“Louisiana, Louisiana; It’s beauty’s always aglow.
Moss covered shade trees; Sway in the cool breeze
While lazy bayous flow.” ~ Louisiana state song
Cedric Watson
Bon jour/Bon soir! Since the Saints won the Superbowl and Mardi Gras is around the corner, I thought I’d throw some musical gumbo in the mix! Music Voyager, a new PBS show, recently showcased Louisiana musicians nominated for this year’s Grammy Awards in the Best Zydeco/Cajun category. You can follow host Jacob Edgar on his website, www.musicvoyager.com. Other shows include music of India, Jamaica, and another visit to Louisiana. Very cool! A show after my own heart.
Nominated for a Grammy this year, Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole is one of my new favorite bands. In this clip from Music Voyager, he describes their music as a “gumbo” of Creole, Cajun, and Zydeco music. Check them out on the “Road to a Grammy” episode:
Here’s Cedric Watson on the fiddle jamming with accordion player, Corey Ledet. Doesn’t this make you want to hop on a plane and head down the bayou? Me too! Love that washboard:
Here is another clip from Music Voyager where Jacob Edgar speaks with the winner of this year’s Grammy Award in Zydeco/Cajun category, Buckwheat Zydeco, as well as other nominees including Michael Doucet, The Magnolia Sisters, Pine Leaf Boys, and of course Cedric Watson. They discuss the culture of Louisiana, the music, and the reasons why they don’t move to New York, Nashville, or Los Angeles:
Links:
Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole
Corey Ledet
Buckwheat Zydeco
The Magnolia Sisters
Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet
Pine Leaf Boys
Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience
Music Voyager’s youtube site with lots of great videos
Music Voyager
Louisiana Music Factory ~ Online Record Store
Origins of Zydeco and Cajun Music
A Brief History of Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco
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