Chubby Carrier is often hailed as “The World’s Premier Zydeco Showman.” He and his Bayou Swamp Band play at clubs, theaters and festivals 275 nights a year throughout the United States, Canada and Europe to packed dance floors and wildly excited crowds. The Chicago Tribune called them “One of the finer standard bearers of the classic, blues based zydeco sound among the new generation of Louisiana bands.” In past appearances at Famous Dave’s, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band have filled the dance floor.

True to the zydeco tradition, the band has an amplified accordion, washboard player, and syncopated Louisiana style drumming. Chubby Carrier named Clifton Chenier as his primary influence, but he adds elements of blues, New Orleans funk, gospel, soul and even doo-wop to the Cajun mix.

Alberta Adams
Famous Dave’s
Minneapolis, Uptown, Calhoun Square
Thursday, August 30, 2001

Nearly 60 years into her career, Alberta Adams world-weary vocals have established her as “Detroit Queen of the Blues.” Adams was born in Indianapolis in 1925 and raised by her aunt in Detroit through the Great Depression. Starting as a dancer in the 1930’s, Adams singing career began in 1942 when the regular singer missed a show due to illness. Her career began on Hastings Street, Paradise Valley, a vibrant center of black entertainment in Detroit at that time. She went on to tour extensively with the likes of Duke Ellington, T-Bone Walker and Louis Jordan. Although she recorded sides over the years (notably, for Chess Records), her first full-length solo recording was 1999’s “Born with the Blues” (Cannonball). In 2000, Adams released “Say Baby Say, Life’s Trials and Tribulations According to Miss Alberta Adams” (Cannonball), her second consecutive critically acclaimed album. In addition to her magnificent voice and charismatic stage performances, Adams writes much of her own, and best, material. She has been nominated for the W.C. Handy award for “Best Female Vocalist” and has received numerous other awards and accolades.

This review is copyright © 2001 by Ray Stiles, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.