Hall in New Orleans.

To Catch All The Rosebud Nominees Live, See Tour Dates >>

DECEMBER 2011: Trombone Shorty Leads In Best of The Beat Awards With 8 Nominations. Irma Thomas, Jon Cleary, Michael Doucet and More Honored

Rosebud Artists have once again been honored with a plethora of nominations in the Best of The Beat Awards. The awards are presented by OffBeat magazine, recognizing the best of New Orleans music. Trombone Shorty lead all other artists with 8 nominations, including Artist of the Year; Album of the Year for For True; Song of the Year for "Do To Me"; Best R&B/Funk Artist; Best R&B/Funk Album for For True; Best Trombonist; Best Trumpeter and Best Music Video for "Do To Me." Last year Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue were honored with awards in 5 of these categories for both Artist (their 3rd) and Album of the Year as well as both Best R&B/Funk Artist (also their 3rd) and R&B/Funk Album in addition to Best Trombonist honors for Trombone Shorty. He has also received 2 previous awards for Best Trumpeter.

Irma Thomas is nominated once again for Best Female Vocalist. She won this award last year for the third year in a row. Irma is also one of the writers and a featured performer on Song of the Year nominee "Could Have Been Worse". The song is on the album Nine Lives - A Musical Adaptation by Colman DeKay and Paul Sanchez. Allen Toussaint is also featured on Nine Lives, which received additional nominations including Album of the Year and Best Roots Rock Album. Jon Cleary is nominated for Best Piano/Keyboardist for the fourth year in a row. His frequent band members James Singleton and Matt Perrine were also nominated for Best Bass Player and Best Tuba / Sousaphonist respectively.

BeauSoleil's Michael Doucet is nominated for Best Violinist/Fiddler, a category he has also won in past years. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's Kirk Joseph is nominated for Best Tuba / Sousaphonist for the second year in a row.

In addition to the above, Papa Grows Funk's Needle In The Groove CD was Co-Produced by Rosebud artist, the legendary Allen Toussaint and also features "Big D" (Dwayne Williams) from Orleans Avenue. The CD is nominated for Best R&B / Funk Album. Congratulations to all the nominees!

Best of The Beat Award Nominees are selected by the editors and writers of OffBeat and voted on by the public. To vote and for more information on the awards click here. The awards take place January 27, 2012 at Generations Hall in New Orleans. Catch all the nominees live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

OCTOBER 2011: BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Awarded "Best Non-European Cajun Band 2011" - First Time Ever Presented

The European Cajun and Zydeco Awards in Cologne, Germany honored BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet as the "Best Non-European Cajun Band 2011". Chosen from an online poll and by a jury from three different countries, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet was the first winner of this award out of a field of 36 non-European Cajun bands.

Since 2004, The European Cajun and Zydeco Awards have honored the best in Cajun and Zydeco music from throughout the European Union. This year, due in part to the Grammy's cancellation of the Cajun and Zydeco category from it's 2012 awards presentation, organizers of The European Cajun and Zydeco Awards wanted to include non-European bands in the voting for the first time. Top honors were awarded at the annual Saulieu Cajun & Zydeco Festival on August 7 in Saulieu, France.

Since their inception in 1975, BeauSoleil has not only spearheaded a cultural renaissance but has elevated Cajun music to one of domestic and international acclaim. In 1998, they became the first Cajun band to win a Grammy for their L'Amour Ou La Folie effort (Best Traditional Folk Album). The band received their second Grammy for Live at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album) in 2009. With eleven Grammy nominations over their 30-plus year career, BeauSoleil received their latest nomination in 2010 with their Yep Roc label debut, Alligator Purse (Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album).

Catch BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet performing live and onstage, please see Tour Dates >>

JANUARY 2011: Trombone Shorty, Dr. John, Irma Thomas and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Honored with OffBeat Best of the Beat Awards

Rosebud artists have once again been honored with Best of the Beat Awards from New Orleans' OffBeat magazine. Trombone Shorty was the night's big winner, taking home five awards, with Dr. John, Irma Thomas and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet all scoring wins as well.

At the ceremony January 28th, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue won awards for Artist of the Year; Album of the Year for the GRAMMY nominated Backatown; Best R&B/Funk Artist; Best R&B/Funk Album for Backatown and Best Trombonist. This makes three times since 2007 that OffBeat has awarded Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue Best R&B/Funk Band, while Trombone Shorty himself has picked up three awards for Performer / Artist of The Year and two awards for Best Trumpeter. Dr. John (represented by Rosebud for bookings outside North America) won all 3 awards he was nominated for: Best Blues Artist; Best Blues Album for his GRAMMY nominated Tribal and Songwriter of the Year. Irma Thomas was awarded Best Female Vocalist for the third year in a row and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet were honored with their incredible 15th award for Best Cajun Artist! In addition, Matt Perrine, a member of Jon Cleary's Piano, Bass & Drums project, won the award for Best Tuba / Sousaphonist for the third year in a row (four years ago he won in a three way tie). The Best of The Beat Award nominees are selected by the editors and writers of OffBeat and voted on by the public to select the winners.

