GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES INITIAL HOSTS AND PERFORMERS FOR 41st ANNUAL DOVE AWARDS, TO BE HELD ON APRIL 21, 2010 AT NASHVILLE’S FAMED GRAND OLE OPRY® HOUSE

Four-time GMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant and Multiple Dove Award-winning Group, MercyMe’s Frontman Bart Millard, to Host 41st Annual Event

First Round of Performers Include Industry Leaders Casting Crowns, TobyMac, Donald Lawrence, Jason Crabb and GMA Dove Award Hosts

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Dec.23, 2009 – The Gospel Music Association (GMA) officially announces its initial hosts, appearances and plans for its 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards. The 2010 Dove Awards will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House and televised nationwide on Gospel Music Channel (GMC) television network (www.gospelmusicchannel.com), Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. EST.

The GMA Dove Awards is Christian/Gospel music’s biggest night of the year, where top artists from every style of gospel music come together for a night of music and celebration as the GMA bestows the industry’s highest honor — the Dove Award. Final nominees will be announced on February 18, 2010.

The 41st annual GMA Dove Awards will be hosted by 2009’s Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant, and multiple Dove Award-winning group MercyMe’s frontman Bart Millard. While the awards will be a highlight of the show, music performances will take center stage at this year’s GMA Dove Awards, showcasing some of gospel music’s top-selling and most diverse artists. Artists scheduled to appear include Casting Crowns, TobyMac, Natalie Grant, Donald Lawrence, Jason Crabb, MercyMe, and many more to be announced soon. Those appearing include GRAMMY® and American Music Award® winning-artists, among others who top the charts in sales, touring, and radio airplay in their respective formats.

“The GMA Dove Awards is our opportunity to come together as a community to worship God and support each other as we celebrate the Gospel through music,” said Ed Leonard, chairman of the GMA’s board of directors. “Along with this summer’s Immerse conference, it is a cornerstone of what we are doing in 2010 as an association. Coming together like this makes us stronger as a community, plus it’s a lot of fun!”

MercyMe’s Millard commented, “Over the years MercyMe has been honored with and has performed on the Dove Awards, but more than that we have been privileged to be a part of this community of musicians and believers that share a common purpose. We always look forward to the GMA Dove Awards, and I’m excited to be co-hosting the show with Natalie Grant this year. It will be great to see the incredible talent our industry has to offer coming together and continuing to spread the gospel through all styles of music.”

“Hosting the GMA Dove Awards is a real honor,” stated Natalie Grant. “I have always been a fan of Christian music so I consider it a tremendous privilege to help shine a brighter spotlight on the message of this life-changing music, and the artists who create it. I love that it’s not a night of competition, but an evening of giving honor and celebrating one another. It’s really more like a family gathering that I look forward to every year.”

GMA Dove Week 2010 will kick off Monday, April 19 with the ASCAP Christian Music Awards. The week will additionally include an Artist Summit and the BMI Christian Music Awards as its key events. Similar to GRAMMY® Week or CMA Week, GMA Dove Week will also feature media events, showcases and professional networking opportunities, most driven independently. The GMA will help to coordinate and promote such events along with other activities taking place during the week.

Tickets to the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards will go on sale first to GMA Members Monday, January 4th at 10 a.m. CST by calling 615-277-1376. Tickets to the public will go on sale January 19th through the Grand Ole Opry Call Center by calling 1-800-SEE-OPRY/1-800-733-6779, via the web at www.opry.com or may be purchased in-person at The Opry Box Office located at the Opry House at 2804 Opryland Drive and the Ryman Auditorium Box Office at 116 5th Ave North, in downtown Nashville. Ticket prices range from $25 – $200.

In addition to GMA Dove Week and the GMA Dove Awards, GMA’s highly-regarded IMMERSE conference will return to Belmont University July 28-31, 2010. IMMERSE will bring together artists, songwriters, musicians, worship leaders, music business students, industry experts and more in a celebration of music and learning. Popular events from GMA Music Week, such as the highly successful Songwriters’ Showcase and Evening Worship Service, will be available to attendees as well as concerts from top Christian artists. Additional information is forthcoming.

