It may as well have been a major disaster on that dark September day when Beau Jocque died. A jovial man in his prime, one would have expected years and years of those insatiable dance grooves. Since then, the zydeco world has never recovered but at least this posthumous odds-and-end affair brings some closure to the situation. Although it’s part rarities and part tribute, zydeco fans will be delighted with the dozen selections presented here. Four cuts, including the steamrolling “Nursery Rhymes,” “Lay Down,” and “Beau Jocque Makes You Jump,” come from Jocque’s 1993 self-released maxi-single. Here, it’s evident that he had assembled one mighty band with Mike Lockett’s blistering organ, Russell “Sly” Dorian and Cookie Chavis’ hellfire guitar rides while bassist Chuck Bush and rubboard guy Wilfred “Caveman” Pierre supply rock-solid support. To top all off, the band wouldn’t be the Hi-Rollers without the yelping, incessant chatter of “Skeeta” Charlot who provided the perfect complement to Jocque’s deep-throated, growlish vocals. Two more tunes, the cartoonish “Puddy Cat” and “Zydeco Boogaloo,” comes as first-time, previously unreleased tracks.

The remaining half dozen were recorded at Lockett’s home studio as a tribute to their fallen giant. The funky “Zydeco Slide” and the high soul train of “Zydeco Horse” don’t exactly mashdown but demonstrate the Hi-Roller’s depth, much like Jocque’s previous Mardi Gras outing Zydeco Giant. After the big guy’s death, the Hi-Rollers continued for a short time with Jeffrey Broussard who’s featured here along with fellow accordionist JoJo Reed on four tracks. While these tracks won’t supplant any Jocque memory, nonetheless they’re worthy takes. Broussard applies his thick, chunky stylings (“Zydeco Rock It,” “She Keeps Holding On”) while Reed wheels his way through the enjoyable “Hi-Roller’s In Town.” On “Hi-Roller’s Zydeco,” one of the Hi-Rollers proclaims through a swampy voice box, “we’re gonna keep it alive.” Even though this incarnation eventually discontinued, Jocque’s spirit remains alive. It was only his heart that gave out.