Congratulations to all the winners! Check them out live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

DECEMBER 2010: Rosebud Artists Honored With 13+ Nominations For New Orleans' Best of The Beat Awards - Vote Now!

Rosebud Artists have been honored with 13 nominations for the Best of The Beat Awards presented by OffBeat magazine, recognizing the best of New Orleans music. Trombone Shorty leads Rosebud nominees with 6 nominations including Artist of the Year; Album of the Year for Backatown; Best R&B/Funk Artist; Best R&B/Funk Album for Backatown; Best Trombonist and Best Trumpeter, an award he has won the last two years in a row. Dr. John is nominated for 3 awards: Best Blues Artist; Best Blues Album for Tribal and Songwriter of the Year. Irma Thomas is nominated for Best Female Vocalist and is also featured on Song of the Year nominee, "Heart of Steel" by Galactic. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet are nominated for Best Cajun Artist, a category they have won an amazing 14 times, including last year. Jon Cleary is nominated for Best Piano / Keyboardist and his Piano, Bass & Drums project band members are all also nominated: Doug Belote for Best Drummer; James Singleton for Best Bass Player and Matt Perrine for Best Tuba / Sousaphonist. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's Kirk Joseph is nominated for Best Tuba / Sousaphonist as well. Congratulations to all the nominees!

Best of The Beat Award Nominees are selected by the editors and writers of OffBeat and voted on by the public. To vote and for more information on the awards click here. The awards take place January 28, 2011 at Generations Hall in New Orleans.

Catch all the nominees live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

SEPTEMBER 2010: BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Featured On BBC's God's Jukebox Radio Show

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet were recently featured performing on the BBC Saturday night radio show, God's Jukebox, hosted by Mark Lamarr.  The session was taped while the band was in London playing at Richard Thompson's Meltdown Festival.  Four songs were broadcast, including two from their most recent GRAMMY nominated CD Alligator Purse: "Reel Cajun (451 North St. Joseph St.)" and "Theogene Creole."  A fifth bonus track from the session, "Bamako" can be heard here for a limited time.  

Catch BeauSoleil live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

MAY 2010: Marcia Ball, BeauSoleil, Jon Cleary and Allen Toussaint To Perform At Gulf Aid Benefit May 16, 2010

Marcia Ball (performing with The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars), BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Jon Cleary (performing with Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys) and Allen Toussaint will be among the performers at the Gulf Aid benefit concert at Mardi Gras World River City in New Orleans. Also performing will be Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Mos Def, Kermit Ruffins, Ani DiFranco, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and many more.

The show will raise funds to focus on two key elements of recovery from the oil continuing to pour into the Gulf of Mexico from the collapsed BP oil rig: wetlands/coastal environmental issues and the well-being of fishermen and the regional seafood industry. All funds will be managed and distributed by the Gulf Relief Foundation in partnership with WWOZ-FM community radio in New Orleans. Donations may also be sent to the Gulf Relief Foundation, a 501 C3 non-profit corporation located at 3001 17th Street, Metairie, LA 70009.

WWOZ will stream the show live at wwoz.org.

Catch Marcia Ball, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Jon Cleary and Allen Toussaint playing live on stage individually as they tour throughout the Summer, please see Tour Dates >>

JANUARY 2010: Allen Toussaint, BeauSoleil & Trombone Shorty Score Wins At New Orleans' Best of the Beat Awards

Allen Toussaint was the big winner with Beausoleil and Trombone Shorty also scoring wins at this year's Best of The Beat Awards, presented Friday January 22, 2010 by offBeat magazine.  Allen was honored with Awards for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Traditional Jazz Album for his GRAMMY nominated The Bright Mississippi as well as a win for Best Piano/Keyboardist. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet won Best Cajun Performer, an amazing 14th win for them in this category! They also won Best Cajun Album for their GRAMMY nominated Alligator Purse.  Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews won Best Trumpeter for the second straight year in a row.  The Best of The Beat Awards recognize the best of New Orleans music.  Nominees are selected by the editors and writers of offBeat and the public has the opportunity to vote for the winners.  This year, offBeat received the largest number of votes ever.

