By Jeff Maisey
On February 5, the City of Hampton presented the 2023 Veer Music Awards at The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery.
The Honorable Mayor Donny Tuck of Hampton personally presented the first pair of awards — Best Smooth Jazz and Best Traditional Jazz — while also announcing to the return of the Hampton Jazz Festival coming in June.
It was a big night for the genre as Jae Sinnett’s Zero to 60 Quartet with Symphonicity’s “Live at the Sandler Center” marked the first time a jazz record won Album of the Year honors.
Following are this year’s final results.
Album of the Year: Jae Sinnett’s Zero to 60 Quartet/Symphonicity, “Live at the Sandler Center”
Honorable Mentions:
Cody Christian, “Canary in a Coal Mine”
Freedom Hawk, “Take All You Can”
Suburban Key Party, “Darkness and Rainbows”
EP of the Year: Wilde Owl, “That Gasoline”
Honorable Mentions:
Demons, “Swallow”
The JD3 Band, “Homestead”
The Dual Gravitons, “It’s a Riddle”
Song of the Year: Cody Christian, “Canary in a Coal Mine”
Honorable Mentions:
Bennett Walker Wales, “Fly”
Jared Farrell, “California Smile”
Kristi K feat. Noah Motion, “Leaving Again”
Music Video of the Year: Kristi K, “Born to Run”
Honorable Mentions:
Jonah’s Run, “Until You Treat Me Right”
Roberta Lea, “Ghetto Country Streets”
8th City featuring Bread Junkie & Ghetto Chris, “Motion”
Best Jazz Traditional: Jae Sinnett
Honorable Mentions:
Liz Terrell
Chris Brydge
John Toomey Trio
(Infinite Flava awarded Best Smooth Jazz)
Best Jazz Smooth; Infinite Flava
Honorable Mentions:
Duane Smith Quartet
J Staton
Matt Willard
Best R&B/Soul: Akeylah Simone
Honorable Mentions:
The Fuzz Band
Darius Ford
Talton Toneful Manning
Best Hip Hop: Teezy So Dope
Honorable Mentions:
Chuck Black
8th City featuring Ghetto Chris
CXDIE
(Jonah’s Run with manager Annette Clark)
Best Gospel: Jonah’s Run
Honorable Mentions:
God’s Chosen
ReFormed
Best World Music: Cultivated Mind
Honorable Mentions:
United Souls
One Culture
Jon Quan
Best IndiePop: Suburban Key Party
Honorable Mentions:
Pet Name
The Lifehacks
Secret Ingredients
Best Pop: Chong Band
Honorable Mentions:
Turnover
Kristi K
Roberta Lea
Best Metal: Magg Dylan
Honorable Mentions:
One Shot Fired
The New Mutiny
Babylon Rising
Best Rock: Freedom Hawk
Honorable Mentions:
Same Time Tomorrow
Exploding Sun
Wilde Owl
Best Retro: Lucky 757
Honorable Mentions:
Mr. Fang & The Darktones
Jim Newsom
Jim Bulleit
Best Indie Alternative: Community Witch
Honorable Mentions:
The Warm Hug
Berries
Step Pets
Best Punk: Demons
Honorable Mentions:
Alpha
The Dual Gravitons
The Nerve Scheme
Best Psychedelic/Jam: Bended Light
Honorable Mentions:
The Bread Collectors
That Which Sleeps
Best Ambient/Experimental : Karacell
Honorable Mentions:
Crash Mosaic
Ransack
From Overseas
Best Bluegrass: Magic Holler Boys
Honorable Mention:
Rambin’ Jake
Best Country: Celeste Kellogg
Honorable Mentions:
Cody Christian
Runnin’ Shine
Tracie Lynn
Best Folk/Acoustic : Dustin Furlow
Honorable Mentions:
Dry Land
Dan Pellegrino
Richard David Spano
Best Blues: Paul Urban & Friends
Honorable Mentions:
Bobby Black Hat Walters
Jason Cale Band
JD3 Band
Best Cover Band: JD Silvia Band
Honorable Mentions:
Wonderland
Rocky 7
The Detonators
Best Themed Band: Nashville Nights
Honorable Mentions:
Good Shot Judy
The Deloreans
Wilder Horses
Best Live Band : Mr. Fang and the Darktones
Honorable Mentions:
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos
The Fuzz Band
Magg Dylan
(Red Stapler Duo)
Best Live Cover Solo/Duo: Red Stapler Duo
Honorable Mentions:
Serious Black
Fixity
Mike Gombas
Best Open Mic : Victorian Station
Honorable Mentions:
Stuft
Winston’s Cafe
Venue on 35th
Best Live Music Venue (Bar): Scandal’s Live
Honorable Mentions:
Taphouse Ghent
Chicho’s Backstage Cafe
Froggies
Best Live Music Venue (Brewery): The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery
Honorable Mentions:
Young Veterans The Bunker
Smartmouth NFK
Elation Brewing
Best Live Music Series: New Realm Music on the Lawn Series
Honorable Mentions:
Summer Breeze Series
YNOT Wednesdays
Miller Jazz Series @ Sandler Center
Best Photography Posed: Pete Federico, “Anthony Rosano”
Honorable Mentions:
Annette Holloway, “CXDIE”
Sean Chagnon, “Ben Joe Brown”
Janice Chandler, “Nashville Nights”
Best Photography Live: Glenn Woodell, “Jacob Vanko”
Honorable Mentions:
Wendy Woodell, “Hostile Within at Scandals Live”
George Marsh, “Good Shot Judy”
Diego Gomes, “Melanie DeLorian at Scandals Live”
Lifetime Achievement Award
Antic Hay
Lifetime Achievement Award
Big Al Staggs
Industry Award
Annette Clark
Musicians Musician Award
Chidori Matsumoto
