Louisiana Spice: 25 Years Of Louisiana Music On Rounder Records
Artist: various
Label: Rounder Records
Released: 1995
Number of Tracks: 32
Duration: long
Website: https://www.rounder.com
Review by Charles "Dutch" Metzker
From its humble beginnings in 1970 as a free concert for a few hundred locals, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has grown into one of the world’s largest music gatherings, each spring drawing hundreds of thousands from all over the world. Jazzfest, as it’s known locally, has both stimulated and reflected out-of-state interest in Louisiana music. It was once a rarity for Cajun, zydeco and second-line R&B acts to ever leave the state; now dozens of them make the circuit of baby-boomer, roots-music dance clubs. Rounder Records, which made a major commitment to Louisiana music in the mid-’80s, has reaped the benefit of the scene’s growing popularity. Here the Boston indie label celebrates its own prescience with a two-CD anthology. This collection covers a lot of ground, from the old-fashioned brothel piano of Tuts Washington to the funky brass arrangements of the Rebirth Brass Band, from the ancient Cajun song styles of David Doucet, to the hip-hop-influenced zydeco of L’il Brian and the Zydeco Travelers.
For those new to the genre, this compilation is the right place to start. It introduces the listener to a good cross section of both artists and styles, and presents a showcase of the rich diversity found in Louisiana music. There is probably something for just about everyone here.
Country disc
As promised last month, here is the Country Disc from the Louisiana Spice set.
Track 1 – The Balfa Brothers – J’ai Vu Le Loup, Le Renard et la Belette – The title translates to “I saw the wolf, the fox and the weasel.” This group was the premiere Cajun group long before Cajun the culture enjoyed its current vogue. Check out the twin violins on this track! 3:20
Track 2 – John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys – Pere et Garçon Zydeco. From Eunice, Louisiana, they were among the leading keepers of the zydeco flame. 4:57
Track 3 – Eddie Lejeune – The Mistake I Made – Son of the legendary Cajun accordionist Iry Lejeune. He’s accompanied by D.L. Menard and fiddler Ken Smith. 3:18
Track 4 – Jimmie C Newton – Chere Toute-Toute – This Grand Ole Opry member was one of the original Cajun/country crossover stars, and had thirty-three Top 100 country chart singles. On this track he’s accompanied by fiddler Rufus Thibodeaux and accordionist Bessyl Duhon. 2:25
Track 5 – Boozoo Chavis – Lula Lula Don’t You Go to Bingo – Heavily syncopated Afro-Caribbean strain of zydeco. Chavis has been recording since 1954! 3:42
Track 6 – Le Trio Cadien – Bayou Pon Pon – with D.L. Menard, Eddie Lejeune and Ken Smith – Internationally acclaimed front-porch Saturday night style song. 3:30
Track 7 – Beausoliel – Les Flammes D’enfer – traditional arrangements and lyrics – the hottest Cajun group in the land with a combo of Tex-Mex-Cajun-Polka styles. 4:33
Track 8 – Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys – La Danse de Mardi Gras – a premier young band playing a traditional repertoire of old songs. 3:45
Track 9 – D.L. Menard – Wildwood Flower – This track bridges country and Cajun that’s pure and unvarnished. 2:35
Track 10 – Jo-El Somnier – La Valse de Chere Bebe – Staying committed to his Cajun roots and paying tribute to the early inspiration of the music style. 4:26
Track 11 – Geno Delafose – C’est Pas La Peine Braeller – Playing traditional French songs finds a new twist on modern R&B-based sounds with Shelton Broussard, Joe Cabral, and Derek Huston. 3:26
Track 12 – Laissez faire (Let It Be), Bruce Diagrepont – One of the most exciting young musicians today through his fais-do-do dances at the Tipitina Club. 2:29
Track 13 – T’en as eu, David Doucet – His work with Beausoliel has established the guitar as a Cajun instrumental voice, Josh Graves on Dobro and John Stewart on upright bass. 3:07
Track 14 – Filé Gumbo, Zachary Richard – This Cajun rocker is immensely popular in Canada (gold albums) and France-great accordionist. 3:30
Track 15 – Outside People, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas – one of the tightest bands around with R & B-based zydeco pioneered by Clifton Chenier. 3:46
Track 16 – Give Him Cornbread, Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers – playing ferocious,high-spirited dance music-singing in both Cajun French and English. 4:57
Track 17 – Think It Over One More Time, Buckwheat Zydeco- Stanley Dural has achieved the most success with airtight grooves, high energy and virtuoso accordion style gives a nice, tough blues vibe
Recorded at Blue Jay Recording Studios. 3:33
Track 18 – Snap Bean, L’il Brian and the Zydeco Travelers – Out of Houston, Brian Terry is an accomplished accordion player and singer, adding elements of hip hop and rhythm and blues, cooking up a modern sound. 2:37
I rate this 8 out of 10. Thanks again to Tom Baker.
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