Those old-time Creole fiddlers like Amede Ardoin are great
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 December 2012 05:48 (eleven years ago) link
he was an accordionist iirc.
― i guess i'd just rather listen to canned heat? (ian), Monday, 10 December 2012 16:56 (eleven years ago) link
Doh! Of course. I must have been thinking about Canray Fontenot, who performed often with Bois Sec Ardoin
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/02/obituaries/canray-fontenot-72-a-singer-and-violinist-in-creole-style.html
― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 December 2012 20:27 (eleven years ago) link
I need to check out that Oxford issue
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 16:28 (eleven years ago) link
I've been listening to the new Oxford CD at work a lot. Some familiar songs ("Bon Ton Roula," "Sugar Bee") but lots new to me: a great Johnny Adams oldie I hadn't heard before, and Margaret Lewis covering Johnny's "Reconsider Me." They always include one or two "arty" cuts (this time it's "Fifteen Saxophones" by Dickie Landry) that disrupt the flow.
Having friends over for jambalaya this weekend, and already planning what NOLA music will accompany!
― Sailor-neighbor of Chaucer's wife (Tubby) (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 10 January 2013 17:45 (eleven years ago) link
Step Rideau & the Zydeco OutlawsSTEP IS COMING TO TOWN! IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG@Tremont Suites Ballroom, 222 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD"Take Off" Texas Rollin' Empire Inaugural Zydeco GalaDoors Open 8pm - 12 midnight Music all night
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 18:49 (eleven years ago) link
Oh that's Friday and Saturday the 18th and 19th plus Dress: Semi Formal Western Wear "Glitz & Jeans"
I like Step's funky zydeco but am not likely gonna be able to head up to Charm City for the gig
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 18:51 (eleven years ago) link
Panel discussions Saturday April 20th at the EMP Pop Conference in New orleans at Tulane
Dancehalls of South Lousiana12:00pm–1:00pm
A brownbag talk with John Sharp FeaturingJohn Sharp
The Creolization of Cajun and Zydeco1:15pm–2:45pm FeaturingMichael TisserandBen SandmelD'Jalma Garnier
http://empmuseum.org/programs-plus-education/programs/pop-conference/2013/emp-pop-conference-2013-new-orleans.aspx
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 16:47 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/04/26/2552992/young-musicians-cling-to-cajun.html
"Cling"
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 27 April 2013 15:36 (eleven years ago) link
heard lots of interesting stuff re zydeco and Cajun at EMP.
Meanwhile over in Texas there's a great Mothers Day weekend zydeco and Southern soul gig:
94.5's zydeco meets the blues fest:
May 11 (Skyline Ranch @ 1801 E. Wheatland Rd., Dallas, TX, 75241) 1:15pm
Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws, Brian Jack and The Zydeco Gamblers, Lil' Nate & The Zydeco Big Timers Cupid, Mel Waiters, Floyd Taylor, Latimore, Denise LaSalle & The PG Man, and Don Diego & Eddie G
― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 April 2013 19:41 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.zydecoevents.com/texaszydecoevents.html
― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 April 2013 19:42 (eleven years ago) link
So if I was to get just one cajun/zydeco compilation, which should it be?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 29 April 2013 19:54 (eleven years ago) link
let me think about it. I hope you realize that Cajun and Zydeco are 2 different things-- Cajun is more country and slower tempoed and is created by white folks descended from the French (and relies more on the fiddle); while Zydeco has faster tempos and is created by Afro-Creoles who incorporate r'n'b influences (and uses the accordion more than the fiddle).
― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 April 2013 21:44 (eleven years ago) link
Yes, I realize I'm guilty of conflating two distinct styles. So recommend me one of each, then, fair play.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 00:17 (eleven years ago) link
You can't go wrong with any discs from Rhino's "Alligator Stomp" series. Start with Vol. 1.http://s.ecrater.com/stores/67628/508d8fc58e9b8_67628n.jpg
― Jazzbo, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 11:19 (eleven years ago) link
As a marketing technique and from folks who don't know the difference Cajun and zydeco are often used interchangeably.
I still need to think of an answer as I just have mostly individual releases from artists and not compilations
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 14:14 (eleven years ago) link
There's a nice reissue of Amade Ardoin that complicates the genre issue. He is a Creole who was making music long before zydeco became established. His sound is a bit like more what we think of as Cajun, but its different.
Arhoolie began releasing Cajun and zydeco long ago, need to see if they have any nice comps.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 14:19 (eleven years ago) link
Did not make it to Jazzfest this year, but this Gambit writer did:
The Fais Do-Do stage hosted a Lafayette double-header with stalwart young Cajun bands Feufollet and Pine Leaf Boys moving big crowds — despite a formidable mud pit. Showing off just how far Cajun music traditions can be pushed, Feufollet struck up an eerie uptempo take on Brian Eno's "Baby's On Fire," before cheekily asking the crowd, "Y'all ready for some Hall and Oates?"
Roots revival
The Pine Leaf Boys kicked the crowd into gear with a couple of mid-set covers, including a raucous "Great Balls of Fire" and a gorgeous, reverential Cajun tribute to George Jones with his "A Picture of Me (Without You)." The band continued its memorial with a tribute to Les Blank, the documentarian who helped revive interest in Cajun culture with a series of films in the 1970s. The band also caved to an audience request of an early track, "Pine Grove Blues."
Ramble on
"Who's beastin' it today?" shouted Lost Bayou Ramblers singer Louis Michot before the band launched into "The Bathtub," its cut from the Beasts of the Southern Wild soundtrack. The band ripped through songs from old and new albums, including the vinyl single "Bastille" that featured Gordon Gano and got a remix by GIVERS. The band finished its set by dedicating its French version of The Who's "My Generation" to a 30-year-veteran Jazz Fest stage member.
http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/thrills-and-chills/Content?oid=2197009
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 14 May 2013 15:37 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/nyregion/at-connollys-in-the-theater-district-les-bon-temps-rouler.html?ref=music&_r=0
Zydeco, Creole and Cajun dancing in NYC
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 May 2013 17:56 (eleven years ago) link
175 people at Connolly's in NYC at $20 some buck a person, means zydeco in NYC is not dead yet. Those same touring acts come to DC too. Alas, the Houston area ones I wanna see never come East.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 13:56 (eleven years ago) link
Michael Arnone's Crawfish Festival is next weekend in New Jersey. June 1 & 2
It offers Cajun and zydeco plus New Orleans acts and jambands
http://www.crawfishfest.com/schedule.htm
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 14:26 (eleven years ago) link
Lots of my east coast friends attend Crawfish Fest every year. I've never been, and don't know if that lineup is worth a cross-country trek for me.
I love Feufollet, and the idea of them covering Eno.
― New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:09 (eleven years ago) link
I know what you mean. The dancehall stage at that fest is geared to the hardcore dancers who don't mind dancing to the same group multiple times over several days. I love Rosie Ledet's zydeco, but she plays my way enough that I won't travel to see her.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:14 (eleven years ago) link
I've never seen Wayne Singleton, or Cajun acts Jesse Lege; and Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:16 (eleven years ago) link
Funny-ish story: drummer and I were waiting for our guitar player at practice Saturday and listening to Rajun' Cajun online radio from Larose, LA. (We play rockabilly/surf, not cajun/zyedco, we were just diggin' the music.) He shows up all agitated from getting stuck in traffic, and the chanky-chank is visually upsetting him as he searches for the volume control. "Gah, fuckin' circus music!"
― New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:23 (eleven years ago) link
I'm listening now, in fact. This is a great discovery:
http://www.klrzfm.com/
― New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:25 (eleven years ago) link
A brownbag talk with John SharpFeaturingJohn Sharp
I forgot to mention that in this history of Louisiana dancehalls presentation at the EMP conference in New Orleans in April, Sharp suggested that there are less rural dancehalls in Louisiana now of course; and more restaurants though that feature food and music. He also had photos of way old-school Cajun joints where guys would have to pay to get a ticket that would be stapled to their collar before they could ask a girl to dance and head onto the dancefloor. When not dancing they had to stay in a standing room narrow little bullpen. There were some photos of old Creole places as well.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:41 (eleven years ago) link
I missed their DC area appearance yesterday, but folks who went are raving about Rusty Metoyer and Zydeco Krush, a young Louisiana Creole zydeco band
http://www.rustymetoyer.com/
― curmudgeon, Monday, 15 July 2013 14:38 (eleven years ago) link
I also missed the recent appearance of the Lost Bayou Ramblers, a great raucus young Cajun band who I have seen and danced to in New Orleans and San Francisco. See my May 2013 posting above
― curmudgeon, Monday, 15 July 2013 14:40 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.paulasher.com/cajunuk/
website for Cajun and zydeco in the UK
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 July 2013 13:53 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzcOv3EOwPo
Whiskey River Jitterbug dancing adapted by zydeco dancers
― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 August 2013 13:46 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.cajunfrenchmusic.org/lecajun.html
Cajun (and Creole?) award nominations. Winners have not been posted yet
― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 August 2013 13:47 (eleven years ago) link
x-post--that video is of folks dancing to speedy Steve Riley Cajun, but I read elsewhere that such arm movements have been adapted by zydeco dancers as well
― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 August 2013 22:56 (eleven years ago) link