Congratulations to the winners!  Check them out live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

2009 BEST OF THE BEAT FULL RESULTS
2009 Best of the Beat Awards: More Winners
2009 Best of the Beat Music Business Awards

JANUARY 2010: Rosebud Artists Recognized In Village Voice 2009 Pazz & Jop Poll

Six albums and three singles released by Rosebud artists last year are recognized in the Village Voice 2009 Pazz & Jop Poll, which calculated 697 music critics' votes for the most important music of the year.

Listed among the year's top singles are:
Booker T., "Hey Ya" & "Space City"
Meshell Ndegeocello, "Mass Transit"

In addition, two Rosebud artists were featured band members on two albums and one single of recognition: Jon Cleary (John Scofield's Piety Street) and Jim Lauderdale (Elvis Costello's Secret, Profane & Sugarcane and the song "Sulphur to Sugarcane"). Also of note are recognition for releases by Rosebud artist Charlie Watts' other band (The Rolling Stones, Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out reissue) and Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood, Live at Madison Square Garden, which features three songs penned by JJ Cale.

Congratulations to all! Catch these artists live, please see Tour Dates >>

DECEMBER 2009: Rosebud Artists Honored With 13 Nominations For New Orleans' Best of The Beat Awards

Rosebud Artists are honored with 13 nominations for the Best of The Beat Awards presented by OffBeat magazine, recognizing the best of New Orleans music. Nominees are selected by the editors and writers of OffBeat and voted on by the public. To vote and for more information on the awards click here. The awards take place January 22, 2010 at the House of Blues in New Orleans.

Both Allen Toussaint and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet are nominated for five awards each. Allen is nominated for Best Traditional Jazz Performer; Album of the Year and Best Traditional Jazz Album for his GRAMMY nominated The Bright Mississippi; Best Piano/Keyboardist; Artist of the Year. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet are nominated for Best Cajun Performer, a category they have won 13 times; Artist of the Year; Album of the Year and Best Cajun Album for their GRAMMY nominated Alligator Purse. Michael Doucet is also nominated for Best Violinist/Fiddler, a category which he won last year.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band are nominated for Best Brass Band, an award they have won a number of times in the past. Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews is nominated for Best Trumpeter, a category he won last year. Jon Cleary is nominated for Best Piano/Keyboardist. Congratulations to all the nominees!

DECEMBER 2009: 10 Grammy Nominations for Rosebud Artists!

We're thrilled to announce that Rosebud Artists received 10 Grammy nominations for this year's awards taking place on January 31, 2010 in Los Angeles. Artists honored with nominations include Allen Toussaint for The Bright Mississippi (Best Jazz Instrumental Album); Booker T. for both Potato Hole (Best Pop Instrumental Album) and a track from that album, "Warped Sister" (Best Rock Instrumental Performance); Jim Lauderdale for Could We Get Any Closer? (Best Bluegrass Album); John Hammond's Rough & Tough and Duke Robillard's Stomp! The Blues Tonight are both nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album; Ruthie Foster's The Truth According To Ruthie Foster and Mavis Staples' Live: Hope At The Hideout are both nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album; Loudon Wainwright III for High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project (Best Traditional Folk Album); Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet for Alligator Purse (Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album).

Other CDs honored with nominations include the collection Oh Happy Day, nominated for Best Traditional Gospel Album which features a song by Mavis Staples with Patty Griffin. True Blood, nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album, features a song by Allen Toussaint. Buckwheat Zydeco's Lay Your Burden Down features a guest appearance by Rosebud artist, Trombone Shorty. Ann Savoy of The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band is also a member of The Magnolia Sisters whose Stripped Down CD was nominated. And Elvis Costello's Secret, Profane & Sugarcane features Rosebud artist, Jim Lauderdale. Jim also co-wrote the title track to George Strait's Twang.

In other Grammy related news, Grammy nominated CDs, Cadillac Records - Music From the Motion Picture and Little Walter - The Complete Chess Masters also include songs written and made famous respectively by former Rosebud artists, the late Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters.

Rosebud has been fortunate in that generally our artists score between 4 and 6 Grammy nominations every year but 10 is definitely a new record and we are Thrilled, especially considering the fact that Rosebud artists only released 14 eligible CDs this past year. Congratulations to all the nominees!

DECEMBER 2009: Allen Toussaint and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Selected By Offbeat Magazine as the #2 & #3 CDs of 2009

Allen Toussaint's The Bright Mississippi and Alligator Purse by BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet have been selected by Offbeat Magazine as #2 and #3 in CDs of 2009 (see full list). Both albums are critically acclaimed: The Bright Mississippi was hailed by The New Yorker as "A smoldering instrumental collection of jazz standards and Big Easy fare.." The Boston Globe proclaims BeauSoleil "finds freshness not by infusing vintage styles with contemporary sonics but with vibrant, thoughtful fusions."

