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The Rough Guide to Zydeco - Review by
Phil Underwood
Rough Guide to
Zydeco RGNET 1145 CD
World
Music Network www.worldmusic.net
The Brits are not the obvious folk you would think of to be offering
the world black French music from Southern Louisiana but this new
release in the Rough Guide series from The World Music Network in
London, England, could become the definitive compilation. Even the
company's address - Abbeville Mews - adds to the credibility. Rough
Guide have got competition in the likes of the Putumayo World Music
series, but in my opinion they have made a strong challenge to the
Zydeco section with this sampler CD, crammed with 19 examples of some
of the best Zydeco around, spanning the twenties to the present day.
You get 72 minutes of everything from Amede Ardoin to Chris Ardoin, and
more. For me Putumayo have the decorative edge, with their
colourful and cheerfully naive artwork, but Rough Guide win hands down
on content.
The 12 sided sleeve notes are the place to start with
Philip Gould's
fine shot of Nathan Williams on the front, and the promise "Creole
accordions dance". Inside are the notes by
Herman Fuselier,
a Louisiana broadcaster and historian. For openers he states flatly
"..Zydeco is not Cajun music". That strikes me as being rather
simplistic, as my impression is that there has been considerable
crossover. Like most musical genres, Zydeco has many flavours,
many stylistic and rhythmic aspects that set the two apart but, as
usual in music there are many similarities, born from different peoples
from very different cultural roots bringing their music together. For
example Keith Frank's style is a distinct Zydeco style but on the track
on the album from Amede Ardoin and Dennis McGee it is hard to say where
the Cajun ended and the Zydeco began. So for me there's a debate that
probably won't be resolved one way or another. Anyway the sleeve notes
contain short biogs of the performers with some pix from their various
albums, and an interesting artwork of what looks like a hog - not sure
why they included that without also including Clifton Chenier's "I'm A
Hog For You Baby", but it adds atmosphere to the liner.
Hitting the play button kicks off Track 1 in fine style with
Beau Jocque's "Boogie Chillun",
showcasing Zydeco's blues/boogie influences. I would have preferred a
track that featured the Big Man’s growling vocals more but it’s a great
number. I met Beau Jocque when he came to England in 1994, and I and my
fellow Brits in the Queen Elizabeth Hall were blown away by the power of
his band and the freshness of his music, which remains one of the
memorable moments of my musical life.
Next on Track 2 is Zydeco Joe
with the eponymous “Jack Rabbit".
It's autobiographical, too, giving an insight into Louisiana life of
raising chickens and stuff. The double entendres come pretty fast too -
'I'm jumpin' to the right, jumpin' to the left, when I jump to the middle
they holler Ooh Jack Rabbit!'.
Buckwheat Zydeco
follows on Track 3 confirming that it's
"Hard to Stop",
catchy vocals and a sassy rhythm that's very danceable. The album's
promise of accordion heaven has already been fulfilled by just these three
numbers, which feature in succession the three row button, one row and
piano accordions. I thought they were, at six, five and four minutes,
rather long tracks to start the album with. More variety during the first
15 minutes might have more drawing power, but I doubt there will be any
complaints.
On Track 4 Zydeco Force
demos some of that Zydeco/Cajun crossover with a French and English
version of "Madeleine"
featuring some very listenable vocals and tasty accordion playing on what
sounds like the three row. I was disappointed at this fine number being
faded out rapidly after just over two minutes, the shortest number on the
album, but maybe that was the original length.
I played recently in the US with
Clifton Chenier's
drummer who told me that Clifton’s vocals were what made him the king. He
demonstrates them well on the bluesy Track 5
"Calinda",
but this track isn't the best one to hear what he could do on the
accordion. Look I'm an accordion player, we are picky, OK?
Whatever the damage, it's repaired by the inclusion of
John Delafose's "Joe Pete Got Two
Women" on Track 6 - John's
spirited singing and interaction with his accordion inspired me several
years ago to make it the first Zydeco number I played on the accordion
with my trio La La Zydeco. Then along comes..
Track 7 with Rockin' Sidney's
hit "My Toot Toot".
It's a catchy number with another of those expressions that sounds like
there's more to it than meets the ear. On the film "J'etais au Bal" Sidney
explains innocently that 'Toot toot' means 'my all, my everything’ and
applies to babies. Yeah right, and what else?
Track 8, "Johnnie Billy Goat",
by Boozoo Chavis,
is another one. It's claimed in the sleeve notes as being "about a
farmyard animal he once owned". Look, I'm a folk singer, I know what this
stuff really means. Boozoo was an earthy raw performer whose albums often
feature adult content warnings, but don't worry, you can play this one to
your aunts.
