Singer-songwriter Allison Russell won her first career Grammy on Sunday, for Best Performance in the American Roots Music category for the recording of Eve Was Blacksong from the album The Returner, published last September. Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin also received the prestigious award in the category of Best Opera Recording, for his direction of the Metropolitan Orchestra in the interpretation of Championwork composed by the American Terence Blanchard.
This time was the right one for the Quebec musician established in Nashville, nominated in this same category in 2022. Russell had arrived in Los Angeles where the First Ceremony was being held (broadcast live on the web) with four nominations, all linked to his second career solo album The Returner : Best Americana Album, its title song was also selected for Best American Roots Song, in addition to being nominated in the category of Best Americana Performance for the song The Returner.
While going to collect her award at the podium, the musician thanked her “Rainbow Coalition of incredible artists that I work with,” particularly saluting her friend and collaborator Brandi Carlile. Allison Russell will present a concert on March 15 at Studio TD in Montreal, then on the 16th at the Impérial in Quebec.
Champion is the first opera composed by Louisiana jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard on the story of American boxer Emile Griffith, presented by the Metropolitan Opera in April 2023. This is the second Grammy in this category that Yannick Nézet-Séguin has won for a work signed Blanchard: last year, it was his direction of the orchestra in Fire Shut Up in My Bones which was rewarded by the Recording Academy – at the lectern, Nézet-Séguin wanted to thank the African-American composer “as well as all the voices of our time, these great musicians whom we will continue to honor so that they can occupy the place that ‘they deserve on our big stages’, in addition to dedicating this award to her husband. Nézet-Séguin, who campaigns for greater recognition of the talent of African-American composers, was also named as conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra in the category of best orchestral performance for the recording of the Symphony No. 4 of the composer Florence Price (1887-1953) and the Negro Folk Symphony by William L. Dawson (1899-1990). The master will reprise Price’s work at the Maison symphonique on April 19, with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Bouquet of statuettes
Nearly 80 prizes were awarded during this First Ceremony which, in certain respects, already gave a glimpse of what awaits viewers during the gala, broadcast on CBS (CityTV in Canada) from 8 p.m. Thus, the favorite SZA (nine nominations) won the very first Grammy of the day, that of Best Duo Performance, with Phoebe Bridgers of the group boygenius, for Ghost in the Machine.
The super-trio boygenius, made up of three singer-songwriters already celebrated as solo artists – Phoebe Brigders, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker – arrived in Los Angeles with six nominations (and a seventh for Bridgers). At the end of the afternoon ceremony, they won three: Best rock performance, Best rock song (for Not Strong Enough) and Best Alternative Music Album, for The Record.
Rapper Killer Mike and country musician Chris Stapleton took over the categories in their respective musical genres. A hat-trick for the MC, who won the Grammys for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for Scientists & Engineersand Best Rap Album for MICHAEL. Thanks to the song White HorseStapleton won the gramophones for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song.
Among the other notable awards, let us highlight the first Grammy of the Mexican troublemaker Peso Pluma (Best musica mexicana album for GENESIS) and the pop-rock group Paramore, twice nominated, twice celebrated, for Best Rock Album and Best Performance in Alternative Music (This is why). Three new categories entered the ceremony this year; ecstatic, young South African singer Tyla won the very first Grammy for Best African Music Performance (Water). In the category of Best Alternative Jazz Album, tribute to Meshell Ndegeocello (The Omnichord Real Book), and to Australian star Kylie Minogue, who won the first Grammy for Best Pop Dance Recording (Padam Padam).
Icon Joni Mitchell won her 10th career Grammy award, for Folk Album of the Year, for this miraculous live recording, Joni Mitchell at Newport. Finally, by going to collect his Grammys for Best Reggae Album of the Year (Colors of Royal by Julian Marley and Antaeus), one of the members of the recipients’ orchestra took the opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of the legendary bassist and producer Aston “Family Man” Barrett, invaluable accompanist of Bob Marley and the Wailers, who died two days ago at the age 77.