For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit www.gospelmusic.org or contact the GMA directly at 615.277.1376. It’s not too late to be eligible to vote for the 2010 Doves! The GMA has extended its membership deadline to December 30, 2009 via www.gospelmusic.org/membership/individual/join.aspx.

KDUVfm artist were posting on Twitter Saturday night the different costume they and their children we wearing.

The highlight of the night … see TobyMac dressed as Michael Jackson:

The Follow You Tour featuring Brandon Heath, Leeland, and Francesca Battstelli dressed as the cast of “The Goonies”.

Natalie Grant dressed her twins, Gracie and Bella, as a chick and a lamb. They were on tour in Texas and they trick-or-treated from tour bus to tour bus.

And Bart Millard, the lead singer of MercyMe, dressed his little boy, Charlie, a knight from Monty Python!

How did you dress your little ones on Saturday night?

Nashville, TN…Since the release of his critically acclaimed sophomore album Cannons, distinguished singer/songwriter Phil Wickham finds his voice on his third studio album Heaven and Earth set to land on November 17.

Even with the critical acclaim he’s garnered, for the first time in his career, Wickham feels that he has a story to tell: he wants to remind the Church for what and who we are created for.

Produced by Pete Kipley (MercyMe, The Afters, Kutless) Heaven and Earth is not only an encouraging album from a lyrical standpoint, but a delight to listen to with guitar parts that feel like they are literally plucking strings connected to your chest and lonesome yet lush string arrangements, recorded at famed Abbey Road Studios.

Writing much of the record while in the studio certainly paid off for Wickham, as a story began to unfold in the songs, and for the first time Wickham found himself writing specific songs to connect the dots and join the threads that were beginning to weave themselves in and out across the tapestry that was becoming Heaven and Earth.

The first single “Safe” featuring MercyMe frontman Bart Millard, has received great support at radio debuting at No. 28 on Billboard AC Monitored and No. 27 on AC Indicator this week. The single is being played in major markets across the country including Indianapolis, Houston, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and more!

The lyrics of “Safe” serve to encourage, strengthen and remind listeners that they are not alone as they say, “You will be safe in His arms, You will be safe in His arms, the hands that hold the world are holding Your heart, this is the promise He made He will be with You always, when everything is falling apart you will be safe in His arms.”

“If we are Christians, we know God is great and we know what Jesus did on the cross,” says Wickham. “We know all the stories, but to be reminded of and to be compelled to move by those stories, I feel, is in a way a large part of what my goal in music is – to remind the Church of the reality of the Gospel, the importance of the cross, of the excitement and hope that we have in Heaven.”

–Courtesy of The Media Collective

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME LIVE EVENT!
During this season of change and time of rebuilding, were also extremely pleased to announce that on October 12, 2009, several of the top artist in Gospel Music; Casting Crowns, Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, MercyMe, Michael W. Smith, The Booth Brothers, Natalie Grant, and others, will come together for a once-in-a-lifetime Save The GMA concert event!  This spectacular evening, produced by the legendary Brown Bannister, is made possible by the generous donations in time and dollars by each of these artists who  believe in the mission of the GMA!  This event was inspired by a “Save the Symphony” event held to support the Nashville Symphony a few years ago.

Limited seating is available for $1000/ticket.  Please contact Angilee at 615/277-1376 for more information or to order your tickets before they sell out!

MercyMe is a Grammy Award-nominated and Dove Award-winning American contemporary Christian band, originally formed in Greenville, Texas in 1994.

The result of a praise and worship band experience, MercyMe was formed in 1994 by Bart Millard, Jim Bryson, and Mike Scheuchzer.   Millard and Bryson met while working on a missions project overseas.   The two agreed to start a new band in Oklahoma City with Scheuchzer, whom Millard already knew.   It didn’t take long for the band to build a solid fan base and they soon found themselves opening up for bands such as Audio Adrenaline.

