The celebration of Southwest La.’s and Jamaican roots
15th June 2016 · 0 Comments
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer
Two very different styles of music will be celebrated across town from each other this coming weekend, Saturday June 18 and Sunday, June 19. The 10th annual Cajun-Zydeco-Festival, presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, two-steps at Congo Square from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day. The free fest features genres that are musically kissing cousins that blossomed in southwest Louisiana.
Just a glance at the names of the musicians who are performing during the weekend makes it apparent that this year’s event celebrates Cajun and zydeco families – the young musicians who are carrying on the musical and cultural traditions of their forefathers.
First up on Saturday are the Chavis brothers, the grandsons of the legendary push-button accordionist, vocalist and composer Boozoo Chavis. Each is leading their own bands playing back-to-back sets.
RJ Chavis & the Creole Sounds gets the first spot at 11 a.m. RJ is an accordionist and vocalist whose initials stand for Rellis Jr. He is the son of drummer Rellis Chavis Sr. who supplied the kick behind his father’s, Boozoo Chavis, raw, earthy style that influenced an entire arm of zydeco music. If you play or love zydeco, you’ve got to know his 1959 classic, “Paper in My Shoe.”
It will be interesting if there will be any mix and match between the Chavis brothers’ sets because next on the schedule is rubboard man and vocalist Justin Chavis & the Dog Hill Stompers. The name of the band comes from another of their grandfather’s classic hits, and, well stomping grounds, “Down on Dog Hill.” Despite the swampy conditions in front of the Fais-Do-Do Stage at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, this group got big thumbs up particularly for keeping Boozoo’s repertoire and energy alive. These brothers – RJ and Justin – should know how it goes because as youngsters they watched, learned and felt it all from just behind Rellis Sr.’s drums.
Another artist from an illustrious family of zydeco, accordionist and vocalist Dwayne Dopsie, the son of Alton “Rockin’ Dopsie” Rubin is also on Saturday’s bill. He’s always impressively energetic leading his Zydeco Hellraisers. And yes they are.
The legendary accordionist/vocalist Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin remains renowned for performing in a style deemed the precursor to zydeco music known as musique creole and particularly in association with fiddle player Canray Fontenot. Two of his grandsons – Sean and Chris Ardoin both accordionists who were encouraged by their father, drummer Lawrence “Black” Ardoin, will lead separate bands on Sunday. Sean, the eldest of the two musical siblings, takes the stage at 12:45 p.m. with his band Zydekool. As the group’s name suggests, his is a modern take on the style. Interestingly, Sean also released the first zydeco-gospel album.
Chris too is a zydeco innovator, fusing multiple styles into the genre. Leading his band, Nu Step, on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., he will present a special show in tribute to the much-missed, late great accordionist, vocalist and composer Beau Jocque.
Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Chas close out the festival beginning at 5:45 p.m. Unlike the previous accordionists mentioned, Williams plays the big keyboard style instrument and was highly influenced by the King of Zydeco Clifton Chenier. Williams’ uncle, Harry Hypolite, who played guitar with Chenier, helped his nephew along the way.
Reggae Comes Back to City Park
Reggae fans of a certain age will remember when every summer there was a reggae festival held in City Park’s Marconi Meadows, in an area that was once referred to as the “old driving range.” At various times, several different organizations put on the events that were musically strong with artists like the great dub poet Mutaburuka stunningly offering, “Every time I hear the sound…”
It was on the grassy field next to the bayou that the audience was also introduced to a different slant on the style by the Canadian group the Reggae Cowboys. One time an associated reggae event was held, rather disastrously, at the University of New Orleans. A long line formed in the shade of a single power pole. Though there was always a lot of jah love, peace and good vibes and music at the festivals, they failed to attract a sustainable audience.
Many reggae fans and others have yearned for the positive messages that have been central to the music and seem to be needed more than ever in today’s troubled world. “Where I come from. it’s to uplift struggling people,” Stephen Marley, the second son of the inspiration legion, Bob Marley, recently declared.
So it is with great anticipation that reggae music returns to City Park at the first annual Roots Reggae Cultural Festival that is being held on Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19, at Tad Gormley Stadium. Saturday’s headliner is the internationally renowned Third World, a group that will forever be known for the sing-a-long ready refrain, “96 degrees in the shade,” which is a lyric from a politically inspired tune actually entitled “1865 (96 Degrees in the Shade)” off the album of the same name. Several popular local reggae bands who have been keeping reggae vital in New Orleans including Higher Heights and Zion Trinity also appear on Saturday.
Sunday’s attraction is Jamaica’s Capleton, a dancehall star who first gained considerable attention in 1992 for his tune, “Aims.” Local favorites on the second day of the festival include The Shepherd Band and the wonderful vocalist Michaela Harrison.
For more information on the Roots Reggae Cultural Festival including ticket prices, go to www.rrcfest.com.
This article originally published in the June 13, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
