East Coast Music Awards

Canadian jazz, blues news

2007 E.C.M.A.’s Handed Out Sunday Night

The 19th annual East Coast Music Awards wrapped up last night at Halifax’s Metro Centre. The gala event was broadcast nationally on CBC Television.

George Canyon, In-Flight Safety, Joel Plaskett Emergency and JP Cormier were the the big winners at the event, each capturing three awards. Singer-songwriter Jill Barber closely followed with two.

Gypsy-jazz guitarist Duane Andrews was the winner of the sole jazz category, while John Campbelljohn captured the trophy in the only blues division.

The awards show took on a sombre tone with tributes to East Coast musical pioneers who passed away over the past few month, the late Denny Doherty of the Mamas and the Papas, and Canada’s Prime Minister of the Blues, Dutch Mason. Male recording of the year winner Ron Hynes also dedicated his performance to the late Dermot O’Reilly of Ryan’s Fancy, who died Saturday in St. John’s, N.L.

This year’s East Coast Music Awards and Conference was a four-day affair bringing over 2,000 delegates to Halifax, pumping nearly $5 million into the local economy.

2007 East Coast Music Awards Winners Jazz & Blues

Blues Recording of the Year Weight of the World (John Campbelljohn)

Multiple award-winner John Camplelljohn adds another to his collection with the 2007 Blues Recording of the Year (E.C.M.A.). Best-known as a hard-hitting blues/rocker in the Johnny Winter tradition, the slide, lap and pedal steel guitar player also performs intimate solo acoustic blues in the relam of Mississippi Fred McDowell. Campbelljohn’s six CD releases have garnered an armload of awards, including the prestigious Dutch Mason award.

Jazz Recording of the Year Crocus (Duane Andrews)

Newfoundlander Duane Andrews is a virtuoso guitarist who melds traditional Newfoundland folk music with it’s mix of French, Irish, Portuguese and English influences with Manouche (Gypsy Jazz) reminiscent of Django Reinhardt. An award winning multi-instrumentalist, record producer and filmmaker, Andrews has worked with jazz legends such as Mike Murley and Doug Riley, folk giant Ken Whiteley, and world-beat icons the Chieftains to name a few. His 2006 recording Crocus won him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including Jazz Album of the Year at the 2007 Independent Music Awards.

for a complete list visit www.ecma.ca