Pleased as I was to see Duffy, Estelle and Adele receive Grammy honours, I was chuffed to bits that BB King, now 83 years of age, has been recognised for his brilliant album, 'One Kind Favour'.Possibly his best work of the past 10 or more years, this album compares favourably with the all-time best Traditional Blues Albums.
Incredible work justly rewarded.
As if that wasn't enough, the Blind Boys of Alabama won their fifth Traditional Gospel Grammy for the fantastic 'Down in New Orleans'. What an amazing legacy for gospel music.
But it was Robert Plant who with Alison Krauss (now winner of 26 Grammy awards!) who picked up 5 awards and stole this year's show.
The blissful harmonies and delicate production by T Bone Burnett rightly won 'Raising Sand' Album of the Year, plus Record of the Year for Just Read the Letter, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Rich Woman, Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album & Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, for Killing the Blues. Some haul!
And Alison Krauss is now just one Grammy away from Quincy Jones's living record of 27 Grammy wins.
Finally, because it was released earlier in the States which brought it into the eligibility period, my current album of the month, the fabulous Dr John & the Lower 911, with their album 'City that Care Forgot', won the gong for Best Contemporary Blues Album.Happy? If there had been a chandelier handy I would still be swinging from it!
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After the success of ValeFest's pilot music festival, Winterval (25-31 January) here in the Vale of Belvoir (pronounced 'Beaver'), I've received some quite humbling comments and testimonials from children, bands and others involved in the project.
Taking on the task without payment, if anyone ever asks whether all the effort to bring the community together through music, promote local musicians and help the local economy was worthwhile, I have only to look at those messages.
Some are or will be featured the ValeFest website shortly. Meanwhile, here's an example from a Vale of Belvoir venue manager;
"After talking to Mitch at length about the idea of ValeFest I decided it was a great idea and I'm glad we got involved.
"We thought at The Manners Arms that we would be best suited to an acoustic session held in our bar and lounge area, partly due to the night we chose and also the question would we fill it?
"Well, what can I say? - we had the busiest Thursday in months! We were full from 7.30 til close and a great night was had by all.
"This is definitely something we'd do again and help to support the ValeFest vision."
Taking on the task without payment, if anyone ever asks whether all the effort to bring the community together through music, promote local musicians and help the local economy was worthwhile, I have only to look at those messages.
Some are or will be featured the ValeFest website shortly. Meanwhile, here's an example from a Vale of Belvoir venue manager;
"After talking to Mitch at length about the idea of ValeFest I decided it was a great idea and I'm glad we got involved.
"We thought at The Manners Arms that we would be best suited to an acoustic session held in our bar and lounge area, partly due to the night we chose and also the question would we fill it?
"Well, what can I say? - we had the busiest Thursday in months! We were full from 7.30 til close and a great night was had by all."This is definitely something we'd do again and help to support the ValeFest vision."
