Hi Folks,

I thought I'd create a post for our newest JPF Nominees to check in and say hi. Tell us about yourselves and your music!

Brian

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! I'm so excited!

Finally someone actually followed that darn link! Now Queen... this is only your SECOND post since March of 2007? Where have you been hiding?

Brian

Hi All,

We are very excited that two of our tunes, Pica Pica Polka and Musical Priest S, have been nominated in the polka category.

We are from the San Francisco Bay Area and we play world-inspired, roots-driven rowdy folk fusion. Call it Celtic Ska with a touch of hot pepper and a swig of slivovitz -- we kick up some dust.

Our line-up includes clarinet/whistle, alto sax, bone, tuba, guitar, bass, drums and accordion.

look forward to reading about your songs


Mags

Very excited to be nominated in the Traditional Folk category for song and album! I'm having a great time checking out all the other nominees and am trying to find my way down to n'ville next month...

Brian,

I am still pinching myself...at Wy and I having our CD "Miss Willow's Fence Row" nominated under the Children's Albums...and The Song, Some Day Some Way nominated under Children's Songs.

I knew Some Day Some Way had been originally posted under lyrics board II and went hunting for it ........It was incredibly sweet
to re-read the comments from folks back then..and it made me cry.
I had gone to my daughter's dance class one evening...and they were dancing to Over The Rainbow..and I went home and said...I'm
going to try to write a melody in that vein....and this was what came out.

Our Lyrics ..Post from 2002 with an edit at the top
http://www.jpfolks.com:80/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/291818/page/804?sess=a7f0d9c57496ffa4eea327dc6d3f2e0d

Some Day Some Way.... the recording & the original piano effort
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=6469&content=music


a big thank you So much to all who liked our songs....
It is an incredible honor to be included...with folks that are so good.

very best...
Kaley

I am SO EXCITED about my nominations in the Urban contemporary category for the Album: Endure and the Song: He Loves You!

Thank you to the JUDGES!

It's so encouraging especially when doing ministry in song can be a challenge. This opportunity (nomination) is inspiring me to KEEP striving to continue building God's kingdom and encouraging the hearts of people through song!

Looking forward to Nashville!

www.myspace.com/janickanewbill
[color:#990000] [font:Book Antiqua] [size:11pt]

Thanks Brian,
As to the awards show, with my several problems, it's difficult for me to make a trip like that but there are high hopes of getting Kaley down there to represent us ,though it falls at an especially busy time for her.
I might add to what Kaley has posted, that some of the album lyrics were posted on the lyric board so a big thanks to the board people for that. As has been commented on before, sometimes it's amazing what a few words , a line, or a few notes can do for a song.
Wy

We're getting more and more excited as we zero in on the show. We just set up a Hotel Partner and it's by far the best offer we had from the hotel we preferred to start with.

Sorry to hear about the health issues Wyman, I was looking forward to finally meeting you down there. Glad Kaley may be coming. Glad to hear from you Janicka and Maggie and Shandy of course. Looking forward to seeing all of you in Nashville!

Brian

Hello!

I wanted to tell that I went on ctrl+F to find my name and didn't found it, so I went to Latin songs, to see the lucky guys nominated there, to check if I could recognize some names, and in fact, the only one I recognized was mine! (the page had not loaded full when I searched).

This is the first nomination I have in my life. (it's my first album too)

I live in Argentina. I think the awards show will be a great experience.
May be, I will be there, I have a little problem as my passport and us visa expired, and we have to wait 1 to 3 months to receive the new ones here, so I don't know if it will be possible.

Congratulations to all nominees!

-Fernando (1 out of 3 Argentinians nominated)

Hi Fernando,

Congrats on your nominations! We haven't visited South America yet but it's on our list of things to do. Hopefully by the time we make it down there we'll have a few friends we've made through JPF.

If you need a letter for travel purposes in getting a visa, let us know. Email Linda at justplainlin@aol.com with any details.

Brian

Hola!

I'm a Swedish singer/songwriter in my band CJ Palmer and we're very proud and happy to be nominated in the very prestigious and competitive category "Best Rock Song" 08-09 with our track "34".

I'd be very happy to meet people who have previously attended the JPFMA and if you're going this year, please drop me a line as we're planning to go too.

I hope you are well.

Thanks,
CJ.

Hi Brian - Thanks for the email. I had not realized that I was selected as a nominee. What an honor to be selected for a song and album in the Contemporary Christian category. I live in Nashville but I have some things going on at the end of August so Im not sure yet if i will be able to attend but I will if at all possible. Thanks again and congrats to all of the other nominees as well.

