Just about a week and half ago the 2006 Grammy Award Ceremony was held in L.A. The night that they refer to as music's biggest night. If you are a music fan you may very well disagree with this characterization, at least you will if you are anything like me...

         The Grammy broadcast on TV is a much worse affair. These days many of the awards given out do not even make it to the telecast. The performers they choose to put on, I feel, are not based on talent but upon mass appeal. For instance a group often cited as "Rock's First Super Group" Cream, was given a lifetime achievement Grammy. The award being presented to Jack Bruce for that honor lasted maybe 30 seconds and Jack was not even afforded the opportunity to say thank you for the honor. This is also the same awards show that started playing music over Frank Sinatra a few years back when he was giving his acceptance speech for his lifetime achievement Grammy. I feel that NARAS does not give the respect that many of their nominees and winners deserve.

          All that being said I do not think that the show was not without it's bright spots. This year we saw some fantastic performances. U-2 did a great job on the show both alone and with the help of Mary J. Blige. Bruce Springsteen made a powerful statement with his solo performance of "Devils And Dust" closing with the words "Bring 'em home". Christina Aguilera showed that she does possess great vocal abilities in her number with Herbie Hancock. The best job anyone seemed to do that night though would have to be Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. I am not normally a fan of hip hop but I do have an open mind. "Gold-digger" is a good song to begin with but what really made me like this was the imagination they showed in doing a different arrangement of it for a live national telecast.

           I was somewhat disappointed in the New Orleans tribute number at the end. A stellar collection of musicians, Allan Toussaint, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Irma Thomas, Elvis Costello and The Edge turned in what seemed a lackluster performance. Then following that one number they were joined by Sam Moore (Half of the soul duo Sam And Dave) along with Bruce Springsteen to pay tribute to the recently deceased "Wicked" Wilson Pickett. This number also did not reach the level it should have being all the musicians involved in its performance. But I guess it is tough to sit on the sidelines most of the night and then be expected to step on stage and hit a home run when you are being rushed so that the broadcast finishes on time and doesn't cost any overtime payments to the producers and their staff.

           So the question remains, is this music's biggest night ? My answer to that is NO !! I feel music's biggest night takes place every night of every week in clubs, theaters and arenas around the world. Anyplace that a person steps onto a stage to make music for an audience no matter what the size, to me, is where music's biggest night is taking place. Music is not about awards given out by a group of people with nothing but their opinions to judge. Music is a living breathing thing that needs to be played by people who care for people who care. So next time the Grammies are on or any time you can, go catch live music locally. I bet you will enjoy it more than what's on TV and I'm sure you will be glad you did.