FOR THIS YEAR'S EDITION OF OUR ANNUAL MUSIC AWARDS, TO BE HELD AT THE ROXY ON JUNE 26, THE ARTISTS were selected in a poll of 30 local music writers given the task of choosing the best L.A.-based musicians. Our nominees were chosen purely on the basis of quality, regardless of commercial success or relative obscurity, with an eye toward emerging artists we feel deserve praise and encouragement for their efforts. Thus in several categories we have higher-profile, internationally prominent artists competing against worthy artists working at a more grassroots level. Once again, the categories are rough descriptions of the nominees' skills; many or most of these artists could easily be slotted into several different divisions. Each nominee was chosen for high achievement in music this year or for the great music they've given Los Angeles over the years. As usual, the superb abundance of musicians in L.A. made it a hard job to narrow the field down. As always, every nominee is a winner.
Attention readers: Cast your vote for L.A. music's Most Valuable Player. This category embraces any and all L.A.-based individual artists or bands, in any style or genre.
BEST NEW ARTIST
The DagonsDengue FeverListing ShipRadio VagoTape
BEST ROCK BAND
AutoluxConcrete BlondeLos LobosRadar Brothers
The Steve McDonald Group
BEST HARD ROCK/METAL BAND
Biblical Proof of UFOsThe HangmenMy RuinQueens of the Stone AgeSystem of a Down
BEST POP/ROCK BAND
Beachwood SparksDeadsyExcessoriesVon SteinsWeezer
BEST PUNK/ HARDCORE BAND
Bad Religion400 BlowsThe OrphansPennywiseUnion 13
BEST RAP/ HIP-HOP ARTIST
Abstract RudeL.A. SymphonyMedusa & Feline ScienceShapeshifters2-Mex
BEST JAZZ ARTIST
James CarneyPan Afrikan Peoples ArkestraDon PrestonPhil RanelinDwight Trible
BEST COUNTRY ARTIST
Dave AlvinThe Sid Hillman QuartetI See Hawks in L.A.Buck PageKathy Robertson
BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES/R&B ARTIST
Shawn AmosSolomon BurkeCafe R&BMickey ChampionKim Hill
BEST SALSA/LATIN ARTIST
CumbeleyEast L.A. Sabor FactoryNati Cano y Mariachi CamperoQuetzalVery Be Careful
BEST INSTRUMENTAL BAND
Joey Altruda All StarsDakah
Double Naught Spy CarGuns, Books & ToolsLanguis
BEST NEW-GENRE/ UNCATEGORIZABLE ARTIST
Centimeters
Crib
PhthalocyanineChas SmithW.A.C.O.
JAZZ EMINENCE AWARD
Kenny BurrellBenny CarterTeddy EdwardsLes McCannJames Newton
POP/ROCK LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Etta James
WORLD MUSIC/RECOMBINANT ARTIST
Axiom of ChoiceHuayucaltiaOzomatliPrince DiabateAdam Rudolph's Go: Organic Orchestra
BEST DJ — MIXMEISTER
BabuCut ChemistDaedelusDJ HiveMadlib
BEST DJ — SELECTOR
DJ IreneKazellDoc MartinTony WatsonMarques Wyatt
BEST RADIO SHOW
Jim Ladd — KLOSKristi Lomax, Restless Soul –KPFKThe Monkey Man — Pirate Cat RadioRodney on the Roq — KROQGarth Trinidad, Chocolate City — KCRW
BEST ROCK/POP
SONGWRITER/ COMPOSER
Carla BozulichE (Eels)Kristian HoffmanSheila NichollsStew
BEST ELECTRONIC DANCE ARTIST
BTCrystal MethodDeepskyDntelNortec
OUTSTANDING CLASSICAL ENSEMBLE/ARTIST
Los Angeles Master Chorale and its conductor, Grant GershonKent Nagano, L.A. Opera principal conductorLalo SchifrinYasuo Shinozaki, L.A. Philharmonic assistant conductorLeonard Stein, pianist and producer of PianoSpheres series
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