Following a move to Nashville, Tennessee and then back to Millard’s hometown in Texas, the band added bassist Nathan Cochran and percussionist Robby Shaffer to the roster.   The band signed with INO Records in 2001 and released their first album, Almost There, which propelled them into the mainstream spotlight with the smash hit “I Can Only Imagine“^. The album went on to sell more than 2 million records in only three years and earned the band an American Music Award nomination.

In 2002, the band released their popular second album, Spoken For, which produced two more Top 10 hits.   The combined success of the band’s first two albums garnered a nomination for the Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist at the American Music Awards.

In 2004, MercyMe released Undone which produced two Top 10 hits: “Here With Me” which also hit Billboard’s Top 100 chart that same year, and “In the Blink of an Eye” which, as of the end of 2005, was at #5 on R&R’s top Christian hits.   This album also features the song “Homesick”, which also received notice by Christian and mainstream stations. This song was written in dedication to loved ones that the band had lost that year.

In 2006, MercyMe released Coming Up To Breathe.   While this album kept to the same style and appeal of its predecessors, Bart Millard wrote that the band was not seeking to meet its previous popularity, but rather a more personal album that was written for God.   Despite this conviction, MercyMe’s eleventh album has hit no. 13 on the Billboard charts and features the hits “So Long Self“, “Coming Up To Breathe”, and “Hold Fast”.

On November 20, 2007, MercyMe released their newest studio project titled All That Is Within Me.   The CD includes the hits “God With Us“, “You Reign”, and “Finally Home”.

In April 2009, MercyMe is due to release their first greatest hits compilation, 10 (the title refers to the decade since “I Can Only Imagine” was written).   The package includes a CD with 11 hits and 3 new recordings (including a new version of “I Can Only Imagine” recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra), and a DVD with 11 music videos and two short documentary segments.

It is with great pleasure I present a track from their 2006 album,Coming Up To Breathe .  So ‘for those who have ears to hear”…I give you, “So Long Self“,   by MercyMe.

The Gazette’s Arts and Entertainment Editor, Diana Nollen, reviewed the Rock ‘n Worship Roadshow concert Saturday evening, featuring bands such as MercyMe, Tenth Avenue North, John Rueben and Hawk. Read her review here.

Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe, told the standing-room-only crowd that Saturday night’s Rock & Worship Roadshow at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids was being broadcast on the Internet, reaching a worldwide audience. Each concert is broadcast live the night of the concert.

Check concert dates and watch it here.

This is a video of Bart Millard, the lead singer of MercyMe, about 30 seconds after he left the stage in the Save Mart Center in Fresno on Sunday night. Evidentally, Fresno rocked his face off.

KDUVfm listeners are amazing! Thanks for showing up and literally overwhelming Bart and the MercyMe guys!

American Idol: Who made it through?  1-800-944-8443
Swan song: Lufkin native Kendall Beard’s journey on ‘American Idol’ comes to an end. (Lufkin Daily)
Kendall Beard performs “This One’s for the Girls” 3/3/09 Video (American Idol 2009)

Another Lufkin Daily page following Kendall Beard
Beaumont Enterprise following David Sarver and more
American Idol site

8:35 Today: Celebrate 10 years of “ICan Only Imagine” with MercyMe hear a special song and a portion of an interview with Bart Millard (INO Records / Christiantoday.com)
Check Out Bart’s special video message

Trash to Treasure: Old Balusters and spindles can be found at flea markets, antique stores, and even garage sales. Embelish tables, picture frames and make your our candlesticks (robojunker.com)

Tips to Slash Your Medical Costs: Ways to survive swelling health care costs (ABC News)

Creating Quality Time With Your Kids: Things you can do to develop your relationships with your kids in spite of a hectic schedule. (christianwomentoday.com)

The nominations for the 51st annual Grammy Awards have been announced.

