Pleasant Surprises Among Grammy Nominees

<p> Don’t get me wrong: I like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton as much as the next guy—I even <em>listened</em> to that <em>Holly Dolly </em><em>Christmas</em> album—but there’s a pattern of the Grammy Awards seemingly running on pure inertia that their annual nominations do nothing to dispel. However, among the 2022 nominees announced this week, there were a few highlights and some pleasant surprises. </p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/g87WI4lubNk" allowfullscreen="" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure> <p><br> Afropop friend Weedie Braimah appears—well, a soloist on his album does— Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, for his solo on Braimah’s “Sackodougou.” <br> </p> <p>Rhiannon Giddens is up for <strong>Best American Roots Song</strong> and <strong>Best Folk Album</strong> for her work with Francesco Turrisi. Among other artists who appeared on our February “Black History of the Banjo” program, Valerie June is also up for Best American Roots Song, and Bela Fleck garnered two nominations, although he’s a perennial contender. </p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j-R7hN6bZZ8" allowfullscreen="" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure> <p><br> The <strong>Best Regional Roots Music Album</strong> category is a New Orleans love fest—and why shouldn’t it be?—with Cha Wa, Corey Ledet Zydeco, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Sean Ardoin, and Kreole Rock and Soul nominated along with Kalani Pe’a from Hawaii. While we’re talking about New Orleans, it’s worth pointing out that jazz musician/Colbert bandleader Jon Batiste has the most nominations of all artists with 11. <br> </p> <p>South African electronic artist Black Coffee is up for <strong>Best Dance/Electronic Music Album</strong>, making it one of the more internationally oriented categories.<br> </p> <p>Anyway, of the categories we always keep an eye on, Angelique Kidjo is sitting pretty with a slew of nominations. Two years after dedicating her win to Burna Boy and saying it was now his time, she and Burna Boy have been nominated together for <strong>Best Global Music Performance</strong> for “Do Yourself.” Femi Kuti and Wizkid have a pair of nominations each as well, proving once again that the best way to win a Grammy is to have already won a Grammy.<br> </p> <p><strong>Best Global Music Album</strong> <br> </p> <p>Rocky Dawuni: <em>Voice of Bunbon, Vol. 1</em><br> </p> <p>Daniel Ho & Friends: <em>East West Players Presents: Daniel Ho & Friends Live in Concert</em><br> </p> <p>Angelique Kidjo: <em>Mother Nature</em></p> <p>Femi Kuti And Made Kuti: <em>Legacy +</em></p> <p>WizKid: <em>Made In Lagos: Deluxe Edition</em></p> <p><strong><strong>Best Global Music Performance</strong></strong></p> <p>Arooj Aftab: “Mohabbat”</p> <p>Angelique Kidjo & Burna Boy: “Do Yourself”</p> <ul><p> <br> </p><figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aTXN2s9TpbY" allowfullscreen="" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure> </ul> <p><br> Femi Kuti: “Pà Pá Pà”<br> <br> Yo-Yo Ma & Angelique Kidjo: “Blewu”<br> <br> WizKid Featuring Tems: “Essence”<br> </p> <p><strong>Best Regional Roots Album</strong></p> <p>Sean Ardoin and Kreole Rock And Soul: <em>Live In New Orleans!</em></p> <p>Big Chief Monk Boudreaux: <em>Bloodstains & Teardrops</em></p> <p>Cha Wa: <em>My People</em></p> <p>Corey Ledet Zydeco: <em>Corey Ledet Zydeco</em></p> <p>Kalani Pe'a: <em>Kau Ka Pe'a</em></p> <p><strong>Best Reggae Album</strong></p> <p> Etana: <em>Pamoja</em> </p> <p> Gramps Morgan: <em>Positive Vibration</em></p> <p> Sean Paul: <em>Live N Livin</em></p> <p> Jesse Royal: <em>Royal</em></p> <p> Soja: <em>Beauty in the Silence</em></p> <p> Spice: <em>10</em></p> <p>So sure, Paul McCartney is up for a lot of awards, but there are gems on the full list, <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2022-grammys-complete-winners-nominees-nominations-list">which you can peruse here</a>. </p>