While there’s no shortage of prodigies playing roots music these days, 11-year-old Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw of Covington is a bit more unusual than most. She doesn’t have generations of Cajun musicianship behind her, let alone the sacred bloodlines. Though the Shaws are Louisiana residents, Amanda is Boston born to a mother (Renee Amaya-Shaw) from Guatemala. And instead of rattling in French, Amanda converses in Spanish with her mother and relatives. Nevertheless, she belongs in Cajun music and it seems the Cajuns have embraced her as one of their own.
For some time now, Amanda has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments. At age seven, she performed with the Baton Rouge and the Southeastern Louisiana orchestras, earning the distinction of being the youngest to play with both organizations. When the producers from the Rosie O’Donnell show inquired about the prodigy, they nixed the idea of the pint-sized fiddler playing classical music. Cajun music was suggested and the family enlisted the help of Jonno Frishberg who taught Amanda a few tunes. Since the show and the New York City trip, she hasn’t looked back, performing with Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr., Charivari, Papillion, Beau Bassin and Swampadellic label honcho Chubby Carrier.
Down the road, these proceedings will be regarded as seminal as Amanda continues to flourish. Yet, everything else aside, these baker’s dozen tracks are a hoot. With a veteran band consisting of Gina Forsyth, guitar; Corey Duplechin and Mitch Reed, bass; Mark DeBasile, accordion; Ben Goodwin, drums and Earl Sally, rubboard, there’s no end to the spirited playing and stompin’ romps. Amanda’s enthusiasm and drive sets a hot pace that would make for a memorable night in any dancehall. There’re rollicking renditions of “Johnny Can’t Dance,” “Bosco Stomp” and “Jambalaya.” Additionally, she handles more challenging material such as Michael Doucet’s “Zydeco Gris Gris,” BeBé Carriere’s “Blue Runner” and Canray Fontenot’s “Barres D’ La Prison (performed à la twin fiddles with Forsyth) with equal aplomb. On the acoustic “Dans a Carre,” Amanda does twins with Reed while on her originals (“Little Black Dog,” “Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulet”), she’s assisted by Chubby Carrier on accordion for a change-of-pace zydeco flavor. Based on these solidly grounded tracks, she is certainly a quick study but more importantly, every moment here is a fun one.
