Hours before Lady Gaga emerged from her egg and Lady Antebellum was celebrated for the neo-soft rock “Need You Now,” Louisiana picked up two Grammy awards, one to Chubby Carrier and one to Buddy Guy. At the “pre-tel” ceremony that takes place before the Grammy telecast, most of the awards are given, and it was then that Carrier won Best Cajun or Zydeco Album for Zydeco Junkie. “I like this category,” host Kathy Griffin said. “Cajun or zydeco–they could go either way,” she joked, adding a rare note of sexual adventurousness to the category.
Buddy Guy won for Best Contemporary Blues Album for Living Proof, beating albums by Dr. John, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Bettye Lavette and the late Solomon Burke. He received the award shortly after performing “Wang Dang Doodle” with Shepherd, Cyndi Lauper, Mavis Staples, Koko Taylor, Maria Muldaur and Betty Wright.
Wynton Marsalis lost Best Improvised Jazz Solo to Herbie Hancock, and Trombone Shorty’s Backatown lost Best Contemporary Jazz Album to the Stanley Clarke Group’s The Stanley Clarke Group. Shorty performed at the pre-tel, though, playing a driving version of “Hurricane Season” that prompted host Esperanza Spalding to announce, “That settles it. I’m moving to New Orleans.”
Treme and True Blood Vol. 2 lost the Best Soundtrack Album to Crazy Heart, and Steve Earle’s “This City” and Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello’s “Kiss Like Your Kiss” (from Treme and True Blood respectively) lost Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media to Ryan Bingham’s “The Weary Kind” from Crazy Heart.
The evening was a good night for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, though. One headliner, Arcade Fire, closed the telecast and won Album of the Year for The Suburbs. The Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons will play the festival, and they appeared on their own and backing Bob Dylan on the telecast. During the pre-tel, Jazz Fest performers John Legend and the Roots won three Grammys and Alejandro Sanz won for Best Latin Pop Album for Paraiso Express. Jeff Beck won Best Pop Instrumental for “Nessum Dorma” and Best Rock Instrumental for “Hammerhead.” Fantasia won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Bittersweet.”
Finally, here is footage of Best Cajun or Zydeco Album nominee D.L. Menard being interviewed at the Nominees Reception:
For a complete list of winners, go to Grammy.com.
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