Record of the Year
Adele – “Chasing Pavements”
Coldplay – “Viva La Vida”
Leona Lewis – “Bleeding Love”
M.I.A. – “Paper Planes”
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – “Please Read the Letter”

Album of the Year
Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III
Ne-Yo – Year of the Gentleman
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
Radiohead – In Rainbows

Song of the Year
Estelle featuring Kanye West – “American Boy”
Adele – “Chasing Pavements”
Jason Mraz – “I’m Yours”
Sara Bareilles – “Love Song”
Coldplay – “Viva La Vida”

Best New Artist
Adele
Duffy
Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Adele – “Chasing Pavements”
Sara Bareilles – “Love Song”
Duffy – “Mercy”
Leona Lewis – “Bleeding Love”
Katy Perry – “I Kissed A Girl”
Pink – “So What”

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Kid Rock – “All Summer Long”
John Mayer – “Say”
Paul McCartney – “That Was Me”
Jason Mraz – “I’m Yours”
Ne-Yo – “Closer”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Coldplay – “Viva La Vida”
Eagles – “Waiting in the Weeds”
Gnarls Barkley – “Going On”
Maroon 5 – “Won’t Go Home Without You”
OneRepublic – “Apologize”

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Alicia Keys & John Mayer – “Lesson Learned”
Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland – “4 Minutes”
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – “Rich Woman”
Rihanna & Maroon 5 – “If I Never See Your Face Again”
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown – “No Air”

Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere – “Love Appetite”
Eagles – “I Dreamed There Was No War”
Fourplay – “Fortune Teller”
Stanley Jordan – “Steppin’ Out”
Marcus Miller – “Blast!”

Best Pop Instrumental Album
Gerald Albright – Sax For Stax
Larry Carlton – Greatest Hits Recorded Volume One
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – Jingle All the Way
Earl Klugh – The Spice of Life
Spyro Gyra – A Night Before Christmas

Best Pop Vocal Album
Sheryl Crow – Detours
Duffy – Rockferry
Eagles – Long Road Out of Eden
Leona Lewis – Spirit
James Taylor – Covers

Best Dance Recording
Daft Punk – “Harder Better Faster Stronger [Live]“
Hot Chip – “Ready For the Floor”
Lady Gaga & Colby O’Donis – “Just Dance”
Madonna – “Give It 2 Me”
Rihanna – “Disturbia”
Sam Sparro – “Black & Gold”

Best Electronic/Dance Album
Brazilian Girls – New York City
Daft Punk – Alive 2007
Cyndi Lauper – Bring Ya to the Brink
Kylie Minogue – X
Moby – Last Night
Robyn – Robyn

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Natalie Cole – Still Unforgettable
Michael Feinstein – The Sinatra Project
Josh Groban – Noel
Barry Manilow – In the Swing of Christmas
Rufus Wainwright – Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
John Mayer – “Gravity”
Paul McCartney – “I Saw Her Standing There”
Bruce Springsteen – “Girls in Their Summer Clothes”
Eddie Vedder – “Rise”
Neil Young – “No Hidden Path”

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
AC/DC – “Rock N Roll Train”
Coldplay – “Violet Hill”
Eagles – “Long Road Out of Eden”
Kings of Leon – “Sex on Fire”
Radiohead – “House of Cards”

Best Hard Rock Performance
Disturbed – “Inside the Fire”
Judas Priest – “Visions”
The Mars Volta – “Wax Simulacra”
Motley Crue – “Saints of Los Angeles”
Rob Zombie – “Lords of Salem”

Best Metal Performance
DragonForce – “Heroes of Our Time”
Judas Priest – “Nostradamus”
Metallica – “My Apocalypse”
Ministry – “Under My Thumb”
Slipknot – “Psychosocial”

Best Rock Instrumental Performance
David Gilmour – “Castellorizon”
Metallica – “Suicide & Redemption”
Nine Inch Nails – “34 Ghosts I-IV”
Rush – “Hope (Live for the Art of Peace)”
Zappa Plays Zappa – “Peaches En Regalia”

