Features Archive I

Directory:

1. Lisa Haley: review of The Music of Joe Simien
2. Story on Angelle's Wiskey River
3. Story on Danny Collet (former Basin Brother)
4. Young Cajun Aces - Young Musicians
5. Music From The Zydeco Kingdom
6. Al Berard & Karen England - Feet Off The Ground
7. Allons en Louisiane
   The Rounder Records Guide to Cajun Music, Zydeco and South Louisiana

From: Lisa Haley [mailto:lisa -at- zydecomusic.com] Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2000 10:45 AM To: lisa -at- zydecomusic.com Subject: Lisa Haley: review of "The Music of Joe Simien" Music Review Lisa Haley & the Zydekats (new band name is now "Z-Band) Title: "The Music of Joe Simien" (Lisa Haley writes: "This is a live album of the Century-old songs taught to me by my mentor, Joe Simien, from Lawtel, Louisiana. Recorded at a Cajun dance in South Pasadena, California, this CD includes the slight imperfections common to the "live" format... While not a commercial studio album, this is a very special live recording, which is its own animal in its own jungle. "The Music of Joe Simien" was a very emotional landmark for me, and Dan Willging's review captures its spirit beautifully. Thank you, Dan.") The Music of Joe Simien Lisa Haley and the Zydekats Blue Fiddle Records PO Box 4863 Carson, CA 90749 http://www.bluefiddle.com Blue Fiddle Records – LHZ3-4884 Like so many postwar Louisiana Creoles, Joe Simien migrated to California forbetter opportunities. The accordionist never abandoned his music and hence became known throughout the left coast?s Creole communities. He found a soulmate in fiddler Lisa Haley, teaching her not only his families' repertoire but alsothe finer points of showmanship. He meant so much to the Zydekats that just shortly after his passing, they dedicated this live recording as a memorial byplaying his songs. Haley?s lyrical fiddling has never sounded better, as if guided by something in the cosmos. She does a fine job in emulating Simien's high tenor voice, almost to the point where his spirit embraces her?s. Likewise,the rest of the 'Kats give an outstanding performance on a night it must been difficult to carry on. (DW)

Two-step back in time - Henderson man brings Sunday tradition back to life By JOSH CAFFERY Special to The Advocate HENDERSON -- As this tiny town dozed off in the brisk Sunday twilight several weeks ago, Angelle's Whiskey River Landing patrons rose to a beat more steady and urgent than an alarm clock's pulse. Outside, a light mist on Lake Henderson curled around old cypress stumpsand the pillars of the twinkling Atchafalaya Swamp bridge. "I'm trying to bring back what it was years ago," says owner Terry Angelle, a Marlboro Red pinched between his ring and middle fingers. "Like it used to be years ago. On Sunday afternoons. Dimanche aprés-midi. I think it's working. We're not overwhelmingly busy, but it's catching." Accordionist Damon Troy, in black jeans and T-shirt was full of energy, as helped his band through country-tinged waltzes and two-steps. The crowd was neither young nor old, black nor white, rich nor poor. If therewere tourists here, they were being discreet. Everyone, though, was smiling and bouncing with the rhythm, with the exception of the 10-point buckmounted above the bar. The atmosphere in Whiskey River Landing recalled a country fair, or a festival, more than a bar. Crab traps and an ancient pirogue dangle from theplywood ceiling over the dance floor and the blue-carpeted stage. Burgers and hot dogs sizzled on the barbecue pit near the entrance. The smell wafted through the front door, luring more than one dancer outside for a burger, a beer and a breather. "See this place? It ain't nothin' fancy," Angelle said. "But the people that come here love the hell out of it. When people come down here then they leave, they get tears in their eyes. They don't want to leave." Finding a good dance on Sunday afternoons wasn't always easy. In 1982, after hurting his knee working offshore in the Persian Gulf, Angelle bought the building -- previously a country and western club -- at a sheriff's auction. At first, Angelle didn't have dances, concentrating primarily on operating the boat landing and running swamp tours with his brother Dean and their cousin, Dwight. At the urging of friends, though, he hired Cajun musician Joe Douglas to play one Sunday each month, from March through November, and the tradition caught on. Nothing happened overnight, but he soon found himself building a wide pine porch over the water to accommodate the swarming dancers. Though it was initially an outdoor porch, he eventually enclosed it because of the heat and the relentless mosquitoes. At the time, Cajun music was still entertainment for the old and eccentric. Now, though, Angelle finds himself riding the crest of resurgent pride and interest in Cajun culture. "A few years ago, Cajun Music was just based for old people," he said. "You walk into a place, and it (the clientele) would average 70 to 85 years old. It'strue. But now you got that young generation that's coming, coming with the music. And the old folks come. I mean, I'm 53; I'm old, but I'm not an antique, and they got people older than me. But these young kids, we socialize and everything else." The popularity of the dances grew, but it wasn't until a few years ago, when the levee road from Henderson was paved, that Angelle could hold the dances on a weekly basis. Angelle credits his family and popular Cajun bands heworks with for his success. "See people like Christine Balfa and Balfa Toujours, and Steve Riley, who are friends of mine, and Geno Delafose, friend of mine," he said, "They play here. They get paid. But they love to play here 'cuz they have a party when they play here. They have a blast." Most of Angelle's employees are relatives. His aunt, Verna, collects the cover charge, and another aunt, Nancy, works the bar. During the long weekdays, which start at 5 a.m. during fishing season, his brother, cousin, uncle and his girlfriend, Martha Broussard, help out with the landing and the swamp tours. "It's not just a bar. It's more than a bar," explains Dana David, a doctoral candidate in folklore at University of Louisiana at Lafayette and an aficionado of Cajun dance. "There's more a feeling of family and community than you don't find at most places," David said. Angelle is involved in every facet of the operation. He lives in an apartment in the back of the building and can be seen every Sunday tending the bar in abright red shirt and chatting with the legion of friends and customers. "We're doing something right," he maintained. "You just got to stick with it."

