Older Cajuns get back to musical roots

There’s a lengthy article in The Advocate by Kyle Pevto entitled “Back to their Cajun French roots: Group gathers to reconnect to Cajun language and music.”   It talks about middle-aged and older people who are Cajun by ancestry but who haven’t connected with the French language or Cajun music.  They are meeting in groups created by Mitchell Reed to learn the language and how to play the music.   Reed gets around quite a bit; he was a member of the bands McCauley Reed Vidrine, Tasso, the Mamou Prairie Band, and most recently BeauSoleil.  Kristi Guillory is included as a leader.  Reed has long been a music teacher, so these should be quite successful groups!  Jouer!

 

Spring 2012 Cajun and zydeco classes at ULL

Classes in songwriting, accordion and Cajun and zydeco music history are available at the University of Louisiana Lafayette during the Spring 2012 semester.   Teachers include Kristi Guillory, David Egan and Al Berard according to Dr. Mark DeWitt, head of the traditional music program at ULL.  Classes begin January 12, 2012, so register now!

 

Friday video: Lafayette Rhythm Devils 2008: “Quelle etoile?”

Here is one version of the Lafayette Rhythm Devils with Kristi Guillory on accordion, Randy Vidrine on guitar on vocals, Yvette Landry on bass, and I don’t know the drummer.  The violinist is Chris Segura from Feufollet.  “Quelle etoile?” or “What star?” is by the great Shirley Bergeron.  Bergon played with the Veteran Playboys in the 1950s, and he is responsible for many classic Cajun songs, such as “J’ai fait mon idee” (“I made up my mind”).   Geno Delafose‘s band, Frrench Rockin’ Boogie, is named for a Bergeron song.