Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, Calling Your Name (Sound of New Orleans)

Zydeco accordionist and vocalist Dwayne Dopsie is a dynamo whose energized stage charisma translates right onto his recordings.

Dospie, the youngest son of the late zydeco giant Alton “Rockin’ Dopsie” Rubin, tears it up—and expects dancers to do the same—on tunes like his self-penned “Get Up.” “You got to get started… You got to make a move,” he more than suggests both lyrically and rhythmically.

Dopsie, who wrote all but one of the dozen selections on the disc, knows that even the most avid two-steppers enjoy a change of pace. He immediately provides a different groove on the album’s opener and title cut, “Calling Your Name.”

Dopsie is at his most sophisticated on this reggae-inspired tune that includes background vocals and stands out strongly as the highlight of disc. He shows his insight into the reggae style that has been a go-to for many zydeco musicians, by carrying its flavor into his wonderful accordion solo that fades out at tune’s end.

He remains true to the spirit when playing the blues as well. It’s just Dopsie alone on vocals and accordion on his lamenting “Long Way from Home.” He alternates his singing and his instrument in a call-and-response form then greatly elaborates his accordion runs for the chorus of this down home blues.

Naturally there are some straight-up zydeco two-steps like the relaxed comfort of “Mama’s Kitchen” and the classically delivered, have-some-fun number “Rosalee.”

Dopsie returns to the reggae groove that kicks off the disc, although this time he uses the Rolling Stones’ monster hit, “Beast of Burden” as his vehicle. It reinforces how well the genre suits his vocal soulfulness.

Calling Your Name shouts out to fans of zydeco and its kissin’ cousins, reggae, blues and rhythm and blues.