The title of Corey Ledet’s 2004 debut 3 Years 2 Late was his way of saying it was already three years overdue when it finally hit the streets. Since then, Ledet has made up for lost time by releasing albums at a prolific rate every year or two. His 14th release finds him paying homage to his extended musical family who were steeped in traditional jazz and ragtime, among other genres.

“Buchanan Ledet Special” is perhaps this album’s most significant track, a salute to Grandfather Buchanan, who served as Clifton Chenier’s first zydeco drummer when launching his band in the late ’40s. Once zydeco’s founding father achieved success and was on the road more, Buchanan, the family man, opted out. Chenier instructed his replacement, Robert St. Julien, to play just like Buchanan, thus paying him the ultimate compliment. Ledet makes sure Buchanan’s role in zydeco is understood with a spoken-word intro.

That’s not the only the tip of the hat to his family that have been historically based in Parks, Louisiana. Ledet also honors them by singing five tracks in their native tongue, Kouri-Vini, a French-based Creole language.

Along with the presence of Kouri-Vini, several tracks have a first-generation zydeco Chenier vibe, primarily because Ledet’s accordion of choice is the piano-row, the same as Chenier played in his day. There’s a killer Kouri-Vini translation of Fats Domino’s “M’ap Marshé (I’m Walking)” and a bluesy romping “Pèl Mò (Call Me)” featuring guests Grant Dermody’s howling harmonica and Cecil Green’s surfing Hammond B3 organ rides.

Yet, make no mistake about it, Ledet’s his own entity. Besides writing eight originals, he’s also one of zydeco’s best accordionists, as evidenced by the dizzying rendition of Big Joe Turner’s “Flip Flop and Fly” where fingers sprint up and down the black and whites.

Since the album wasn’t completed before the pandemic hit, Ledet was forced to finish the last three tracks alone with accordion and light accompaniment. “Nina’s Hot Step,” a solo instrumental played on the single-row, brims with jaw-dropping technique and ornamentation, while the lovely waltz “Mo Mank (I Miss)” is dedicated to his departed grandmother and aunt. “Arèt Tô Trin (Stop Your Noise)” throttles along to its own merry groove. 

With 14 albums of mostly original material, Ledet may have started his recording later than desired but he’s certainly gotten ahead of the pack since then.