Friday video: Boozoo Chavis ‘Johnny billy goat’

Here’s the late, great, inimitable Boozoo Chavis doing Johnny ma cabri (or Johnny billy goat).  The poster behind him means that he was at the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival, but there’s no date.  This was one of his most-recorded songs.  Here is one version of the lyrics and a discussion onthe correct grammar to use.  Here are some recordings:

1. Billy goat number three. Boozoo Chavis & [and] the Majic Sounds. Boozoo, that’s who!. Rounder Records. CD 2126. 1993. CD.
2. Billy goat number three. Various artists. Zydeco barnyard. EasyDisc. ED 12136-7070-2. 1998. CD.
3. Johnnie Billie Goat. Boozoo Chavis. Boozoo Chavis. Elektra Nonesuch. 9 61146-2. 1991. CD.
4. Johnnie billie goat. Boozoo Chavis. Zydeco homebrew. Maison de Soul. 1028-2. 1992. CD.
5. Johnnie billy goat. Boozoo Chavis and the Majic Sounds. Live! At the Habibi Temple, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Rounder Records. CD 2130. 1994. CD.

 

Friday video: C.J. Chenier ‘Bow-legged woman’

The son of the late, great Clifton Chenier, C. J. Chenier plays his song “Bow-legged woman” live at the German Club, Pawtucket RI, in February, 2006.  Just the band playing, no dancers or locale, but with playing like this, that’s all you need!  Although the poster says this is a Clifton song, I cannot find it on any of his recordings, but you can find it on C. J.’s 1992 Arhoolie release My baby don’t wear no shoes. 

 

Friday video: Savoy Family Band ‘Creole stomp’

Here’s the powerhouse Savoy Family Band  playing the Creole stomp live at Down Home Music in El Cerrito, California November 2009.  Right to left, it’s Ann Savoy, Marc Savoy, Joel Savoy and Wilson Savoy.  It’s an environment a lot like the Savoy Music Center on Highway 190 near Eunice, LA where they have a store jam every Saturday.  And, yes, Ann and Marc are married; Joel and Wilson are their sons.  Ann and Marc were part of the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band.  Joel is one of the operators of Valcour Records and a member of the Red Stick Ramblers.  Wilson is part of the Pine Leaf Boys.     

 

Friday video: ‘Bosco stomp’ by Aldus Roger and the Lafayette Playboys

Introduced with the French “lâche les,” or “let ‘em go/let ‘em loose,” here are Aldus Roger and the Lafayette Playboys showing that you don’t need a stage presence to absolutely tear it up!  The song the Bosco stomp is about mischievous blondes and brunettes.  As many songs, this is named for a real place, Bosco, but it has nothing to do with the song.  The poster lists musicians, with some discussion in the comments.  Roger was a giant of the accordion in the 1950s through the 1970s, though he didn’t die until 1999.  Every Saturday he had a Cajun music program on KLFY-TV in Lafayette, even writing the KLFY waltz in their honor. 

 

Friday video: Geno Delafose and the Creole All Stars 2012

Never heard of this Creole supergroup, but that’s Geno Delafose on accordion, and the notes say he’s joined by Jeffery Broussard, Sean Ardoin and California-based Andre Thierry, all fine bandleaders on their own.  And they’re doing the great Creole fiddle tune “Bluerunner.”  All at the 2012 Portland Waterfront Blues Festival.     

 

Friday video: Buckwheat Zydeco ‘Pine grove blues’

Here’s the national network television debut of Buckwheat Zydeco, if you can believe David Letterman.  He’s playing the Nathan Abshire super hit Pine grove blues.  No dancers, but Paul Schaefer seems to be enjoying it.  He’s only got his regular rubboard player.  No date on this one but it’s got to be old.  Look how young Letterman looks! 

 

Friday video: Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers – KLFY waltz

Kyle Huval is a young Cajun accordion player and fronts the band the Dixie Club Ramblers.  They have one recording to their credit, The Corner Post.  Here they are in Opelousas, Louisiana playing the Aldus Roger favorite KLFY waltz.  KLFY are the call letters of a television station in Lafayette, Louisiana.  Roger had a Saturday Cajun music program on KLFY for many years.  The lyrics are the usual “you went away so far with another,” but the tune is a classic and has been recorded by BeauSoleil, the California Cajun Orchestra, and others. 

 

Friday video Ryan Brunet & Les Malfecteurs: Creole Stomp / J’ai Ete Aul Bal

Ryan Brunet & Les Malfecteurs were recorded from Rendez-Vous des Cajuns, a weekly live variety show broadcast over cable tv in Lafayette, LA.  They’re doing a medley of Creole Stomp with J’ai Ete Aul Bal.  That’s Christine Balfa on guitar and Joel Savoy on violin (the one with a beard and no cap).  It’s a National Park Service site, so that’s why a park ranger introduces them.

 

Friday video: Sarah Savoy and the Francadians

Sarah Savoy is the daughter of Marc Savoy, the great Cajun accordionist.  Here she is with her European-based band, the Francadians at a Cajun music festival in the United Kingdom.  They play Cajun and rockabilly music.  

 

Friday video: Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas 2012

Here are the excellent Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada at the Ottawa Bluesfest in 2012.  Look for Nathan dropping to one knee late in the performance, which is, regrettably, incomplete.