Also in the Top 40 are Buckwheat Zydeco's Lay Your Burden Down, which is graced by solos from Trombone Shorty, and Rising Sun by Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. The Big Chief will be joining two Rosebud tours: BeauSoleil's 35th Anniversary Tour as well as Marcia Ball and The Voice of the Wetlands All Stars shows, coming to Performing Arts Centers in the 2010-2011 season.

Catch both Allen and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet live on stage, please see Tour Dates - Allen Toussaint tour dates >>   BeauSoleil tour dates >>

SEPTEMBER 2009: BeauSoleil's Michael Doucet To Appear With The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band At G20 Summit Reception<>

Michael Doucet will appear with The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band (with Wilson Savoy sitting in for Marc Savoy) as one of the Global Ambassadors of Louisiana Music & Culture who will be performing for leaders from around the globe at a VIP reception during the G20 Summit.  Celebrating a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change, guests include G20 delegates and diplomats, Obama administration officials and CEOs of environmental, labor and youth organizations.  The event is hosted by the U.S. Climate Action Network and Teresa Heinz and Senator John Kerry are Honorary Hosts.  It will take place at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, PA on September 23, 2009.  President Barack Obama is also scheduled to appear at the event.

MAY 2009: Rosebud Artists Everywhere At New Orleans Jazz Fest

Rosebud Artists could be found performing in a wide variety of formats during the 40th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April 24 - May 3).

BeauSoleil also played to a huge audience at the Festival's Acura Stage as well as headlining shows in nearby Jefferson and Mandeville and a surprise 10:30am outdoor appearance at the Community Coffee shop. Billed as "Brunch with BeauSoleil," the group surprised Fest ticket holders and neighborhood coffee drinkers alike with a fantastic acoustic set just blocks away from the Fairgrounds... (read full story)

MARCH 2009: Rosebud Artists Honored With 2009 Big Easy Music Awards Nominations

Trombone Shorty, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and BeauSoleil are all being recognized for their achievements at the 2009 Big Easy Music Awards in New Orleans on April 19, 2009. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's influential history is being acknowledged by awarding them the Music Heritage Award. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue are nominated for Best Funk Band and Trombone Shorty himself is nominated for Best Male Performer, a category he won last year. Trombone Shorty also makes a guest appearance on Best Album of 2008 finalist - City That Care Forgot by Dr. John & the Lower 911. BeauSoleil is nominated for Best Cajun Band, a category that they have dominated in the past with 10 previous wins. Best of luck to all the nominees!

FEBRUARY 2009: Grammy Congratulations! Allen Toussaint, The Blind Boys of Alabama, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Marcia Ball, Bill Frisell, Trombone Shorty, and James Burton

Grammy Congratulations to Allen Toussaint who was awarded the Grammy Trustees Award, performed on the live TV broadcast and was the featured public interviewee Thursday for the Grammys Legends series! Allen's song "Fortune Teller" is also featured on the Robert Plant / Allison Krauss Raising Sand CD - the big winner at the Grammys this year. The Blind Boys of Alabama were honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award and also won their 5th Grammy for their Down In New Orleans CD. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet were also Grammy winners for their Live CD from the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band joined Allen Toussaint and Lil Wayne on the Grammy telecast. Also nominated for Grammys were Marcia Ball, Bill Frisell and Michael Doucet for his solo CD. Trombone Shorty was featured on Dr. John's Grammy winning City That Care Forgot and James Burton, who performs in Jim Lauderdale's Dream Payers band, shared the Grammy for Best Country Instrumental for Cluster Pluck. In addition, the Grammys Louisiana luncheon featured appearances and performances from The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Allen Toussaint and Michael Doucet. Congratulations All!

FEBRUARY 2009: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Win Big At New Orleans' 2008 Best of the Beat Awards

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet won their record 13th Best Cajun Band or Performer award at New Orleans' Best of the Beat Awards. Michael Doucet himself was also honored with the award for Best Cajun Album for his solo CD, From Now On,, as well as winning the award for Best Violin/Fiddle. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue won Best R&B/Funk Band or Performer for the second year in a row. Trombone Shorty himself picked up an award for Best Trumpet and is a featured guest on Dr. John's City That Care Forgot album which won for Album of the Year and Best R&B/Funk Album. Congratulations to all the winners!

The 2008 Best of the Beat Award Winners were announced Saturday, January 31, 2009 at the House of Blues in New Orleans. The awards recognize the best in New Orleans music. Nominees are selected by the editors and writers of OffBeat magazine and the public votes for the winners.