Music
Leftover Salmon: Grass Roots (Compass Records)
Leftover Salmon’s Drew Emmitt shared recently in an interview that original material wasn’t being written fast enough to hit the studio. So, bassist and producer Greg Garrison suggested an album of covers, the kind bluegrass upstarts Leftover String Band and Salmonheads played in their early days at the Telluride festival campground before those bands merged and became Leftover Salmon.
My Music Richard Comeaux
Though Southwest Louisiana has no shortage of accordionists, fiddlers and rubboard scrappers, it’s also known for its remarkable steel guitarists, like Richard Comeaux.
Keeping the Cajun Flame Blazing: Living your culture in the Roots of Fire documentary
Considering that Cajun music was once an endangered species on the verge of extinction, there can never be an oversaturation of sources telling its story. The Roots of Fire documentary, co-directed by the husband-and-wife team of Abby Berendt Lavoi and Jeremey Lavoi, is the latest such vehicle that will likely introduce Cajun culture and music to another generation unaware of its glorious legacy and delicate past, but a deserving one that continues its resiliency.
Louis Michot: Rêve du Troubador (Nouveau Electric Records)
Anyone familiar with the career progression of Lost Bayou Ramblers’ fiddlin’ frontman Louis Michot can sense he has plenty to say and seemingly infinite interests.
The Duane Bartels Band: Electric Baby Carriage (Baby Boy Bartels)
Originally songwriter-guitarist Duane Bartels intended to visit New Orleans for a day. That was seven-and-a-half years ago. Not only is he still drawing oxygen in the Crescent City, but the California native has also released two albums of original material since then.
Cameron Fontenot: A Tribute to the Fiddling Greats (Independent)
Hats off to Cameron Fontenot for releasing a different kind of debut album. Whereas most debut albums symbolize the arrival of new talent, the Cajun fiddler opted for something different by dedicating each tune to a particular fiddler. On nine tracks, Fontenot duets with a fellow fiddler known for a specific repertoire, style, or personal connection to the honoree.
Dean Zucchero: Electric Church for the Spiritually Misguided (Pugnacious Records)
Since moving to New Orleans, a decade ago, Dean Zucchero has certainly made his mark on his adopted city’s abundant music scene.
Laura Huval: Raised in the Choir Loft (OCP)
When Laura Huval says she was practically weaned in the church choir loft, she’s not kidding. Her parents, Cajun musician Al and Karleen (née Guidry) Berard, met as teenagers at choir practice at St. Joseph Church in Cecilia, Louisiana. Al played guitar, helped arrange, and even wrote a few songs while Karleen sang alto and soprano. Huval joined the choir at age nine and performed her first professional gig, a wedding, three years later.
Unlike Any Other: Zydeco’s Rusty Metoyer plays for everybody
If the oft-said phrase “it skips a generation” is borderline cliquish, nonetheless, it still fits Rusty Metoyer to a “T.” The Lake Charles zydeco accordionist and vocalist’s parents, Russell and Portia, didn’t play music, yet both of Metoyer’s grandparents played professionally.
Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rôdailleurs: La Prière (Valcour Records)
If you think this is another traditional fare of alternating Cajun two-steps and waltzes, then skip on by. That would be the conventional approach, but Jourdan Thibodeaux is hardly a conformist. He writes his originals on his fiddle, and doesn’t listen to music while driving his truck, instead preferring to hear melodies mentally.
