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Native GRAMMY picks a shift from years prior
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2003

After two years of restricting nominees to "traditional" artists, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) this week announced a rather different set of picks for the Best Native American Music Album.

Two of the five nominees up for the award, created in 2000 after nearly a decade of lobbying by Native music aficionados, are Christian-sounding. One is a well-known flutist whose arrangements include classical and blues influences while another is perhaps the only one to fit the traditional label.

Mary Youngblood, a flute player of Aleut and Seminole heritage, said she was honored to be in such "good company" with the likes of Vince Redhouse, another flutists, and Randy Wood, one of the founding members of the Northern Cree Singers, a pow-wow drum group. "This has been an incredible journey," she said after being informed of the latest honor.

The 45th annual GRAMMY awards ceremony will be broadcast February 23 on CBS. You can get a preview of some of the artists today on Native America Calling or listen to some music clips here.

Faith In The House
Vince Redhouse (Red Sea)
Redhouse is a flute and saxophone player who comes from a very musical Navajo family. Known for their jazz ensemble, Vince here records some praise and worship songs.

Sound Clips: As the Deer | We Fall Down | Amazing Graze | In This Place | Where You Are
"Faith in the House" Vince Redhouse

Round Dance The Night Away
Randy Wood (Canyon Records)
The most traditional-sounding of the bunch, Wood hails from Alberta, Canada, and founded the Northern Cree Singers along with his brothers. Randy's release includes some social pow-wow songs.

Sound Clips: As Long as the Grass Grows | You Took My Heart Away | When I Close My Eyes | What's Her Name | Sweetheart | Look How The Stars Shine for You | 911 L-O-V-E | Round Dance the Night Away | A Little "Northern Cree" | Eagle Woman
"Round Dance The Night Away" Randy Wood

Beneath The Raven Moon
Mary Youngblood (Silver Wave Records)
Known for the diverse treatments to her music, Mary Youngblood is no stranger to the Native music scene. She has taken top honors at the NAMMYs but this is her first major mainstream exposure.

Sound Clips: Walk With Me | Beneath the Raven Moon | And We Shall Dance | Laugh With Me | Caress the Smile
"Beneath The Raven Moon" Mary Youngblood

Spirits In The Wind
Burning Sky (Canyon Records)
Aaron White, guitar, and Kelvin Mockingbird, flute, are a Navajo duo from Arizona who got some help on this release from the Doors' drummer, John Densmore, who is a patron of Native music.

No sound clips currently available.
"Spirits In The Wind" Burning Sky

Sacred Season
Redheart (SOAR)
Vincent Redhouse gets a second nod for his collaboration with keyboardist Abraham Marcor for their holiday-themed release. "The surprise is that it's pretty good," declared Echoes, a nationwide radio program.

No sound clips currently available.
"Sacred Season" Redheart
Relevant Links
GRAMMYs - http://www.grammy.com

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