Where Are They Now" Series --- former Basin Brother "Danny Collet" Growing up in the bayous of South Louisiana, he'd once dreamed of being in SHA NA NA and learned to play accordion listening to the Beatles. Late night (AM radio) booming out of Mexico influenced his admiration of Tejano music. You never know where a Cajun boy in love with his dad's record collection of early 50's music will lead . . . How about a grammy nomination? Its 1991, and as a member of the Basin Brothers, a Cajun folk band, whose CD, "Let's Get Cajun" (Flying Fish) is nominated for Best Traditional Folk Album, he travels to New York City to vie for the prestigious award. They didn't win, but he came away with an unforgettable experience. "An Marriage Casse" from the second Basin Brothers "Stayin' Cajun" CD(Flying Fish) was given some "Northern Exposure", when played on the prime time TV show. In 1993, he set out on a solo career and recorded Danny Collet's "Louisiana Swamp Cats"(Flying Fish). His distinctful vocals complemented a mixture of music he'd been raised on and his songwriting reflected that influence. Through the years he'd taught himself piano, guitar, bass and later on, even the clarinet and saxophone. Though well-versed in French/Cajun music, he began to play different styles and now delved into zydeco and swamp pop, which was really the 50's and 60's music he'd grown up with played by our own culture. A consumate session player, he constantly fills requests for recording dates with Johnnie Allan, Beau Bassin, Willie Tee, the Bayou Boys and others. Danny continues to perform with his own band throughout the South and is currently recording a project featuring mostly original French compositions, with accents on cajun. With his voice now at it's best, this new endeavour also showcases his blistering accordion and guitar solo work. A former grammy nominee, whose music has been heard by millions, continues to bring the "joie de vivre" (spice of life) to the world over. Not bad for a Cajun boy from down on the bayou... note: the Flying Fish catalog has been sold and is now available thru Rounder Records Just wanted to let everyone know what we're up to down here in cajun country... We are now recording some wonderful French songs which Danny has recently written and the touring bug is nibbling as we speak. He says he misses playing for all of the nice folks along the east coast and as soon as we can get this new CD released, I'm sure he'll want to come up and play it for everyone. Keep up the great work reporting on and exposing our great culture to the world... Please email if I can ever be of assistance. Rick Lagneaux totallyswamped management 337.232.2342

