Herbie Hancock wins album of the year

Last night's Grammy awards in Los Angeles was full of unlikely pairings: Alicia Keys dueting with a virtual Frank Sinatra via video, lounge singer Keely Smith and Kid Rock together crooning Ol' Black Magic, and 80-year-old Andy Williams of Moon River fame awarding Amy Winehouse a Grammy for Rehab. Indeed, Winehouse enjoyed a great night at the Grammys, winning five awards - including the record and song of the year for Rehab. But in a surprise finish, the album of the year went to jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock (pictured) for River: The Joni Letters. Hancock beat the favoured Kanye West, as well as Winehouse, the Foo Fighters and country singer Vince Gill to take the night's biggest award.

Hancock's win for his all-star tribute to Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell makes him the first jazz artist in 43 years to win album of the year. The last was Stan Getz, who won in 1964 for Getz/Gilberto.

Hancock, 67, said in his acceptance speech that the Recording Academy, which awards the Grammys, was "courageous for breaking the mold this time. And in doing so, I'm honoured by the giants on whose shoulders I stand." Hancock paid tribute to a number of his predecessors, most notably his mentor Miles Davis. Variety reports that River: The Joni Letters may go down in history as the lowest-selling album ever to win the big Grammy, having sold just 52,000 copies since its release on September 25.

Winehouse, who had just performed a defiant medley of You Know I'm No Good and Rehab live via satellite from a London recording studio dressed up to look like a nightclub, seemed unaware the cameras were on her as she and her band whooped it up after winning record of the year, presented by Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole. But she recovered, giving a rousing thank-you speech.

The troubled soul singer stepped out of rehab to perform and accepted her award surrounded by her family in London as she was unable to secure a work visa to travel to the United States until late Friday. By that stage, it was too late to make it to Los Angeles in time for the ceremony.

Meanwhile, West - nominated for eight awards - walked away with best rap album for his Graduation, giving him four for the evening. He gave an emotional, powerful performance of Stronger and Hey Mama, which he wrote for his mother Donda West, who died in November of a heart attack after cosmetic surgery.

The Grammy for best female R&B performance went to Alicia Keys. Vince Gill's These Days won best country album, an award presented to him by Ringo Starr, who also accepted his own award for best compilation soundtrack album for Love, the Beatles, with producers George Martin and Giles Martin.