Cajun Spotlight

January 1997

VOLUME IV, NO. 12

Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest


NOTES FROM THE EDITOR

This month we feature not one, but two lists of the Top Ten performances of the year just ended. One was compiled by our regular staff; the second was put together by Special Correspondent Wendy Sjoblom. Next issue we will have the lists of best new recordings. Thanks to everyone who helped with this look back to 1996. If you're interested in participating in this next December or in any written contribution to the newsletter contact us. Here's hoping the New Year holds good dancing and good music for everyone.


CAJUN AND ZYDECO SPECIAL EVENTS

1) Both The Swamp Sextet and The Bone Tones perform on New Year's Eve in downtown St. Paul in a heated tent by Landmark Center. It's part of the huge "Capital New Year" celebration. The Swamp Sextet play at about 9 pm; The Bone Tones from 10 to 11:30 pm. Many other performers are also scheduled for the 20 venues scattered around downtown St. Paul that afternoon and evening. A ticket to all events is $5 in advance; $7 day of show. You can purchase them at Firstar banks or Target.

2) The Bone Tones travel to northern Wisconsin in mid-January. They appear at the Pine Point Bean & Brew in Elkhart Lake on Friday the 10th and at Nicollet College in Rhinelander on Saturday, the 11th.

3) Some major zydeco acts are coming to town in late January and early February. January 28 C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band are at First Avenue with the Swamp Sextet opening; two days later (Thursday, the 30th) Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie are at the Fine Line. February 5th Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Chas are tentatively booked for First Avenue. Also set for First Avenue is another Mardi Gras party with the Swamp Sextet, The Bone Tones and ZoloGo on Tuesday, February 11. This will be an early show and is scheduled to start at 6:30 pm.


CAJUN DANCE LESSONS

Cajun and zydeco dance classes are offered regularly by Maurine Powell. They are held at the Oddfellows Lodge at 2382 Hampden in St. Paul on Saturdays from 4 to 5:30 pm. In January a series on Cajun two-step, waltz and basic jitterbug is scheduled. The dates are January 4, 11 and 25; cost of this series is $25.00. Classes in Cajun jitterbug are offered February 1, 15, 22 and March 1. This series is $35.00. Zydeco lessons will likely be offered after these series finish. For more information call Maurine at 298-0909. Calling to confirm dates is also suggested.


CAJUN HERITAGE

[From the TWO STEP TATTLER, newsletter of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Cajun French Music Association and reprinted with their kind permission. Compiled by Maurice Lasserre]

WORDS AND PHRASES:
Barque (bark with R trilled)
- a small boat. This is a very old nautical term still used by Cajuns today, but in reference to a vehicle instead of a boat.
Debarquer (day-bar-kay)
- means to get out of a car. Elle a barquer avec lui means "she left with him in a vehicle."
Grimper au queue
- means "to climb to your tail" and is the Cajun term for "creep grass". The seed stems from this grass will get under a hunter's pants and eventually creep up into his shorts because of the unique arrangement of stems and bristle-like hairs of this plant.

LAGNIAPPE

.....Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys will be recording an album of all traditional Cajun tunes in early '97; it should be released in the spring. Steve also contributed some vocals to the latest record by Jimmy Breaux (Le Chemin Que T'as Pris on the La Louisianne label)...don't forget to tune in Louisiana Rhythms, a weekly radio show featuring Cajun, zydeco, blues, swamp pop and more. It's on every Friday from 9 to 11 am on KFAI, 90.3 and 106.7 on the FM dial. Regular hosts are Karl Smelker and Millie Ortego along with frequent guests...dates for the 28th Annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival are April 25 to May 4. Their Web site is at http://www.nojazzfest.com....author and journalist Michael Tisserand is working on a book on zydeco which should be out this summer. Rounder will release a compilation record to go with it...there are a couple of new students of Cajun accordion in the Twin Cities. Just a reminder to them and you about the Cajun jam at Homestead Pickin' Parlor on the second Wednesday of each month...a rare visit to the Twin Cities on January 30 by Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie. The son of John Delafose, Geno plays a more traditional zydeco than Keith Frank or Beau Jocque and has two albums out on the Rounder label. They'll be performing at the Fine Line Music Cafe. The Fine Line is not a great place for dancers, but Geno is definitely someone you should hear in even a less-than-ideal venue...


CAJUN WEEKEND AT FOLKLORE VILLAGE FARM

Folklore Village Farm will have its annual Cajun Music and Dance Weekend March 7-9. Once again they've lined up some great musicians and instructors for this popular event. Making their first appearance at Folklore Village will be Edward and Danny Poullard. Accordionist Danny Poullard was raised in Louisiana and currently lives in San Francisco. He plays with the California Cajun Orchestra and has also recorded with Canray Fontenot and others. He has taught accordion at the Augusta Heritage Center for the last few years and is an excellent instructor. His brother Edward plays fiddle and has studied Creole fiddling with Canray Fontenot and Calvin Carriere. He has recorded with Lawrence "Black" Ardoin and has also taught at Augusta. Returning to Folklore Village to teach traditional Cajun dance is Miriam Fontenot from Lafayette, Louisiana. Also back again are Charlie and John Terr from the Chicago Cajun Aces (on guitar, fiddle and accordion) and Glenn Mitroff, who leads a workshop on making traditional Mardi Gras hats and masks. This weekend of Cajun music, dance and food includes workshops, dances and jams. Plenty of Twin Cities folks are already planning to attend. Cost of the whole weekend (Friday 6:30 pm to 1:00 pm Sunday) is $115; register by February 21 and save $10. Discounts for teens and youngsters 6-12. Call Folklore Village for more information at (608) 924-4000. Flyers will be available at most upcoming dances; ask a CAJUN SPOTLIGHT staffer for one. This weekend has sometimes sold out in years past, so if you plan to go act soon.


TOP TEN LIVE EVENTS 1996

[by our staff, listed in no particular order]
Lars Larsman:
Celtic Fiddle Festival (Cedar Cultural Centre, Minneapolis) with Natalie MacMaster, Brian MacNeil & Martin Hayes. "Top notch entertainment...Natalie had the crowd on their feet with her simultaneous fiddling and step-dancing...Martin Hayes demonstrated virtuoso skills with a 20-minute medley..."
Gregg Sougstad :
Richard Thompson (First Avenue, Minneapolis). "...probably the third time I've seen him there and he was inspired. Neil Young was playing across the street that night and Richard did his best Neil Young impression. Danny Thompson was his usual brilliant self on bass." A close second was Los Lobos (also at First Avenue)
Roger Van Bergen:
Final jam at Merlefest (Wilksboro, NC) with Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan. "...the best bluegrass musicians jamming together on stage...a grand finale to a great week of music."
Fiddlin' Fool:
Alesund Spelmanslag (Good Templar Hall, Minneapolis) "...great hardanger fiddling and dancing performed by a lively group of Norwegians from Alesund...there were buttons accordionists, too."
Marty Davidsohn:
Bill Bourne & Sharon Johnson (Old Courthouse Museum, Sioux Falls, SD) "...great music outside in great summer weather...400 folks enjoying this talented duo and the kick for me was helping to put this concert series together and seeing everyone have such a good time." A close second was Vince Two Eagles.
Bill Cutler:
Celtic Fiddle Festival (Cedar Cultural Centre, Minneapolis) with Natalie MacMaster, Brian MacNeil & Martin Hayes. "Great from both a musical and performance standpoint...featured fiddle styles from Scotland, Ireland and Cape Breton."
[shoe] :
Tie between Sharon Shannon Band (Cedar Cultural Centre, Minneapolis) and Martin Sexton (Winnipeg Folk Festival) "Sharon Shannon played incredible arrangements of traditional Irish tunes. Martin Sexton is a singer/songwriter with a great voice."
Karl Smelker
Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie (Fitzgerald's, Chicago) "Lots of good dances with my lovely wife Debby...these occasions are rare since I'm always playing" A close second was Saffire The Uppity Blues Women at the Fine Line (Minneapolis)
John Tallaksen:
D. L. Menard (Half Time Rec, St. Paul and Medina Ballroom, Medina). "..Both were great performances. The Half Time had a more intimate, down home feel while the Medina had plenty of room to dance. With Leo Abshire on fiddle and Horace Trahan on accordion it doesn't get much better than this."
Johnny "Nine Pound" Hammer :
Ari Eisinger (Ginkgo Coffeehouse, St. Paul). "Great fingerstyle guitarist playing blues and ragtime from the repertoire of Blind Blake, Luke Jordan, Barbecue Bob and the like. Cleanly played, nicely sung - a great evening of music."

TOP TEN++ LIVE EVENTS 1996

[By Special Correspondent Wendy Sjoblom, Minneapolis graphic designer and Cedar volunteer]
  1. Salif Keita (Carleton College, Northfield)
  2. Prince Diabate & Amara Sanoh (Carleton College)
  3. Altan (O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Paul)
  4. Babatunde Olatunji (Ordway Theatre, St. Paul)
  5. Chubby Carrier (Bunker's, Minneapolis)
  6. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (Cedar Cultural Centre, Minneapolis)
  7. Martin Sexton (Winnipeg Folk Festival, Cedar Cultural Centre)
  8. Eight Head and Savage Aural Hotbed (Cedar Cultural Centre)
  9. Boukman Eksperyans (Winnipeg Folk Festival)
  10. Moxy Fruvous (400 Bar, Minneapolis)
  11. David Wilcox (The Metropolitan, Minneapolis)
  12. Power Circus (Cedar, Mighty Fine, Artists'v Quarter, anywhere)
  13. Robin & Linda Williams (MBOTMA Festival, Zimmerman, MN)
  14. Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys (Mill City Festival, Minneapolis)
Honorable Mentions :
Pegtop for best use of "appropriate technology" for a drum set
Trailer Trash (because I can no longer say I hate country music)

CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS COMING UP

NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.


JANUARY

The opening line of T. S. Eliot's The Wasteland says, "April is the cruellest month...' Many residents of the upper Midwest would disagree, pointing out that getting through January is no cakewalk. The month of January is named for the Roman god Janus, who was held to be the god of beginnings and the animistic spirit of doorways and archways. In ancient Rome there were many free-standing archways that were used for ceremonial entrances and exits. Besides the arch, Janus's other symbol was a two-faced head, one face looking forward and the other behind. This month's quiz looks forward to tomorrow and back to yesterday. Can you match the performer with the song? Answers are available at notessteps@aol.com.

01) Yesterday, When I Was Young..............a) Chad & Jeremy
02) Tomorrow.............................................b) Lonnie Johnson
03) Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday.......c) The Carpenters
04) Tomorrow is a Long Time......................d) Roy Clark
05) Yesterday's Gone...................................e) Andrea McArdle
06) Tomorrow Night.....................................f) The Beatles
07) Yesterday Once More ..........................g) Stevie Wonder
08) Tomorrow Never Knows ......................h) Dennis McGee
09) Yesterday's Papers.................................i) Bob Dylan
10) Rosa, Demain C'est Pas Dimanche..........j) The Rolling Stones
. -(Rosa, Tomorrow isn't Sunday)




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NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT is an independent newsletter about Cajun, zydeco and other traditional music & dance events and news in the upper Midwest and beyond. A one year subscription is $8.00. Email Notessteps@aol.com or NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT, John Tallaksen, 2425 East Franklin, #211 Minneapolis, MN 55406.