2011 World Music Grammy Awards Nominees
Update: the 2011 Grammy Winners have been announced.
The world music Grammy nominees of 2011 are, as always, a dizzyingly diverse array of artists from genres around the globe. All have made noteworthy albums, most of which are deserving of the highest praise.
Best Traditional World Music Album
- Pure Sounds - Gyuto Monks Of Tibet
- I Speak Fula - Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
- Grace - Soweto Gospel Choir
- Ali And Toumani - Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate
- Tango Universal - Vayo
Who should win:Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
Stop the presses, folks. This list of nominees elicits absolutely no negative reaction in me whatsoever. It's a nice and tidy little list of great records. Okay, maybe Tango Universal would fit more comfortably into one of the many Latin music categories, but it's not a bad record, and Vayo is an impressive vocalist. I think Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate will likely win -- they're a favorite of Grammy voters and known worldwide, plus, posthumous awards are pretty common. Bassekou Kouyate's record was breathtaking, though, and I would really love for him to see a win.
Best Contemporary World Music Album
- Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks - Bela Fleck
- All In One - Bebel Gilberto
- Oyo - Angelique Kidjo
- Bom Tempo - Sergio Mendes
- Om Namo Narayanaya: Soul Call - Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon
Who should win: Bebel Gilberto
The Brazilians have been dominating the nominees in this gargantuan category for a few years now, it seems, to the point where it's probably about time there was a Brazilian music category of some sort created, but it's usually a crossover album that takes home the Grammy.
Kidjo won a few years back for her album of duets, Bela Fleck won last year for the first round of Throw Down Your Heart, and will almost definitely win this year, too. Gilberto is always luminous, growing more fabulous with each record she releases, and she should certainly take it home for All in One. In the interest of full disclosure, though, I haven't heard Soul Call, but I'll let you know if my predictions change once I do.
The nominees in the rest of the world music related categories are as follows:
Best Reggae Album
- Before the Dawn - Buju Banton
- Isaacs Meets Isaac - Gregory Isaacs and King Isaac
- Revelation - Lee "Scratch" Perry
- Made in Jamaica - Bob Sinclar and Sly & Robbie
- One Pop Reggae - Sly & Robbie and the Family Taxi
- Legacy: An Acoustic Tribute to Peter Tosh - Andrew Tosh
Best Hawaiian Music Album
- Huana Ke Aloha - Tia Carrere
- Amy Hanaiali'i And Slack Key Masters Of Hawaii - Amy Hanaiali'i And Slack Key Masters Of Hawaii
- Polani - Daniel Ho
- The Legend - Ledward Kaapana
- Maui On My Mind - Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Jeff Peterson
Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album
- Zydeco Junkie - Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
- En Couleurs - Feufollet
- Happy Go Lucky - D.L. Menard
- Back Home - The Pine Leaf Boys
- Creole Moon: Live at the Blue Moon Saloon - Cedric Watson
Best Native American Music Album
- XI - Bear Creek
- Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs - Northern Cree
- Woodnotes Wyld: Historic Flute Sounds From The Dr. Richard W. Payne Collection - Peter Phippen
- 2010 Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit's Dance (Various Artists) - Derek Mathews, Dr. Lita Mathews & Melonie Mathews, producers
Best New Age Album
- Ocean - Michael Brant DeMaria
- Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai, Volume 4 - Kitaro
- Dancing Into Silence - R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton & Will Clipman
- Miho: Journey To The Mountain - Paul Winter Consort
- Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 4 - Zamora
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