I hadn't heard the obviously well dressed
Zydeco Blazers
before who follow on Track 9 but I was pleasantly surprised with a catchy
classic accordion riff and cheerful sentiments on the lines of
"Don't Bother Me - I Won't Bother Ya".
Sorry guys, I will bother to get one of your albums when I get to
Louisiana next.
Amongst all this relatively modern
stuff comes Track 10 Amede
Ardoin (with Dennis McGee on
fiddle) with the "Blues de
Crowley", powerful haunting
stuff from the roots of Zydeco. The reviewer from the Times apparently
called it "ad-libbed wheezings", but he doesn't know his bellows from his
bum. Sure Amede ad-libbed all the time and it got him into trouble when he
pointed out the goings on and shortcomings of members of his audience, but
he didn't 'wheeze' any more than Menuhin scraped. Look, I once made breakfast in the same kitchen
that Amede played in, so I'm qualified to talk, right?
The old timers continue on Track 11
with another great duo, Canray
Fontenot and Bois Sec singing
“Allons Danser”.
I had the pleasure to play some fiddle with Canray when he came to
England, and some accordion with Bois Sec in his home near Mamou. Those
fine gentlemen both generously shared their music with me and it's a
personal pleasure to hear this track. Its earthy and unrehearsed
directness is in contrast to most of the studio produced tracks on this
album. It sounds like a bunch of friends getting together on the porch to
drink beer, boil crawfish and play music, while drinking more beer. It's
the closest that Rough Guide get to filling the really big hole in this
CD, that is the omission of La-La music. Wossat? Well it's what preceded
Zydeco. It's often just accordion, drums and rubboard and is raw and
punchy. Roy Carrier played some at the Saulieu Festival last year and it
got the biggest applause all night.
Track 12 is Keith Frank's "Get
On Boy", powerful accordion
playing and rhythm, but I would have preferred something that showcased
Keith's vocals more, especially on this longish track.
Rosie Ledet's
lovely "Days Gone By"
is a great choice for Track 13. She is, as the sleeve notes state, known
mainly for her raunchy and sexually suggestive lyrics, but I saw her play
in Crowley once and she did not look comfortable when people called out
for those songs. I suspect that she has to do these because it's expected
of her and sells records. But this song is mature and tender enough to
move one of my singer friends to tears.
Track 14 is Nathan and the
Zydeco Cha Cha's with “Hard To Love Someone“.
Nathan does a great job with this Clifton Chenier classic, however I would
have preferred to hear one of Nathan's own numbers.
I don't have any of J Paul
Junior's music so I enjoyed
Track 15 "Here To Stay",
with smooth vocal harmonies and tight funky instrumentation that the
younger bands are going in for.
The first waltz on the album - on Track 16 - is
“Blackberry”
from Donna Angelle and the
Zydeco Posse. Despite the title
t's not about the latest in geek toys but is another number where you can
hear Cajun or Zydeco or Creole, depending where you are coming from I
guess.
Next along -Track 17 - Geno
Delafose offers his father's
composition "Gotta Find My
Woman" from his album
"Everybody's Dancin'. Although again I would have preferred hearing one of
his own numbers, Geno is one of my favourite artistes, who stayed true to
his music when it was unfashionable and his band is one of the most
danceable and listenable around.
Chris Ardoin
sings "All About You",
on Track 18 and it's a good choice, with the tight rhythm, fine vocals and
skilful accordion work on the three row that make Chris and his previous
band Double Clutchin’ for me one of the outstanding performers on the
Zydeco scene.
The album finishes with a waltz
"Dreamin" from
Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble.
It's a soulful choice to end with and congratulations to Rough Guide for
producing a mainly well thought out trip through Zydeco Music, which is
both listenable and danceable so I expect to hear David playing some of
the tracks at the Swamp Rock. If you start at track one with no
understanding of Zydeco you should finish track nineteen capable of being
noticed at El Sid-O's.
Phil Underwood is the leader and accordion player of British Zydeco band
The Zyderythmics. He has been playing Cajun music since 1991 and La-La and
Zydeco music since 2001. He has appeared on stage in Louisiana several
times and has played with and learned from many Cajun and Creole musicians
from Louisiana
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Zyderythmics. Phil Underwood led the
band with gusto with his customary dynamic vocals and accordion playing,
joined by Sue Warren, ex – Zydeco Active, who gave an electrifying
performance on rubboard and vocals. The band had the capacity dance floor
boogieing all night with two high-energy sets, with superb backing from
lead guitarist (Steve Hennings) and the new drummer (John Baynton),
and bass player (Chris Mitchell). 