Best Rock Song
Bruce Springsteen – “Girls in Their Summer Clothes”
Radiohead – “House of Cards”
Death Cab For Cutie – “I Will Possess Your Heart”
Kings of Leon – “Sex on Fire”
Coldplay – “Violet Hill”

Best Rock Album
Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
Kid Rock – Rock N Roll Jesus
Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
Metallica – Death Magnetic
The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely

Best Alternative Music Album
Beck – Modern Guilt
Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs
Gnarls Barkley – The Odd Couple
My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
Radiohead – In Rainbows

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
Beyonce – “Me Myself & I”
Keyshia Cole – “Heaven Sent”
Jennifer Hudson – “Spotlight”
Alicia Keys – “Superwoman”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Need U Bad”

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Eric Benet – “You’re the Only One”
Chris Brown – “Take You Down”
Ne-Yo – “Miss Independent”
Trey Songz – “Can’t Help But Wait”
Usher – “Here I Stand”

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Boyz II Men – “Ribbon in the Sky”
Anthony David featuring India.Arie – “Words”
Al Green featuring John Legend – “Stay With Me (By the Sea)”
Jennifer Hudson featuring Fantasia – “I’m His Only Woman”
Raphael Saadiq featuring Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton – “Never Give You Up”

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Wayne Brady – “A Change is Gonna Come”
Al Green featuring Anthony Hamilton – “You’ve Got the Love I Need”
(Linda Jones) with Helen Bruner & Terry Jones – “Baby I Know”
Raphael Saadiq – “Love That Girl”
Jazmine Sullivan – “In Love With Another Man”

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
Kenna – “Say Goodbye to Love”
Maiysha – “Wanna Be”
Chrisette Michele featuring will.i.am – “Be OK”
Janelle Monae – “Many Moons”
Wayna featuring Kokayi – “Lovin’ You (Music)”

Best R&B Song
Jazmine Sullivan – “Bust Your Windows”
Raheem DeVaughn – “Customer”
Keyshia Cole – “Heaven Sent”
Ne-Yo – “Miss Independent”
Jennifer Hudson – “Spotlight”

Best R&B Album
Eric Benet – Love & Life
Boyz II Men – Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA
Al Green – Lay It Down
Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson
Raphael Saadiq – The Way I See It

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Mary J. Blige – Growing Pains
J. Holiday – Back of My Lac’
Karina – First Love
Ne-Yo – Year of the Gentleman
Jazmine Sullivan – Fearless

Best Rap Solo Performance
Jay-Z – “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)…”
Lil’ Wayne – “A Milli”
Lupe Fiasco – “Paris, Tokyo”
Nas – “N.i.*.*.e.r. (The Slave and the Master)”
Snoop Dogg – “Sexual Eruption”

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Big Boi featuring Raekwon and Andre 3000 – “Royal Flush”
Jay-Z & T.I. featuring Kanye West & Lil’ Wayne – “Swagga Like Us”
Lil’ Wayne featuring Jay-Z – “Mr. Carter”
Ludacris featuring T.I. – “Wish You Would”
Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West – “Put On”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Estelle featuring Kanye West – “American Boy”
Flo Rida featuring T-Pain – “Low”
John Legend & Andre 3000 – “Green Light”
Lil’ Wayne featuring T-Pain – “Got Money”
Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos – “Superstar”

Best Rap Song
Lil’ Wayne featuring Static Major – “Lollipop”
Flo Rida featuring T-Pain – “Low”
Snoop Dogg – “Sexual Eruption”
Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos – “Superstar”
Jay-Z & T.I. featuring Kanye West & Lil’ Wayne – “Swagga Like Us”

Best Rap Album
Jay-Z – American Gangster
Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III
Lupe Fiasco – The Cool
Nas – Nas
T.I. – Paper Trail

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Martina McBride – “For These Times”
LeAnn Rimes – “What I Cannot Change”
Carrie Underwood – “Last Name”
Lee Ann Womack – “Last Call”
Trisha Yearwood – “This is Me You’re Talking To”

