The Dixie Chicks and Hambo in the Snow

I don't usually pay much attention to the Grammys, but there was so much reason to this year. National attention was focused on the resounding show of support for the Dixie Chicks and their right to speak their mind those many months ago about the president and his war. The endless stream of "bests" was clearly political - but quite gratifying. Nonetheless, I wouldn't have minded if they had lost in just one category - Best Country Vocal Performance by a Group or Duo: my friends in The Duhks were also nominated, and I would have loved to see them take home a prize. I'd never been aware of the extent to which traditional and folk music is both honored and slighted by the Grammy's. Honored, in that there are a world of catagories for the kinds of music I love. Slighted, as these are never mentioned from the podium and rarely in the press. I'm only aware of it this year because our very good friend Andrea Hoag was nominated this year in the World Music/Traditional genre, for the album Hambo in the Snow along with with Loretta Kelly and Charlie Pilzer. Here's a great NPR piece about them. Andrea is my wif'e's fiddle teacher! Click their picture above for a bit of their music. Other traditional musicians we love were also nominated for awards. The insanely innovative Casey Driessen was nominated for Best Country Instrumental. Sadly, neither he nor Andrea went home with the victrola. But the New-York based Klezmatics took the World Music/Contemporary prize for their up-to-date take on the traditional Jewish Klezmer sound. And in other victories for traditional music, Bruce Springstein was rewarded for his venture into the folkie world: he took home Best traditional Folk Album for his all-Pete Seeger venture, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions.