SFBAYou.com
Providing Cajun & Zydeco information on the Web since 1995
©Andrea D. Rubinstein, 1995-2007
Visit my new Amazon Store for Cajun, Creole & Zydeco music, book & video recommendations (and help support this website).
Bay Area Calendar
(maintained by Ellen Papper)
This website is created and maintained by Andrea Rubinstein.
I've been taking Juice Plus+ since 1996.
|
SFBAYou WebSite Design Services and Consulting for Cajun & Zydeco websites |
Beausoleil
-
Heart and Soul
Learn about their just released CD by clicking here.
To many music lovers, BeauSoleil epitomizes Cajun music. This is the band's 25th year playing together and as Billboard magazine once wrote, you don't need a "PhD in fais do-do" to figure out how special they are.
The band may be the tightest ensemble playing in the genre today; however, if you go to a BeauSoleil concert, expecting a totally traditional set, you will be disappointed. Michael Doucet and the band may be Cajun music's ambassadors to the world, but they have not kept their ears closed to the broader world of music. As their numerous recordings, extensive repertoire, and performance Thursday night, February 1, 2001, at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, demonstrates, BeauSoleil has taken their musical heritage and intentionally enriched it with sounds and textures from far and wide. The songs ranged from waltzes and two-steps to some swamp pop and double fiddle duets. In some numbers you could even hear the strains of Eastern European, Italian and French melodies.
"We loved old-style French music and vowed to pursue and preserve this music," Michael Doucet says. "Not in a stiff, academic manner, but in the way that we had learned it, straight from the heart and played like one's life depended on it.
"I can't look at this [Cajun music] like I'm a farmer and I was born in 1890, because I'm not. I was born in 1951, and we were the last generation of people who could look before them and see the culture before it got totally enraptured by television, by the oil boom.
"The culture is always shedding its skin. I look at it like a serpent, the culture is continuing to evolve. For me, I try to encompass it all, what came way before I was born, and what is current." (from an interview with Michael Tisserand, author of The Kingdom of Zydeco ).The other thing I was struck by, on Thursday night, was the band's astounding virtuosity. After years of playing together, the band seems to almost collectively breath its melodic lines. Michael Doucet will set up a theme on his fiddle, pass it on to Jimmy Breaux on accordion, and then see it move on to David Doucet's guitar. It looks effortless but it is stunning in its beauty and magic. BeausSoleil holds a place in my heart as the first Cajun band I ever listened and responded too, more than 11 year ago, and way before I started dancing. As many times as I've seen them before, I am always freshly surprised on just how GOOD they sound during a live performance. They can fill a room with texture and rhythms, like no other.
Credit this sound to front man Michael Doucet's singing, with his yodels and yelps, and the intense look in his face when he zones out playing licks on his fiddle, Jimmy grinning next to him making complex accordion riffs sound easy, David picking out both rhythm and lead guitar licks and lending vocal assistance, Al Tharp plucking away on his funny- looking bass, Billy Ware playing rubboard, & congas, and Tommy Alesi never letting up on the drumming. The music makes you feel good, not just in a happy way, but in a more joyous, soulful way, celebrating life and how damn good it feels to be alive and kickin!
Louisiana Sue & Dana DeSimone's THANK YOU Dance
A record crowd turned out at Louisiana Sue & Dana DeSimone's Thank You Dance on Sunday January 14th at Eagle's Hall.
Music was provided by the Zydeco Flames and Kenny Menard. Bob MacKensie from TV station, KTVU/Fox 2 Oakland, was there with a film crew shooting footage to be shown, which was later shown on Sunday's 10pm evening news on January 21, 2001. There were so many folks at this free event that the coat rack collapsed from the weight of coats!
The evening started with the Zydeco Flames & a hyped up crowd putting on their fanciest dance moves for the cameras. Mardi Gras came early as Sue and Dana threw beads to the crowd. After the Flames' set, which lasted about an hour, Kent Menard came on with a band that included June Barfield on bass guitar. I have to say that whenever June plays bass, the music is kicked up a notch. With a great backup band, Kent was on fire this evening, probably the best I've seen him in years. Vocally, he just attacked the songs with his growling voice & his accordion playing which rocked and soared. It was an amazing set.
The Year 2000 In Review
(12/25/00). I thought, after reading this weekend's newspaper, that it would be fun to compile my personal highlights, Cajun Zydeco wise, from the Year 2000. It was a great year and looking back I can't believe how much fun I've had both at home in the SF Bay Area, and on the road.
This list is dedicated to the memory of Ed Luckenbach, who passed away in January 2000 and was a light of the Bay Area C-Z scene, playing zydeco in the band, Tete Rouge, and Cajun in Frog Legs. He was dear friend to many of us & his good natured presence and gifted musicianship is still sorely missed.
Bay Area Top Moments
1. Lil Pookie Sunday night at Eagle's Hall singing a medley of two Prince songs remixed zydeco style: " When Doves Cry" & "Diamonds and Pearls". It was rockin', soulful, wrenchin', groovin' and the energy level in the room was over-the-top. The crowd kept screaming and Pookie wound up playing the medley three times! Weeks later dancers were still talking this amazing night.
2. Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Cha's singing "Your Mama Don't Know" at Biscuit & Blues in San Francisco. The club looked like something out "Hullabaloo" and the dance floor was so crowded no one else could fit on it so the dancers spilled into the aisles, and onto the raised table areas. There were multiple line dances taking place on the wings of the club, the dance floor was packed, the band was cookin', the non-dancing audience was standing and clapping, folks were singing along... I thought the roof was going to blow off the place. It was an unforgettable moment.
3. Balfa Toujours & Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie's encore at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Toward the end of Geno's set, the entire Balfa Toujours band came on stage. During the four song finale, with the nine musicians clearly having a grand ol' time, they created the most rockin' versions of Cajun classics you've ever heard, sitting well within the traditions, yet transforming the songs so that no one would mistake these renditions for their daddy's music. John's son playing with Dewey's daughter and creating transformational music... French rockin' gospel!
4. Beausoleil at Great American Music Hall. The interplay of the three front men, Michael Doucet on fiddle, Jimmy Breaux on accordion, and David Doucet on guitar, had an ebb and flow that was just astonishing in its beauty. Michael set up a phase on his fiddle, Jimmy picked it up and embellished it and David elaborated on the last variation, and passing it back to Michael. This band is a national treasure and a musical tour de force.
Outside the Bay Area
1. J. Paul Jr. at Jazz Fest in New Orleans. This larger, more commercial, venue contained some of J Paul's between-song performance excesses & he put on on incredible set with his powerful gospel tinged vocals & strong original song-writing.
2. The Traiteurs at Jazz Fest and Festival Acadiens. Led by Sonny Landreth on slide guitar, it is fascinating to hear the lead instrument on Cajun riffs being played by a slide guitar rather than a fiddle or accordion and yet sound soul-heartedly CAJUN. This band takes Cajun music to a higher level.
3. Chris Ardoin at Soileau & El Sido's during Mardi Gras. With his distinctive double-clutchin' beat and great singing, Chris Ardoin is a consistant high-energy performer and his shows during Mardi Gras, the first time I'd seen the band since his brother Sean left, were incredible.
4. Keith Frank at Grant Street Ball Room during Mardi Gras. Keith put on an amazing show. When Keith is good, he is hard to top. The evening featured a tight band, minimal stage posturing, great vocals & accordion playing plus a driving beat that wouldn't let up. Keith was at his best & I had some incredible dance partners that night. One of my personal peak dance experiences.
6. Rosie Ledet at Simi Valley. Rosie has come a long way since her Bay Area debut last 5 years. She has a much stronger stage presence, a more consistent band, a unique musical voice and writes strong original material. All of this was on view at her Simi Valley show.
7.T-Mamou at the Fort Lauderdale Cajun-Zydeco Festival. Featuring Al Berard from the Basin Brothers on fiddle, and Bob Reed from the Mamou Prairie Band on accordion, plus Keith Blanchard (Basin Brothers), Sam Broussard and Tommy Bodin, this band normally plays the Louisiana Cajun dance hall circuit of Mulate's and Randol's. They play a lively, always danceable Cajun mix that stays planted in the tradition of the Balfa Brothers. Watching them on stage in Fort Lauderdale, it was evident how much they love playing this music and playing with each.
Recordings
These are CDs that I am still playing consistently months after their release.
1. J Paul Jr. & the Zydeco NuBreedz - Phenomenon J. Paul can put down a beat, & sing with gospel-tinged urgency. This CD intersperses interesting original zydeco tunes with standards like "No Sad Song" and "Farmers Waltz" , all performed compellingly. "Where My Soldiers At", a song that pays tribute to the zydeco masters that came before him & goes on about his generation's role in keeping the tradition alive, is riveting.
2. Rosie Ledet - It's A Groove Thing. Rosie can sing and compose and on this CD she is backed up by some great sax playing that complements both. The title tune is a great zydeco song, plus I particularly like some of the more bluesy numbers included on this CD.
3. Lil Pookie - People Are U Ready? Lil Pookie's CD really grew on me. Pookie mixes in rap & hip hop with zydeco & the title tune & Have No Fear rank among my favorite zydeco songs of 2000.
4. Chris Ardoin & Double Clutchin' - Best Kept Secret Chris plays a mean accordion & band's trademark smooth vocals and harmonies are evident here as well. Check out his remade version of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", plus "Holdin' On," and " "Best Kept Secret."
5. Jason Frey & Travis Matte with Lagniappe, A La Vieille Maniere I like my Cajun music not souped up with Country-Western influences. And I loved this recent recording by Jason Frey (accordion) and Travis Matte (fiddle). The CD itself is a mix of killer versions of traditional songs, including "Les Flammes d'enfer', "Two Step de Eunice", "Two Step de Perrodin" and "Les Blues de Port Arthur" and original compositions that fit right in & the musicianship is first rate.
Miscellaneous
Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers at the Powerhouse in Sebastopol, CA, June 2000. An intimate room & one of the best performances by Kermit I have yet seen, focusing on his distinctive vocal style.
John Mooney at Storyville in New Orleans during Jazz Fest week, May 2000. With his slide guitar, growling vocals & arresting demeaner, John Mooney looks and sounds like no one else. The two sets, starting at midnight, featured songs from his recent CD, Gone to Hell, but it seemed a lot more like musical heaven to me!
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at the Oakland Area, Early 2000. The Boss presides over his congregation, preaching the power of rock & roll as a life-affirming force.
