CD Review
Various Artists
Cajun Music: The Essential Collection
(Rounder)
by Mark E. Gallo
Review date: March 2003
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Part of the Rounder Heritage series, this 19-song collection celebrates the label's long-time involvement with this fiddle and accordion driven music of South Louisiana. Though the majority of the music here is from the past decade, Beausoleil, one of the most recognizable names in the genre, is represented with a foot stompin' "Madame Bozo," with Michael Doucet's string-shredding fiddle work and vocals and his brother David's guitar taking the nine-piece into new territory. In addition to Sonny Landreth's burning guitar, there is an Allman Brothers-style piano solo from Steve Conn that sets this 1985 version of the band apart. Zachary Richard's 1988 take on the classic "Jolie Blon," has been my favorite version of this chestnut since I first heard it back then. With a slow to midtempo grind, it put accordion maestro Richard on the national radar.
There are bits from some of the most recognizable names in Cajun music from end to end here. Young Bruce Daigrepont, who only records in French, leads the collection off with a dance floor friendly "La Jolouserie," and Geno Delafose closes with the tradition-laden "Valse de Opelousas." In between these stellar bookmarks are examples of some of the most exciting Cajun players in America. Jo-El Sonnier, Eddie LeJeune, D.L. Menard, the Bluerunners, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys (rockin' up the traditional "Tes perents veulent plus me voir," which translates universally to "Your Parents Don't Want to See Me"), Jimmy C. Newman and Cajun Country, Balfa Toujours, Al Berard & the Basin Brothers, Charivari, Coteau, the marvelous Magnolia Sisters (singing a mournful "la fleur de la jeunesse"), Courtney Granger and Danny Collet.
This is music made for dancing, whether it's a waltz around the dance floor or a free form foot stompin', this infection music reaches for the soul and finds its mark every time.
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