Where to find Cajun / Zydeco Music Reviews

It can be hit or miss in hearing about a new CD released from Cajun/Zydeco artists at times unless you happen to all be connected through Facebook or often take trips to Louisiana or Texas. 

OffBeat Magazine has been doing music reviews for many years and since they archive all their reviews it's a great place to visit on a regular basis to see who's putting out new tunes to check out!

Click on the image to the right or the following link to view reviews on Offbeat's website.

Website Review Link:
http://www.offbeat.com/category/reviews/

Links to Individual Cajun/Zydeco Reviews:

Corey Ledet
http://www.offbeat.com/2014/01/01/corey-ledet-and-his-zydeco-band-destiny/

Chubby Carrier
http://www.offbeat.com/2014/01/01/chubby-carrier-back-to-my-roots-swampadelic-records/

Dennis Stroughmatt
http://www.offbeat.com/2014/01/01/creole-stomp-pipeliners-blues-doin-time-mme/

Travis Matte
http://www.offbeat.com/2013/12/01/travis-matte-old-time-cajun-songs-mhat-productions/

JJ Callier
http://www.offbeat.com/2013/12/01/jj-caillier-zydeco-knockouts-i-can-give-you-what-you-want-caillier-records/

Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas
http://www.offbeat.com/2013/12/01/nathan-zydeco-and-the-cha-chas-a-new-road-cha-cha-records/

Creole Music & Culture in Rural Louisiana

Check out the video below to the FULL LENGTH movie on Creole Music and Culture in Rural Louisiana.

This Nick Spitzer film on African American dance-hall music in French-speaking southwest Louisiana.  There is a ton of great video footage of Bois Sec Ardoin, Armand Ardoin and Dolon Carriere.

Click on the link below to view the video:
http://www.folkstreams.net/film,181

Zydeco Creole Music and Culture in Rural Louisiana

Check out other American Roots Films at the following Folkstreams.net web site.http://folkstreams.net/

Boozoo Chavis - Rare Video Clips of The Zydeco Master

Over the last 15 years experiencing the Cajun/Zydeco world I have seen a ton of video clips but not this clip...  These are two rare clips of the late, great, BooZoo Chavis who was known to be very touchy about people video taping him before the era of cell phone cameras.

Boozoo recorded his first Zydeco tune in 1954 and was a major influence to the artists that we dance to today.

Of all the Zydeco songs ever played my favorite is probably his tune called Motor Dude Zydeco and the video clip at the top shows him belting out this song at a gig.  

BooZoo was also known for some great quotes or Boozoo-isms... such as...

"Don't tell me to watch the beat, You watch me"

"I keep up the tradition, the Zydeco"

"Nothing from nothing leaves nothing"

"I'm not trying to be something I ain't.  That's right. I'm me"

"I'm Creole, and I'm down to earth"

Music Samples of Cajun/Zydeco Music Chronology

Here is a short video/audio clip of how Cajun/Zydeco music sounded from is origins through today's best artists.

There was a holiday event in San Diego and the video clip below shows a quick talk where the music samples were demonstrated to the crowd.

What Do Those Cajun / Creole Sayings Mean?

When listening to Cajun or Zydeco music or if you have taken a trip to Louisiana you probably have heard a few new words and wondered what they mean?... 

Laissez les bon temps rouler (lay-zay lay bon ton rule-ay

Let the good times roll!

Lagniappe (lan-yap)

This is the Cajun word for "something extra", so possibly at a store they may give you a little something extra with no charge.
Et Toi

This means "and you"...  

For a few more terms check out the following link to the Cajun Country Dictionary. 

http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~jmeaux/cajundict.html