I wanted to pop in and say hello, and to thank Brian and JPF for the nom for Best Song (Bigger Better God) in the Cabaret category. I'm working on being at the ceremony. Really psyched about this.

I'm entering the video contest, too, soon as I figure out where to post the link.

And Brian, thanks for the tip on logging in.

Thank you very much for the two nomination in the Polka categories, song and album. It has been such a pleasure to share a little of my Swiss heritage with the world and see the joy it brings. Thank you to Just Plain Folks for the recognition and for all you do for us regular people. It's a class act.

I can't be at the awards show this year, due to prior entertaining engagements, but I wish everyone the best of luck and a spectacular time!

Toni Seitz

Hi Guys,

Thanks for stopping in. I forgot to mention this post on the update today! Doh! Ah well.. still nice for a few of you to check in and say hi. Stick around.. lots of friendly folks here.

Brian

Hey Folks,

My name is Paeter(rhymes with "later") and I'm thrilled that my little company was nominated this year!

I started "Spirit Blade Productions" in 2006 and "Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual" (for which we were nominated) is our second audio project.

We produce Sci-fi and Fantasy audio drama that incorporates biblical themes and concepts. Our aim is to create stories for adults that are gripping and action-packed. We've been known to visit the darker side of fiction, and though we have a biblical worldview, our slogan for our creations is "Unsterilized, unsafe... unleashed!"

I count it a huge honor to be nominated alongside so many great artists! My wife and I are excited to fly out for the awards show!

Thanks!

-Paeter Frandsen

Hi Paeter,

Congrats on the nomination! I hope your genre makes a big comeback (i.e. radio dramas). I loved them as a kid and they spurred my own imagination like nothing else!

Brian (using Linda's computer from Texas)

Hi Everyone

Very honored and excited about the nominations for Cabaret Album, Cabaret Song(s), and Vocal Jazz Song that my album Japanese Bathhouse received. I sailed my little ship (or rather, CD) off into the vast seas, and was so happy it found a welcoming harbor in JPF.

Looking forward to coming to Nashville!
Any word/postings on who will be performing at the showcase and awards?

~ Rebecca

Hi Brian,

I'm very much looking forward to our time in Nashville. Its an honor to be nominated for Best New Age Album and Song, and Michael Manring and I look forward to sharing some music with you all on awards night...

Thanks for making this possible!

My best,

Jeff Oster

Jeff Oster's Official Website....

The nomination for Best Instrumental Jazz Album (and Song) comes as a wonderful surprise and adds a dashing new feather to my cap! I'm looking forward to visiting Nashville and making new friends.

peace,

~ Brian

Hi Guys,

Thanks for checking in. Looking forward to seeing you at the awards!

Brian

The nomination for my solo Harp CD, "Somewhere in Time", took me by complete surprise. Really, I had to ponder Brian's email for a couple weeks till I believed it! Then it struck me how special this nomination is.

The best part is the inspiration that you all have given me. I dearly LOVE to play the harp and I reach down deep in an attempt to touch people . . . to be told that my music has "moved you" goes right to where I live. Thank you sooooo much.

My next CD is finally in the works, thanks to this JPF nomination! Thank you.
Thank you, thank you.

Glad you stopped in and congrats on the nomination!

Brian

Hey y'all -
I'm thrilled to be nominated again in the New Folk Categories, thanks! Unfortunately, I cna't make it to Nashville, I'm playing a wedding that day in Alabama, and for some reason, they didn't want to change their wedding date for this?
I signed up to judge some other categories, it is a lot of fun to be involoved, I'd recommend trying it to be more involvoed and hear some great music. I'm ranking my favorite Americana songs right now.
-Dave Potts

Hi,

My album "Closer" is nominated in the "Best Solo Instrumental Album" category. I made a point of visiting websites of the other nominees, and I can't tell you how good it feels to be considered next to such a talented bunch of people.

"Closer" was actually completed almost 2 years ago, and I guess there's an element of having moved on already. As a relative newcomer to solo performing, I would like to think that my work is constantly improving, or at least evolving. Having said that, I'm thrilled to be here!

Cheers,
Andy Salvanos
10-string Chapman Stick

Hello there,

I am a nominee in the World Songs category with my song 'Delhi Delight'... a track that moved me so much along it's recording during a 10 year period - recording in Maui, Hawaii and Byron Bay Australia, with friends from the USA, Indonesia and India...

What a thrill to be amongst nominees from so many countries!

I wanted to say "hi" for a long time to all reading this post. I'am Just Plainly In Awe at what you guys are doing. And if I can share my two cents with peers, excellent...

