Since i haven't heard most of these releases i feel i'm not in a position to argue whether these nominations are deserved or not but my first reaction was being suprised by the fact that Joe Bonamassa was nominated in the category best TRADITIONAL Blues Album. The reason for that is probably because it's a tribute to the three Kings of the Blues but i personally would file Joe's playing style under Contemporary. But i guess that's nitpicking nowadays.
"The nominees for the 59th Grammy Awards were announced today. The 59th Annual Grammy Awards will be held February 12, 2017 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Below the list of GRAMMY NOMINEES for Best Traditional & Best Contemporary Blues Album:
49.Best Traditional Blues Album
Can’t Shake This Feeling
Lurrie Bell
Label: Delmark Records
Live At The Greek Theatre
Joe Bonamassa
Label: J&R Adventures
Blues & Ballads (A Folksinger’s Songbook: Volumes I & II)
Luther Dickinson
Label: New West Records
The Soul Of Jimmie Rodgers
Vasti Jackson
Label: VJM
Porcupine Meat
Bobby Rush
Label: Rounder Records
50.Best Contemporary Blues Album
The Last Days Of Oakland
Fantastic Negrito
Label: Believe Global/Blackball Universe
Love Wins Again
Janiva Magness
Label: Blue Élan Records
Bloodline
Kenny Neal
Label: Cleopatra Blues
Give It Back To You
The Record Company
Label: Concord Records
Everybody Wants A Piece
Joe Louis Walker
Label: Provogue
Congratulations to the GRAMMY NOMINEES for Best Traditional & Best Contemporary Blues Album!"
The Grammy people likely Bonamassa's name on a list and said "that one looks familiar and it mentions BB King" when selecting.
I hope Luther wins his category and The Record Company win theirs.
Both great albums. I also like Bonamassa's 3 Kings tribute so I am glad to see it nominated.
I really dig the Record Company.
I hope they win since they have a decent following among the younger set and so any more popularity for them might also get younger fans digging around into other good music.
As much as people like to bemoan the state of music, cream still rises to the top. Another example is Leon Bridges and the following he's amassing. Revivalists too, becoming mainstream.
Same with Surgill and Stapleton on the country side. Not just niche artists.
To me it says no matter where the popular landscape goes, there's always a place for good old fashioned good music.