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
Trace Adkins – “You’re Gonna Miss This”
Jamey Johnson – “In Color”
James Otto – “Just Got Started Lovin’ You”
Brad Paisley – “Letter to Me”
George Strait – “Troubadour”

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
Brooks & Dunn – “God Must Be Busy”
Lady Antebellum – “Love Don’t Live Here”
Rascal Flatts – “Every Day”
The SteelDrivers – “Blue Side of the Mountain”
Sugarland – “Stay”

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
Kenny Chesney & George Strait – “Shiftwork”
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – “Killing the Blues”
George Strait & Patty Loveless – “House of Cash”
Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town – “Life in a Northern Town”
Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban – “Let the Wind Chase You”

Best Country Instrumental Performance
Cherryholmes – “Sumatra”
Jerry Douglas & Lloyd Green – “Two Small Cars in Rome”
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – “Sleigh Ride”
Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby – “Is This America? (Katrina 2005)”
Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner – “Cluster Pluch”

Best Country Song
Randy Travis – “Dig Two Graves”
George Strait – “I Saw God Today”
Jamey Johnson – “In Color”
Sugarland – “Stay”
Trace Adkins – “You’re Gonna Miss This”

Best Country Album
Jamey Johnson – That Lonesome Song
Patty Loveless – Sleepless Nights
George Strait – Troubadour
Randy Travis – Around the Bend
Trisha Yearwood – Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love

Best Bluegrass Album
Cherryholmes – Cherryholmes III: Don’t Believe
Del McCoury Band – Del McCoury Band – Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Earl Scruggs with Family & Friends – The Ultimate Collection / Live at the Ryman
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder – Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947
Dan Tyminski – Wheels

Best New Age Album
William Ackerman – Meditations
Will Clipman – Pathfinder
Jack DeJohnette – Peace Time
Peter Kater – Ambrosia
Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra – The Scent of Light

Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Randy Brecker – Randy in Brasil
John McLaughlin – Floating Point
Cannon Re-Loaded: All-Star Celebration of Cannonball Adderley
Miles From India
Yellowjackets featuring Mike Stern – Lifecycle

Best Jazz Vocal Album
Karrin Allyson – Imagina: Songs of Brasil
Stacey Kent – Breakfast on the Morning Tram
Kate McGarry – If Less is More…Nothing is Everything
Cassandra Wilson – Loverly
Norma Winestone (Glauco Venier & Klaus Gesing) – Distances

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Terence Blanchard – “Be-Bop”
Till Bronner – “Seven Steps to Heaven”
Gary Burton & Chick Corea – “Waltz for Debby”
Pat Metheny – “Son of Thirteen”
James Moody – “Be-Bop”

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Chick Corea & Gary Burton – The New Crystal Silence
Bill Frisell – History, Mystery
Brad Mehldau Trio – Brad Mehldau Trio: Live
Pat Metheny with Christian McBride & Antonio Sanchez – Day Trip
Alan Pasqua, Dave Carpenter & Peter Erskine Trio – Standards

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Carla Bley and Her Remarkable Big Band – Appearing Nightly
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – Act Your Age
Joe Lovano with WDR Big Band & Rundfunk Orchestra – Symphonica
Vince Mendoza – Blauklang
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra – Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard

Best Latin Jazz Album
Caribbean Jazz Project – Afro Bop Alliance
Conrad Herwig & The Latin Side Band – The Latin Side of Wayne Shorter
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra – Song for Chico
Nestor Torres – Nouveau Latino
Papo Vázquez The Mighty Pirates – Marooned / Aislado

Best Gospel Performance
Kim Burrell, Rance Allen, Bebe Winans, Mariah Carey & Hezekiah Walker’s Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church Choir – “I Understand”
Casting Crowns – “East to West”
Mary Mary – “Get Up”
Take 6 – “Shall We Gather at the River”
CeCe Winans – “Waging War”

