phone: 202 630 8439
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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.
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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.
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"Spirits In The Wind" Burning Sky
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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.
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"Sacred Season" Redheart
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"Faith in the House" Vince Redhouse
"Round Dance The Night Away" Randy Wood
"Beneath The Raven Moon" Mary Youngblood