Single International Album Francophone Album Album Artist Group Instrumental Album New Artist New Group Songwriter Country Recording Rap Recording Pop Recording Rock Recording Vocal Jazz Album Contemporary Jazz Album Traditional Jazz Album Children's Album Classical Album: Solo or Chamber Ensemble Classical Album: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment Classical Album: Vocal or Choral Performance Classical Composition Alternative Album Dance Recording R&B Soul Recording Reggae Recording Aboriginal Recording Roots & Traditional Album: Solo Roots & Traditional Album: Group Blues Album Contemporary Christian / Gospel Album World Music Album Jack Richardson Producer Recording Engineer Album Design Video Juno® Fan Choice Award Music DVD

Instrumental Album of the Year

In a career now stretching past two decades, Quebec-based pianist/composer Richard Abel has been a prolific and highly popular recording artist. A multiple JUNO nominee and Felix Awards winner, his versatile approach encompasses everything from boogie to classical styles, and he is known as a consummate performer. Richard has just released a retrospective collection, L'Essentiel de Richard Abel.

Russian-born, Toronto-based composer George Carlaw (aka Yuri Sazonoff) has been involved in a wide range of productions, from film scores to major label releases, over the past decade. He worked extensively in Moscow and Germany before setting up his own Orchestral Recording Company in Toronto. George contributes regularly to releases on the Reflection, Solitudes and Avalon labels.

The Covingtons comprise top Toronto musicians Sil Simone, Ray Parker, Scott Alexander and Kevan McKenzie. They are joined by famed fiddler Don Reed and other talented guests to celebrate the holidays in a traditional country-styled way.

The track record of Michel Cusson is a highly impressive one. The Montreal-based guitarist and composer has recorded 22 albums and scored 12 television series and 10 films, notching 14 Felix Awards and seven SOCAN Awards along the way. Formerly a member of jazz fusion favourites UZEB and leader of Wild Unit, Michel has found phenomenal success (sales of over 70,000 copies) with his soundtrack album for the film Seraphin-Un Homme Et Son Peche.

Renowned clarinetist Bob De Angelis heads up a skilled group of Toronto-based players in I Sorenti. They pay homage to the tuneful tradition of Italian love songs on this superb and romantically sentimental release.