RamiroBurr.com

Jimmy Gonzalez y Mazz, Pesado and Marco Antonio Solis were among the big names in the regional Mexican field of the 2009 list of Latin Grammy winners held Thursday night in Las Vegas.

Mazz won the best Tejano CD category with their latest album “The Legend Continues...La Continuación... Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo Mazz,” released on Freddie Records.

Mazz beat

 out a field which also included familiar names such as “Recordando Josefa,” by Avizo; “Generations,” Grupo Vida; “Conjuntazzo,” Joel Guzman & Sarah Fox; “Freedom Tour 2008,” Jaime y Los Chamacos; and “All The Way Live!,” Jay Perez.

For more than a decade, Jimmy Gonzalez y Mazz have been one of the leading groups in the Tejano field, producing memorable albums and drawing big crowds on the touring circuit.

All of the entries in the Tejano category were notable works including Joel Guzman’s “Conjuntazo,” a folk, mostly acoustic album that Guzman called “Americana conjunto.”

Guzman and Fox won both the American Grammy and the Latin Grammy for their previous folk album “Polkas, Gritos y Acoprdeones.”

Despite losing to Mazz, Guzman said getting a Grammy nomination “is significant because while we have always been involved with many artists (as producers, collaborators), we have always continued to put out high quality works like 'Short Stories' and 'Latinology.' It always feels great to be acknowledged for our body of work."

His partner Sarah Fox was also elated.

"I am ecstatic simply because it feels great to finally be acknowledged as one of the artists and not just a participant," said Fox.

DeAnda, a veteran of the South Texas conjunto scene, also noted the value of a nomination.

“The Grammy nomination is important because it means a lot of exposure, a lot of marketing opportunities for us. It also tells people we’re still here, still in the game.”

Overall, the 2009 Latin Grammys belonged to the alt-reggaeton-rap group Calle 13 which won all five of the categories it was nominated in, including record and album of the year for "Los De Atrás Vienen Conmigo."

The group paid tribute to the folk singer Mercedes Sosa when they accepted record of the year and dedicated the win to her memory. Sosa died in October.

The Latin Grammys were held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and broadcast live on the Univision Network.

In other regional Mexican categories, Vicente Fernandez won the best Ranchera album field, with his latest CD “Primera Fila,” edging out Shaila Dúrcal, José Feliciano, Mariachi Reyna De Los Angeles and  Diego Verdaguer.

Best Banda honors went to Alacranes Musical for their “Tu Inspiración” while best Grupero was split between “15x22,” Caballo Dorado and “No Molestar,” Marco Antonio Solis.

Grupo Pesado took best Norteño álbum for their CD “Sólo Contigo” and best regional song went to Solis for his “No Molestar.”
For complete Grammy list: www.grammy.com
(Ramiro Burr covers music ar www.ramiroburr.com. Email Burr at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )