Houston Press 1997 Music Awards Preview

Artist: Norma Zenteno Band
Nomination: Best Tejano/Latin; Best Jazz; Best Female Vocalist (Norma Zenteno); Best Pianist/Keyboardist (Gilbert Sedeno)

Sound of choice: Cuban jazz
Time logged: Forty-two years
Etc: She's a salsa queen; she's a classic rocker; she's a feisty aIt-rock diva; she's a jazzy torch singer. In fact, there's little Norma Zenteno isn't into these days -- and into with wildly entertaining vengeance. And the various members of her fine band are almost always up to the challenge.

The Norma Zenteno Band performs at 9 p.m. at Q Cafe.

Artist: The Zydeco Dots
Nomination: Best Cajun/Zydeco
Sound of choice: The name says it all
Time logged: Nine years

Etc.: Despite sundry personnel changes (including the departure of more than one frontman by the name of Pierre) and a decade of toiling on the Texas/Louisiana nightclub circuit to mixed returns, the Zydeco Dots continue to maintain their reputation as the most popular zydeco act in town simply by hanging in there. Year after year, the band is a favorite in the Best Cajun/Zydeco category, its nomination virtually assured. And once their washboards and accordions get rolling on-stage, the Dots leave little room for argument.

The Zydeco Dots perform at 8 p.m. at the Big Horn Saloon.