"Young Aces" Cajun music jam session on the first Sunday of each month, with the exception of January and July. These youngsters range from the ages of 2 till about 19. We begin at 1pm till about 3:30. I encourage all youngsters who play Cajun music, very important, the beginners, to come join us.This is our heritage and our culture. The jam takes place on the banks of the Bayou Teche at the Bayou Boudin Cafe, 100 Mills Avenue, in Breaux Bridge, La, and it is free to the public. While there folks can browse all of our pictures and bioinformation on our "Wall of Fame" Young Aces on the back porch. You can check out my web for more info. For more information, call 337-332-5294. http://www.helenboudreaux.com And if you advertise our jams, I will add your site to mine. These kidsare so important, so is our culture. We will celebrate our 5th year jamanniversary next February. Merci Cher, Helen Boudreaux

Music From The Zydeco Kingdom An outstanding release, this is the companion to Michael Tisserand?s excellent book of last year -- "The Kingdom Of Zydeco". This 19 cut/68 minute CD is a great value, considering the amount of music you get and the extensive liner notes. It samples the music of 18 artists showing the evolution of Zydeco music from the mid-70s to the mid-90s, with one exception. It starts with a 1929 pioneer cut, from back when all Cajun and Creole music was simply called "French music". This is the classic "Eunice Two-Step" by a black Cajun -- Amédé Ardoin, the "Godfather" of French music, and his Irish Cajun fiddle partner -- Dennis McGee. Favorites include Zydeco Force's version of John Delafose's "Broken Hearted" and John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys doing "You Made Me Cry?, with John on fiddle and a young Geno on accordion. One of the two outstanding instrumentals is "Zydeco à Carrière", recorded in Bébé Carrière?s kitchen and demonstrates that the fiddle was once an important part of Creole music. The other is "Ardoin Two-Step", by Chris Ardoin and Double Clutchin?. It starts as a trad-duo and ends with the whole band revved up in modern style. Another outstanding classic, by Canray Fontenot and Bois Sec Ardoin, is "Hack a 'tit Moreau (Bonsoir Moreau)" -- the definitive tune for dancing the old Creole waltz, called the "Baisse Bas" (meaning -- way down low). Review from Rounder Records

For good Cajun music that tells a story, I can highly recommend - "Al Berard & Karen England - Feet Off The Ground". This may be what you want because: 1) great traditional music 2) Liner note give the story behind song 3) fiddle music is heart of Cajun music 4) liner notes point out other great traditional Cajun music Here's more infomation: "Al Berard & Karen England - Feet Off The Ground" is now available on Swallow Records. The recording is just two fiddles and vocals by Al and Karen as heard in their live performances Summer and Fall 1999. The CD features 14 cuts - "old and new Cajun tunes". The song list (11 old songs and 3 new ones) includes: Voyage au Mariage, Brune de la Campagne, Evangeline Two Step, Mon Chere Bebe Creole, Two Step de la Ville Platte, Dennis' Song, TK'S Tune, La Valse De Mauvaise Penchant Hey Mom, Canray's Contra Dance, Rollo's Waltz, La Valse Penitentiaire, Tee Lee Lee, Happy One Step, Pop's Waltz Copies may be purchased by mail from Karen England. Please include check or money order for $15.00 plus 2.00 shipping per order. Please make checks payable to: Karen England PO Box 85445 Seattle, WA 98145-1445 kengland -at- seanet.com

ALLONS EN LOUISIANE The Rounder Records Guide to Cajun Music, Zydeco and South Louisiana Rounder Records ROUN6093 Thanks to Back Beat Cajun & Zydeco Mailorder (great mailorder source in UK and Europe) for this writeup This CD-ROM contains interviews with artists (over 35 spoken clips), Cajun & Zydeco dance instruction, cooking instruction, photographs (200 new images), text (musicians, Mardi Gras and more), and a Louisiana travel guide (reviews of clubs, restaurants etc). The audio CD is "the definitive South Louisiana collection" and features Geno Delafose with Christine Balfa and Dirk Powell, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Chris Ardoin & Double Clutchin', Beausoleil, Balfa Toujours, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Eddie LeJeune , Beau Jocque & the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, Boozoo Chavis & the Magic Sounds, Al Berard & the Basin Brothers, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, Bois Sec Ardoin with Balfa Toujours, D.L. Menard, Bruce Daigrepont, and Li'l Brian & the Zydeco Travelers. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for WINDOWS: SOFTWARE: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0 ; Apple QuickTime 3.0 for Windows (there is an installer included). HARDWARE: Pentium 1 processor or faster (a faster processor is desirable); monitor & display adapter capable of displaying 256 colours or greys; 16MB of free RAM; sound card; 6x CD-ROM drive.