Don’t get me wrong: I like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton as much as the next guy—I even listened to that Holly Dolly Christmas 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.
Afropop friend Weedie Braimah appears—well, a soloist on his album does— Christian
Scott aTunde Adjuah, for his solo on Braimah’s “Sackodougou.”
Rhiannon Giddens is up for Best American Roots Song and Best Folk Album 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.
The Best Regional
Roots Music Album 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.
South African
electronic artist Black Coffee is up for Best Dance/Electronic Music
Album, making it one of the more internationally oriented categories.
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 Best Global Music Performance 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.
Best Global Music
Album
Rocky Dawuni: Voice of Bunbon, Vol. 1
Daniel Ho &
Friends: East West Players Presents: Daniel Ho & Friends Live in Concert
Angelique Kidjo: Mother Nature
Femi Kuti And Made Kuti: Legacy +
WizKid: Made In Lagos: Deluxe Edition
Best Global Music Performance
Arooj Aftab: “Mohabbat”
Angelique Kidjo & Burna Boy: “Do Yourself”
Femi Kuti: “Pà
Pá Pà”
Yo-Yo Ma & Angelique Kidjo: “Blewu”
WizKid
Featuring Tems: “Essence”
Best Regional Roots Album
Sean Ardoin and Kreole Rock And Soul: Live In New Orleans!
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux: Bloodstains & Teardrops
Cha Wa: My People
Corey Ledet Zydeco: Corey Ledet Zydeco
Kalani Pe'a: Kau Ka Pe'a
Best Reggae Album
Etana: Pamoja
Gramps Morgan: Positive Vibration
Sean Paul: Live N Livin
Jesse Royal: Royal
Soja: Beauty in the Silence
Spice: 10
So sure, Paul McCartney is up for a lot of awards, but there are gems on the full list, which you can peruse here.
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