Best Gospel Song
21:03 With Fred Hammond, Smokie Norful & J Moss – “Cover Me”
Mary Mary – “Get Up”
Brandon Heath – “Give Me Your Eyes”
Kirk Franklin – “Help Me Believe”
MercyMe – “You Reign”

Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album
After Edmund – Hello
Flame – Our World Redeemed
Sanctus Real – We Need Each Other
Superchick – Rock What You Got
TobyMac – Alive and Transported

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Steven Curtis Chapman – This Moment
Brandon Heath – What If We
Leeland – Opposite Way
Chris Tomlin – Hello Love
CeCe Winans – Thy Kingdom Come

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album
Booth Brothers – Room for More
Gaither Vocal Band – Lovin’ Life
Charlie Louvin – Steps to Heaven
Bart Millard – Hymned Again
Karen Peck & New River – Ephesians One

Best Traditional Gospel Album
The Blind Boys Of Alabama – Down in New Orleans
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir – I’ll Say Yes
Dorinda Clark-Cole – Take it Back
Voices of Unity – Deitrick Haddon Presents . . . Together In Worship
The West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir – Bishop Charles E. Blake Presents… No Limit

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
Jason Champion – Reflections
Kirk Franklin – The Fight of My Life
Mary Mary – The Sound
The Murrills – Donald Lawrence Introduces: Family Prayer
Tye Tribbett & G.A. – Stand Out

I’m a little late on today’s Musician Spotlight. 

I’d love to introduce you with a great guy I had the absolute pleasure of playing with this past weekend: Jonny Diaz. First off so you don’t go around mispronouncing his name like I did, it’s “Die-as” not “Dee-as.” Secondly, for a guy on the cusp of potentially ‘making it big’ he’s a totally chill, awesome guy!

Jonny was brought in to lead worship for our Fall retreat: Breakaway. I filled in as the lead guitarist/back up vocalist. It was an incredible ride. For someone who is recognized by Bart Millard as being inspiring with just a guitar and his voice, I suppose he didn’t need a backing band but it was truly an awesome ride for me and the band! Jonny was completely in the pocket with us or by himself. Each session we’d play 4/5 songs as a band and he’d play 1 by himself. Jonny is an incredibly talented guitarist and has a smooth voice and some inspiring lyrics! 

If you’re in to Caedmon’s Call, Bebo Norman, Shane & Shane, and the likes then you’ll gladly welcome Jonny Diaz into your iTunes collection! Speaking of which, he’s got 2 CDs up on iTunes already. The title track to They Need Love is probably my favorite. You can go for the most popular one: “Other Guys” and while it’s witty and enjoyable, there’s just so much more to be found on the CD that will satisfy!

Jonny certainly isn’t shy about traveling so book him for your next worship environment. Students/adults whatever. Get him by himself or with his band if you can. (If not then call me! Hahaha! It’d be great to sit in again.) 

Here are some songs we played together at our Youth Retreat: 

• Make a Joyful Noise (I will not be silent)
• My glorious
• No One Like You
• Blessed Be Your Name
• Every Move I Make
• We fall down
• Marvelous Light
• Holy is the Lord
• Your Grace is Enough
• Forever

There are plenty of recordings available to check out on his page and his mySpace so don’t be shy! Make sure you also check out his merch because he’s got some cool apparel as well! 

Jonny, meet the lovely people of Worship City!
Worship City, meet Jonny!

Andrew sits down with Michael W. Smith and son Ryan Smith, co-founders of Seabourne Pictures to discuss the new C2:Giving Movies a Second Look DVD series, designed to promote discussion and critical thought about the films Christians watch.  

Also look for a one-on-one with Bart Millard and a review of his brand new CD, Hymned Again, as well as criticism for new releases from Charlie Hall, The Katinas and Family Force 5.

And check out Andrew’s photo of Rachel Horn’s box scuplture on Spain’s Barcelonta Beach, published in Everywhere Magazine, here.

