Compass Records artists received a collective 15 nominations yesterday for the 2023 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards.
Leading the pack is GRAMMY-winning fiddle legend Michael Cleveland with five nominations including Album of the Year for his new release Lovin’ of the Game which the New York Times called “an ecstatic document of what the fiddle has meant to [Cleveland’s] story—and what he hopes to mean to its history.” He also picked up nominations for Collaborative Recording of the Year for “For Your Love” featuring Billy Strings and Jeff White and Instrumental Recording of the Year for “Contact” featuring Béla Fleck, Cody Kilby and Barry Bales.
Compass co-founder and banjoist Alison Brown received nominations for Collaborative Recording of the Year and Instrumental Recording of the Year for her collaboration with Steve Martin on “Foggy Morning Breaking” which was co-written by Brown and Martin and which is included on Brown’s new release On Banjo. She also picked up a nod for Banjo Player of the Year.
Special Consensus received a nomination for Collaborative Performance for “Alberta Bound” from their new project Great Blue North; the track features a collaboration with some of Canada’s best bluegrass musicians including Ray Legere, Pharis & Jason Romero and John Reischman and The Jaybird Trio.
Frank Solivan received a nod for Instrumental Recording for his tune “Scorchin’ the Gravy” from his latest release Hold On.
A full list of Compass Records nominees follows below. The winners will be announced in at the IBMA Awards Show in Raleigh NC on September 28th.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
LOVIN’ OF THE GAME – Michael Cleveland
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Contact” – Michael Cleveland with Cody Kilby, Barry Bales, and Béla Fleck
“Foggy Morning Breaking” – Alison Brown with Steve Martin featuring Stuart Duncan, Chris Eldridge, Sierra Hull, Todd Phillips
“Scorchin’ The Gravy” – Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
COLLABORATIVE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
“Alberta Bound” – Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Tisha Gagnon, Patrick Sauber, Claire Lynch, Pharis & Jason Romero
“Alberta Bound” – Special Consensus with Ray Legere, John Reischman, Tisha Gagnon, Patrick Sauber, Claire Lynch, Pharis & Jason Romero
“Foggy Morning Breaking” – Alison Brown with Steve Martin featuring Stuart Duncan, Chris Eldridge, Sierra Hull, Todd Phillips
“For Your Love” – Michael Cleveland with Billy Strings and Jeff White
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Greg Blake
Greg Blake
BANJO PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alison Brown
Alison Brown
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Todd Phillips
Missy Raines
Todd Phillips
Missy Raines
FIDDLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Michael Cleveland
Michael Cleveland
RESOPHONIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rob Ickes
Rob Ickes
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Trey Hensley
Trey Hensley