Gathering of Nations CD wins Grammy

The Gathering of Nations Powwow organizers won their second Grammy for best Native American Album with the compilation CD "2010 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirits Dance."

"We weren't the ones that are singing the songs and if we were, I don't think it would've been great," joked Derek Mathews, the album's producer, in a recent telephone interview from Los Angeles. "We're going to get ahold of the recording academy to see about getting the singers on the album certificates for their contribution to the album.

"If not, then we will plan and do something to make sure that these singers get recognized for their contributions to the recording," Mathews said.

The drum groups Midnite Express, Tha Tribe, Buck Wild, Hail Creek, Cree Confederation, Head Stone, Rocky Boy, Eyabay, Wild Band of Comanches, Nakoda Nation, Mile High, Eagle Mountain, and Cozad are on the CD.

Also included is a performance by Chief Leonard Crow Dog and the crowning ceremony of Miss Indian World.

Mathews also wants the award citation to credit Rusty Gillete of Bismarck, N.D., who provided the cover artwork, and Everen Goknar at Capital Mastering/Capital Records.

The powwow organizers tape the proceedings each year, recording over 200 songs, but don't have time to go through all of them, Mathews said. Instead the tapes are turned over to Becky Taylor, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, who listens and ranks them based on her knowledge of the origin of the song and its appropriateness to represent a particular category.

Then the Mathews family members review her choices and make the final selection for the album.

Audio Excellence of Albuquerque recorded the event and Mathews said, "They did a phenomenal job."

The technicians recorded on five tracks, enabling them to alter sound levels to bring out the most distinctive aspects of each type of music, he explained.

"Like for a men's northern traditional song, we would change the level to hear the dancers' bells louder," Mathews said.

This marks the first Grammy for the Gathering of Nations label. The first Grammy winning CD was recorded and released through the Sound Of America Recording.

For the first win, Mathews had to make a special effort to get award certificates that cited all the contributing drum groups, and plans to do so again.

The highest-grossing Gathering album was from 2000, when the northern and southern style groups were presented on two separate discs.

"That recording we released, I know paid for the entire drum contest," Mathew said.

All proceeds from the CD sales go into the drum contest cash prizes, he said, and the Gathering organizers hope the Grammy win will help boost sales.

This year's Gathering of Nations is scheduled April 28 through 30 in the University of New Mexico's newly renovated Pit.

"2010 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirits Dance" can be purchased for $15.99 from www.gatheringofnations.com, at Cool Runnings in St. Michaels, Ariz., and online through iTunes.

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