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzev7054/dancingbythebayoufalldancefestival/
Nice bill next weekend in the D.C. burbs with bands led by Rusty Metoyer, Step Rideau and Jesse Lege
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 September 2013 18:25 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2013/10/04/shutdown-wont-put-a-damper-on-step-rideaus-zydeco-party-this-weekend/
My interview with H-town's Step Rideau
― curmudgeon, Friday, 4 October 2013 18:59 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrjKbv0-UF8
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 27 October 2013 04:55 (ten years ago) link
WPFW radio keeps playing 2 years later this zydeco/southern soul song "Ride it like a Cowboy (like a rodeo/back that thing up)" by Kenne Wayne (spelling?) that has inspired a line dance
Great song
I had posted this on the chitlin circuit southern soul thread
― curmudgeon, Monday, 28 October 2013 15:13 (ten years ago) link
http://www.npr.org/2013/11/03/240744661/accordions-beer-and-god-zydeco-in-gran-texas?utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprfacebook&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook
― curmudgeon, Monday, 4 November 2013 15:31 (ten years ago) link
I heard a great zydeco meets southern soul meets autotuned vocal song on the radio Saturday... "Zydeco swag" maybe? Not sure of the title
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 January 2014 16:40 (ten years ago) link
http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/its-a-new-day-for-rachel/134360
Wanna help zydeco musician Curley Taylor's wife beat cancer
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 22:09 (ten years ago) link
And hope for the best re Cajun guitarist from the Basin Brothers band
Al Berard had a brain hemorrhage early this morning. Details are not known at this time.
Not happy Mardi Gras news alas
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 February 2014 15:32 (ten years ago) link
I think Al's health took a turn for the worst according to an Acadiana google group
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 February 2014 16:00 (ten years ago) link
RIP Al
http://www.theadvertiser.com/viewart/20140226/ACADIANA04/302260012/Musicians-friends-recall-Al-Berard
Only 53 years old
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 February 2014 19:35 (ten years ago) link
Some of the same zydeco acts that always come to my area, are returning around Mardi Gras; I wish there was a way to get the hip-hop inflected Houston zydeco acts that rarely tour to come up here (but unless I win the lottery and book 'em myself that likely won't happen). Need to go visit Houston
― curmudgeon, Friday, 28 February 2014 17:24 (ten years ago) link
Not familiar at all with zydeco. Any songs you'd recommend for the 'younger', 'hip' crowd? I want to see if I can throw some of these at my next party.
― Moka, Saturday, 1 March 2014 00:20 (ten years ago) link
Yes. There are zydeco cuts that add autotuned r'n'b vocals and synths to the traditional accordion, rubboard and rhythm section sound that should work.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 1 March 2014 16:02 (ten years ago) link
Leon Chavis These days, Leon and artists like Chris Ardoin, Travis Matte and others continue the tradition of innovation by incorporating elements of hip-hop and contemporary R&B, like Autotune, sampling and drum machines, while keeping the signature rubboard and accordion sounds. Keith Frank had a regional hit last year with a remix of his song “Haterz,” which featured Baton Rouge rapper Lil Boosie; Chavis and pretty much an entire generation of zydeco young bloods guest on R&B singer Cupid’s zydeco hit “Do It With Your Boots On.”
http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2012/11/new-school_zydeco_from_leon_ch.html
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 2 March 2014 20:18 (ten years ago) link
I found mention of more new sounding zydeco tracks on Big Daddy Nice's Southern Soul r'n'b blog. Will post 'em here later today, Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras....
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 4 March 2014 15:27 (ten years ago) link
x-post re death of youngish guitarist Al Berard
'http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/698055/emal/847040'
Here is the copy of the link to the campaign fund we have set up for anyone who wishes to contribute to Al's guitar project CD. This could be a great gesture in lieu or in addition to flowers for the service Saturday. We lost an amazing man, father, husband, musician, cultural ambassador and beautiful spirit in the passing of Al Berard. Days before he passed, he finished a lifelong dream of recording a guitar album of his original music. Please help fund the production and distribution costs to help his dream come to life. Many thanks.
Contributors will get a copy of his album -- a digital download, an actual CD, or both.
Even if you're unable to contribute, please share this campaign with others. And even more true to Al's amazing spirit, continue to share the LOVE.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 9 March 2014 18:17 (ten years ago) link
x-post -from Daddy B. Nice's soul blog-
Tyree Neal - "She Gone Make Me Fall In Love"
Avail Hollywood-Zydeco shuffle and "Club in da Woods"
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 9 March 2014 18:28 (ten years ago) link