Congratulations to the 26th annual Best of the Beat™ winners!
Thank you to everyone who voted and to all who attended this year’s awards ceremony. All artists were nominated by the local music community and voted on by the public for music excellence in 2021 and 2022.
Artist of the Year
Chapel Hart
Chapel Hart. Photo by Willow Haley.
Album of the Year
Jon Batiste: We Are (Verve)
Jon Batiste’s awards accepted by his parents. Photo by Willow Haley.
Best Emerging Artist
HaSizzle
Song of the Year
“You Can Have Him Jolene” by Chapel Hart (written by Danica Hart, Devynn Hart, Trea Swindle)
Best Blues, R&B, Funk Artist
Tank and the Bangas
Best Blues, R&B, Funk Album
Jon Batiste: We Are (Verve)
Best Rock/Roots Rock Artist
Sweet Crude
Best Rock/Roots Album
Zita: Hardly Alive (Independent)
Best Rap/Hip-Hop/Bounce Artist
Big Freedia
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album/Mixtape
Boyfriend: Sugar and Spice (Independent)
Boyfriend. Photo by Willow Haley.
Best Traditional Jazz Artist
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Best Traditional Jazz Album
Maria Muldaur and Tuba Skinny: Let’s Get Happy Together (Stony Plain)
Best Contemporary Jazz Artist
Terence Blanchard
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective and The Turtle Island Quartet: Absence (Blue Note)
Best Brass Band
New Orleans Nightcrawlers
Best Cajun Artist
The Daiquiri Queens
Best Cajun Album
Zachary Richard: Danser le Ciel (Production Martin Electric)
Best Zydeco Artist
Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers
Best Zydeco Album
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers: Set Me Free (Louisiana Red Hot Records)
Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Artist
Chapel Hart
Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album
Lilli Lewis: Americana (Louisiana Red Hot Records)
Best Gospel Artist
Greater St. Stephen Mass Choir
Best Cover Band
Bag of Donuts
Bag of Donuts. Photo by Willow Haley.
Songwriter of the Year (The Allen Toussaint Songwriter Award)
Jon Batiste
Best Female Vocalist
Tarriona “Tank” Ball
Best Male Vocalist
John Boutté
John Boutté. Photo by Willow Haley.
Best Bass Player
George Porter, Jr.
Best Guitarist
Tab Benoit
Best Drummer
Shannon Powell
Best Saxophonist
Donald Harrison, Jr.
Best Clarinetist
Dr. Michael White
Best Trumpeter
Kermit Ruffins
Kermit Ruffin’s award accepted by his daughter. Photo by Willow Haley.
Best Trombonist
Troy Andrews
Best Tuba/Sousaphonist
Clifton “Spug” Smith
Best Piano/Keyboardist
PJ Morton
Best Accordionist
Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes
Best Violinist/Fiddler
Amanda Shaw
Best DJ
DJ Soul Sister
DJ Soul Sister. Photo by Willow Haley.
Best Other Instrumentalist
Helen Gillet (cello)
Best Music Video
Chapel Hart: You Can Have Him Jolene (directed by David Abbott)
Congrats to all the Best of the Beat™ winners!
