There was a common theme that kept popping up among winners Sunday at the Cammy Awards.

        Jazz pianist and six-time Cammy winner Steve Schmidt summed it up after winning for Best Small Jazz Group (Steve Schmidt Organ Trio): “I don't know how I feel about his award, but I do know I feel humbled by it. To be honored in a group of musicians like this, so many great musicians working such a great scene. It's just the most humbling thing.”

From left, Bootsy Collins, Adrian Belew, Cal Collins, Peter Frampton, Wilbert Longmire and Noah Hunt get together backstage at the Cammy Awards at Jillians's Sunday. (Craig Ruttle photos) | ZOOM |

        Even rock star Peter Frampton, there to present lifetime achievement awards (he did not play), echoed it: “This is such a wonderful musical community. It's a pleasure to be here.”

        “Here” was Sunday, the fifth annual Cincinnati Area Pop Music Awards honoring musicians in 31 categories for achievement in the past year. Awards were handed out at Jillian's in Covington between performances by the cream of the city's musical crop playing everything from jazz to big band, hip-hop, folk/bluegrass, rock and country.

        This was the first year for the Cammys at Jillian's. Previous ceremonies were at Electra in Over-the-Rhine. Cincinnati comedian and singer Blair Shannon was emcee.        

200 chairs to rescue

        And this is how you know it was a success: 20 minutes into the show, Jillian's employees were frantically setting up 200 extra chairs, squeezing them in anywhere they found an opening.

LIST OF WINNERS

List of winners Photo gallery

        The packed room, a little smoky and plenty warm, kept four bartenders going furiously as the crowd, packed elbow to Adam's apple, strained for better views and visited with old friends.

        Musicians especially: Because they all work nights at different venues, old friends hardly ever see each other. They use the Cammys for a reunion. It wasn't unusual to see knots of musicians milling about, sharing war stories and catching up.        

Frampton, Belew connection

        One musician who milled about, but mostly backstage, was guitarist Mr. Frampton, a newly transplanted Cincinnati resident. He chose this year's Cammys to be the first local event he participated in. He presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to guitarists Adrian Belew, Cal Collins and Wilbert Longmire.

        “Well, you know they don't let me out much,” he said backstage. “I came because I want to be involved in this musical community. The more I find out about this, the more I see it's a terrific event and a wonderful cause. Plus, I've known Adrian (Belew) for years and would do anything I could to support him.

        “Before I met Adrian, I was a huge fan of his. He sort of invented guitar technique. And we share one thing: We've both played with David Bowie.”

        Mr. Belew didn't forget his mentors or his hometown. On the way to thanking the musicians who gave him his start — Frank Zappa, David Bowie — he also had a word for Cincinnati: “I've always considered myself a Cincinnatian as thoroughly as Skyline Chili.”        

"An amazing feeling'

        For jazz guitarist Mr. Collins at least, the award meant validation: “This award, to me it means I didn't spend my time in vain around here.

        “You know, the first award I ever won was 20 years ago, and I was away in Europe and couldn't accept in person, so it was a thrill. But this, this is just beautiful. Honorific. It is such an amazing feeling.”

Blues guitarist Wilbert Longmire performs after receiving a lifetime achievement award Sunday. | ZOOM |

        For his wife, Suzy, it meant something else: “Lifetime achievement? Does this mean he's old?” Mr. Collins fired back: “I'm 68. I think that's plenty old.”        

Work as "hard as doctors'

        It was validation for Mr. Longmire as well. Introduced by Bootsy Collins, a shimmery vision in a metallic silver suit and top hat (“how do you like my outfit?” he asked), Mr. Longmire said, “It's been a long journey for me from the West End of Cincinnati. It's nice to get recognition because we (musicians) work it real hard. We work it as hard as doctors and everyone else works it.”

        He and his four-piece band then worked it hard pounding out 20 minutes of the kind of jazz that made him famous.

        All the music meant a lot to Kate Pahls, Cincinnati's Mole contestant. Dressed in her new leather pants and magenta jacket, she was there to present rock awards and loved “all the variety of the music. It just sounds good. But this is harder work than the Mole. You have to follow a script here, and I don't think anyone cares what I say anyway. They just want to see who wins.”        

Bob Braun remembered

BANY SCHOLARSHIP

The Cammys benefits the Michael W. Bany Scholarship Fund. Mr. Bany, a local musician, was murdered Dec. 29, 1995 during a robbery after a performance with the Goshorn Brothers Band in Over-the-Rhine. He was 41.

        There were bittersweet feelings mixed in with the triumph. Mary Ellen Tanner, accepting her fourth award for jazz vocalist, thanked her mentor. “I'd like to thank the late Bob Braun for giving me my greatest and longest running TV job. We miss him. I cried when I won. This award meant more to me this year than any other year.”

        Tracy Walker, accepting a Bluegrass/Folk Vocalist award, was also bittersweet: “I picked up one of these things two years ago and I gave it to my mother, who was battling cancer at the time. She has since passed on, and she insisted that I keep on playing. So I've done that. This is an honor to my mother.”

        Emotions were running high even among audience members. Tommy Kirchner, former owner of Tommy's on Main and now a captain at the Maisonette, thinks “it's such a good idea to give recognition to these guys who work so hard. There's such a wealth of good musicians here, it makes you feel good to see them get the recognition they deserve.”        

Ponys win a pair

        Ass Ponys got plenty of recognition: Best Alternative Band, CD of the Year (Some Stupid with a Flare Gun) and a Best Songwriter award for lead singer Chuck Cleaver. He circled back to the recognition theme that opened the evening:

        “It's just nice to get recognition from regular people. For so long we've been existing as a strange underground rock band. So it's great to get an award like this.”

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