Read the articles below or visit Andrew’s “Words” page here.:

Michael W. Smith/Ryan Smith, ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Bart Millard, ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Charlie Hall “The Bright Sadness”, CCMMagazine.com
Family Force 5 “Dance or Die”, CCMMagazine.com
The Katinas “Still”, ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Bart Millard “Hymned Again”, ChristianMusicPlanet.com
“Stacking Up”, EverywhereMag.com

I caution anyone that takes my advice that I am in no way a music critic. The reviews below are called “2 Cent” because that is just about what they are worth. These are just my impressions of some recent downloads. With that I give you some brief overviews of my first impressions of the following:

1. “What Life Would Be Like” by Big Daddy Weave – In my opinion this band doesn’t get near the credit they deserve. Quietly they have released several CD’s and continue to pound out thought provoking music. I really liked this one. The can’t miss download is the title track “What Life Would Be Like”. Such a great song and worth thinking about. “From Here” is also a beautiful song for anyone that has lost someone close to them.  (4 out of 5)

2. “This is Our God” by Hillsong – Lotta buzz around this one today with the stunning news that the writer of the song “Healer” faked his terminal illness. Let me go ahead and give you my 2 cents on this thing. Throughout scripture God used some pretty crazy people to deliver His truth. He used the most unlikely individuals, some with rather sketchy pasts. Did Mike Guglielmucci make an incredible mistake in judgement? Yes, but who among us hasn’t? I pray God’s grace and our forgiveness for this man. Let’s not rush to judge and miss the incredible truth that is this song. The entire CD might be the best I have heard all year. Don’t miss it. Again, the title track is worth the download. The entire CD is too. (5 out of 5)!

3. Revelation by Third Day – Let me just say that it’s probably me and not Third Day. I think I have just come to the point where, for me, a little Third Day goes a long, long way. That being said, there are some very good, can’t miss downloads. Of note for me were the songs “Take It All” and “Revelation”. “Revelation” left me with a red mark between the eyes where it had hit me. Great song. I know I’ll get hate mail here but..(3 out of 5)

4. Hymned Again by Bart Millard – Bart does it again! Actually I should warn you that if you’re looking for Bart just singing the old hymns in their original form, you’re going to be disappointed. He’s jazzed a few of them up and rearranged a few others. As to not disrupt my chances for S.L.O.B. of the month, I will say I LOVED it. Privately I will tell you that the purist in me loves the old hymns just the way they were. Don’t tell my buddy Bart though. (4 out of 5)

5. Singalong by Phil Wickham – First off, go download it right now at Phil’s Site because it is totally free! Seriously, go ahead..I’ll wait. Now that you have it downloaded let me say that I really like this CD. The cost aside I just like the plain old acoustic and a microphone approach to these songs. There are many treasures on it. The fact that it is free is icing on the cake. (5 out of 5).

Looking ahead we’ve got the new Chris Tomlin coming in just a few short weeks. I better go find 2 more pennies….

Well not necessarily apples and bananas how about chocolate cake. Yep…I’m stressed and some cake would do wonders! This week has been rough and it doesn’t look like it’s getting better. So some chocolate cake might perk me up a bit. Work just stinks and my couch has a coffee stain hmm what else. Oh yeah company for dinner sunday night. Sunday is now one of the busiest days because I have to get ready for the week get everything planned for the week…figure out what the hubby will do about lunch/dinner during 12 hours of school, go grocery shopping and who knows what else.

I’m planning on making dessert shots for dessert on sunday. I have no clue what kind or what to serve during the meal. Also I have to clean house but we are going outlet mall shopping on saturday. Yeah fun…look at stuff I still can’t afford at the outlet malls.

Ah if I just had some wonderful thoughts for you today…sadly I don’t. But I did listen to the new Bart Millard Hymned Again CD on my way to work. It’s nice…but the first was AMAZING!

BLESSED GOSPEL ESTÁ DE VOLTA DIRETO DA ARÁBIA SAUDITA TRAZENDO O QUE HÁ DE MELHOR NA MUSICA GOSPEL!