If you want to listen again to my track, please go to
http://ariel-kalma.bandcamp.com/track/delhi-delight-2

(I just did and heard, still moves me... hehe, after all these years...)

keep in touch, and I'll try to post on the industry about my discoveries on the Digital Path (and read other's discoveries too)

Warm regards,

Ariel

"Alchemy" Nominated for Best World Music Song (Al-Andalus Ensemble)

Hello all,
First of we wish to say we are simultaneously honored and humbled, surprised and delighted by the honor you bestow on us for this nomination of "Alchemy" for "Best World Music Song."

It is not often that recognition comes unannounced like this in life and it truly is a tremendous honor. A review of the list of past winners, with their amazing music, vision and community service, reveals the tremendous significance of this nomination.

This nomination came at a very important time when our work as peacemaking musician/songwriters has been especially difficult and when peace in the world seems in a kind of limbo. As a married couple, the stresses and joys of making music together are doubled. This is especially so when our respective cultures have been at war for so very long. It often makes us weep, and perhaps you can hear a bit of that sadness, sorrow but also hope for the future in the "Alchemy" song.

We will cherish this nomination for such a distinction as there is no higher honor than to be selected by a jury of ones peers. Today we will remember with gratitude and are more committed than ever to the community that has brought us so much joy, success and meaning to our lives.

We only just learned about the nomination and so are a bit late in getting you the information you may need. Here is a bit of information to help with your decision making!
1. Listen: Here is a link the the nominated track "Alchemy" http://www.andalus.com/Andalus_Alchemy.mp3
2. Website: http://www.Andalus.com
3. Other albums here: http://www.cdbaby.com/all/andalus
4. Press informations: http://www.Sonicbids.com/Andalus
5. Video links: http://www.youtube.com/ziriab

About the music and the musicians:
Al-Andalus Ensemble led by Tarik & Julia Banzi
We are just plain folks, a married couple making music for a lifetime together. We live between Morocco-Spain-USA. The piece nominated for "Best World Music Song" 'Alchemy' captures one of our moments together where it enjoins oud & flamenco guitar, male and female, left-handed and right-handed, dark and light,... I wont go into cultures, nationalities or religions here but you can read some about our work and our larger ensemble at the above links.

In a nutshell I think "Love" is what drives our music-making. As a bi-cultural marriage, we have a daughter who embodies both cultures and like many others suffers from the predijuce in the world. Through music we have devoted our lives to trying to create some beauty, some peaceful understandings to try make this world a better place for everyone, to find that loving path.

In music and peace,

The Al-Andalus Ensemble
Tarik & Julia Banzi
www.Andalus.com
Morocco-Spain-USA

"The gift is in the giving"

P.S. (you can see a painting of our daughter and other children around the world painted by Tarik http://www.andalus.com/art/Realism.html (Tarik is also an artist as well as a composer and musician).

P.P.S. Our newest album (2009) "21 Strings" (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/alandalus5) is full of similar encounters but with violin.

Welcome to the site. Glad to have you! Congrats on the nomination! Hopefully we'll meet you in Nashville.

Brian

Post deleted by TAMERA64

We're honored and thrilled to have our album and 2 songs nominated in the Prog Rock categories. We're also excited about being selected to perform and look forward to meeting you all.

It's really going to be great to get to see and hear such a diversity of people and talent gathered at this event.

See you in Nashville!

Looking forward to seeing you both in Nashville!

Hey all. Looking forward to this. It'll be a blaaaasttttt.

If you'd care to know more about me, google "Clinton Blowjob Schwartz" and that'll answer many questions.

e

Good to have you joining us Eric. That was a brilliant move to include fans doing the chorus of your song. If you guys want a great way to include your fans in what you do, check out the various versions of Eric's song. Even if you disagree with his politics, you can't deny the humor and the fan interaction is fantastic.

Brian

Brian, you are the best!!!

Oh, we soooo wanted to be in Nashville and meet everyone and have that wonderful experience. The tickets from Tangier to Nashville were just too expensive this time around. Next time enshaallah as they say in Morocco.
We tried to watch the live broadcast but could not get it to work... maybe our internet connection over here is too slow... I hope they will archive the program so that we can experience it at least virtually.
Regardless of the outcome, we are already all winners just knowing about the jpf community. Gives me hope for the future of in the world;-)
In music & peace
Julia
Al-Andalus Ensemble
www.Andalus.com

Thank you Brian!
I just wanted to say how excited I am to win the best album in the prog rock category.
Thanks to you and the judges for all your hard work ! ! !


Larry Benigno
Sonic Music
http://www.sonicmusic.net

I wanna thank you again BRIAN

FOR A GREAT JOB AND ALL THE HARD WORK OF YOU AND OTHERS

I think Nashville ought to be the permanent home of the JPF awards but of course I am obviously very biased about that......


Tom