Dan Gets the Blues
August 19, 2006 5:11 PM   Subscribe

Got any Zydeco recommendations for me?

So I just watched Schultze Gets the Blues, and while the movie wasn't that great, the music kicked ass. I've done a little searching for Zydeco, but I haven't been really consistent with what I've found. The faster the better, but I'll take any and all recomendations.
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice to Media & Arts (17 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
My mom likes Buckwheat Zydeco and C.J. Chenier.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 5:38 PM on August 19, 2006


Was just about to suggest those. Buckwheat Zydeco and Clifton Chenier are great.
posted by cmyk at 5:47 PM on August 19, 2006


I quite like Beausoleil.
posted by solid-one-love at 6:50 PM on August 19, 2006


FWIW, CJ is the son of Clifton Chenier...
posted by disillusioned at 7:29 PM on August 19, 2006


The original Clifton could be bluesy in the best tradition. Look for any collection with "I'm a Hog for You, Honey" on it. And if you find it, let me know.
posted by gimonca at 7:32 PM on August 19, 2006


Rockin Dopsie (Sr. and Jr.)
posted by ajr at 7:54 PM on August 19, 2006


Yes to Clifton Chenier, Beausoleil and Buckwheat Zydeco. You might also enjoy The Sundogs.
posted by bigbigdog at 8:08 PM on August 19, 2006


Professor Longhair is one of my favorites. Check out Crawfish Fiesta. It's a great album with awesome artwork. Queen Ida is another good one, try "Cooking with Queen Ida"
posted by TheCoug at 9:23 PM on August 19, 2006


Queen Ida. The absolute best. Really.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 10:17 PM on August 19, 2006


Professor Longhair (wonderful though he may be) has absolutely nothing do with Zydeco.

Try Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas. See them live, if you can. The hardest working, and one of the rockiest, bands I've ever seen.
posted by timeistight at 10:30 PM on August 19, 2006


Zachary Richard. His earlier recorded stuff is fantastic and very danceable, authentic zydeco. Take it from someone who grew up in Louisiana and saw Richard live many times .... so good!
posted by General Zubon at 4:24 AM on August 20, 2006


For an intro to Zydeco, check out the soundtrack for The Big Easy:
1. Iko Iko - The Dixie Cups
2. Tipitina - Professor Longhair
3. Ma 'Tit Fille - Buckwheat Zydeco
4. Colinda - Zachary Richard
5. Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville & The Neville Brothers
6. Zydeco Gris Gris - Beausoleil
7. Oh Yeh Yai - Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys
8. Hey Hey (Indians Comin') - The Wild Tchoupitoulas
9. Closer To You - Dennis Quaid
10. Saviour, Pass Me Not - The Swan Silvertones
11. Buck's Nouvelle Jole Blon - Buckwheat Zydeco & Ils Sont Partis Band
12. Pine Grove Blues - Dewey Balfa
posted by booth at 6:48 AM on August 20, 2006


Look, Zydeco is a very particular type of folk music. According to Wikipedia,
Zydeco is a form of folk music, originated in the beginning of the 20th century among the Francophone Creole peoples of south-west Louisiana and influenced by the music of the French-speaking Cajuns. It is heavily syncopated (back-beat), usually fast-tempo, and dominated by the button or piano accordion and a form of a washboard known as a rub-board or frottoir. Originating in Africa, the vest frottoir was introduced to Louisiana in the 1930s. Other instruments include the guitar, bass guitar and drums.

Zydeco's rural beginnings and the prevailing economic conditions at its inception are reflected in the song titles, lyrics, and bluesy vocals. The music arose as a synthesis of traditional Cajun music with African-American traditions that also underpinned R&B and blues. It was known as "la-la"; "zodico" and various other names. Amédé Ardoin made the first recordings of what later became known as zydeco in 1928.
Zydeco is influenced by cajun (i.e., white) music, blues and even R&B, but they are not the same.

Zydeco is not just another term for Louisiana music. Only about half the music on the Big Easy soundtrack is Zydeco. In fact, Zydeco isn't native to "the Big Easy" at all. It's roots are up around Lafeyette and Oppolusa and points west.

Neither the Dixie Cups, Professor Longhair, the Nevilles, any band names "the Playboys," The Wild Tchoupitoulas (or any other Mardi Gras indian band), Dennis Quaid nor The Swan Silvertones play Zydeco.
posted by timeistight at 10:03 AM on August 20, 2006 [1 favorite]


Looks like I was mistaken about Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys. I stand by everything else.
posted by timeistight at 2:05 PM on August 20, 2006


Geno Delafose
Keith Frank
Zydeco Force

Zydeco Force is the band that's playing when Shulze get to the club in the movie. Geno and Frank are young guys too, and fast.

Of course Buckwheat and Clifton Chenier mentioned above, are a couple of the pioneers, BooZoo Chavis should also be included.

timeistight's comments are spot on.
posted by dog food sugar at 6:14 AM on August 21, 2006


Well, okay. Shame on me for playing loose with genres.
posted by booth at 7:18 PM on August 21, 2006


Technically, as mentioned previously, a band like Beausoleil is Cajun, not Zydeco. That said, you might also enjoy Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, which is somewhere in between.
posted by turbodog at 3:39 PM on August 22, 2006


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