T-Broussard and the Zydeco Steppers, Knock Knock (Soulwood)


Three years ago T-Broussard released Git It On Git it On, a respectable outing produced by his cousin, zydeco monster Keith Frank. The inside story was that ‘T’ had been off the scene and had not yet formed a band when these comeback tracks were recorded. This time out, Broussard still benefits from Frank’s studio acumen but more so from the unerring support of his airtight Zydeco Steppers. Though they’re never overpowering, they lock into lasting, infectious grooves that are anchored with double-pumping/quick-stopping beats and clicking guitar rhythms topped by a jangly accordion sound. Like the live shows, most songs flow seamlessly into the next, something that issues a challenge to fervent dancers trying to outlast their onstage rivals. But the things that distinguish ‘T’ from the rest of the pack are his rhythmic lyrical couplets and the fact that his mother, Mary Jane, was his mentor, making him one of the few who learned accordion from a female role model. Hence, “T” graciously returns the favor by featuring mama bear on two trad tracks and then demonstrates that he, too, can be traditional with a Creole French waltz of his own. Good stuff.