Apr, 2004. Folk, Secular... Zydeco!

www.themusicalrevolution.com (on deck)
themusicalrevolution@yahoo.ca

Apr./2004.
Edition (g).

PROMO:

Check these dates for the "Pete Kyrie Band".

Thursday April 1 @ Clinton's Tavern - Toronto, ON
Thursday April 22 @ Kathedral - Toronto, ON
Friday April 23 @ VIP Lounge - London, ON
Saturday April 24 @ Vip Lounge - London, ON

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. SWALLOW PUBLICATIONS: CAJUN MUSIC'S RIGHTFUL HOME. http://www.swallowpublications.com/
2. LOUISIANA MUSIC FACTORY: CAJUN LEARNIN'. http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com/
3. NATHAN WILLIAMS & THE ZYDECO CHA CHAS: THE NAME SAYS IT ALL. http://nathanwilliams.crazygator.com/

G)
only tired eyes can see
apparitions of dreams
under radar detection

H)
my last for now
will be my first later
under star-lit elephant trunks

Copyright: Zoë Zagg, 2004.

EDITORIAL:

So I sit here enjoying some of my girl Kristi's tasty spaghetti sauce gumbo and damn it, I think I am getting in the mood!

Time: Back when I was teaching high school:
Chip (on the shoulder) the snot nosed kid with something to prove: "So Mr. Wilson - you graduated from Western?"
Me: "Uhmm yeah." (Thinking: 'Here we go.')
Chip: "You ever heard of Smap-o-licious-boogie-woogie music?"
Me: "Uhh well... No... What the?"
Chip: (laughing and very satisfied) "You see it was invented in my great great great grampas uncles former roommates basement up in Chelmsford and..."

The fact is: For every region in every time period there is a folk (of the people, not Simon & Garfunkle) music with a way out there name and (often) equally simple approach! For one human to know them all intimately is impossible because:
1. There aren't enough hours in a lifetime!
2. Each "folk" music really requires that you have experienced the culture first hand to truly "know" it.
To quote a favorite movie, "You can't hear Jimi!"

The sweet thing is that ever since and even before Liszt and Bartók made it correct to be "ethnomusicologists" (Yeah - I was a Chip too), cats have been stealing from "folk" musics everywhere to create their own unique inspirations. Want current proof? Listen to all the Middle Eastern influence in modern day war protest songs - Linkin Park? S.O.T.D.?

This brings me to "Zydeco", Louisiana Cajun Music's city cousin. I found out about it's existence this month while reading an article in "Bass Player" (Nov. 2003, Ed Friedland and Terry Buddingh). I've since started researching it on the internet and thought that I'd let you in on the ground floor (or try and play a little catchup). Here is a description lifted directly from the "Music Factory" website:

"Zydeco is a music indigenous to southwest Louisiana and is now popular the world over. The word Zydeco was derrived from the the French word hericot which means "snap bean." The Cajuns have an old song called, "Les Hericots Sont Pas Sale," which means "the snap beans are not salty." Clifton Chenier once said that he called the music Zydeco because he learned it playing in people's kitchens and these party's they called "having a zydeco." Clifton changed the old tune to "Zydeco Sont Pas Sale" and by doing so coined the phrase Zydeco as a style of music. Zydeco combines cajun, blues, jazz, and r&b to create a unique dance music."

From what I can gather - the only way to really understand the hype is to go to Louisiana and drink in the vibe (so to speak). But, I have included links in this very email to give the interested a taste. Remember, it is a "folk" music so, the fact that it is based on two chords repeated is inevitible. But, Dr. Dre has fasioned an entire career using one chord so the Creole do deserve a little understanding here. My beloved funk is I, IV so I figure that Zydeco should be just my speed! Besides... It's called ZYDECO - C'MON!!

INSPIRATIONS:

1. SWALLOW PUBLICATIONS: CAJUN MUSIC'S RIGHTFUL HOME. http://www.swallowpublications.com/

Check out their history for a little jolt of inspiration:
http://www.swallowpublications.com/about_us.htm
This shit is music industry past, present and future incarnate!

2. LOUISIANA MUSIC FACTORY: CAJUN LEARNIN'. http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com/

Not printed in French - thank my lucky stars!

3. NATHAN WILLIAMS & THE ZYDECO CHA CHAS: THE NAME SAYS IT ALL. http://nathanwilliams.crazygator.com/

Damn site crashed my old computer... @#$!!!! But, I was impressed with the crazy-ass moniker and the picture of the accordian player in front of a marquee proudly displaying his(?) name; All "inside" a bowling alley - that's authentico! Note: "Bass Player" has a lot to say about this Nathan Cat's band so if you czech inti it prepare yourself for some wanky bass stylez - LOL!!

Coupla Coo factoids: My boy Lucas hit up the site - indiejukebox.com - after Tammy's recommendation in last month's newsletter. To his (and all of ours really) dismay he discovered that the site didn't recognize Hip Hop as a genre. Of course, Lucas contacted the guy and if you wanna know how it turned out, czech: www.indiejukebox.com
Big ups Cat!
Also, as indicated in March's newsletter, my boy Luc's band "Minque" performed in the second round of the Toronto division of the Emergenza International Battle of the Bands. They cleaned house again! On to the next round for the cats - Big ups!!

Ideas? Inspirations? Promotions? Performances?
Share - it's the only way to the next level.

Big Love,
i220

www.themusicalrevolution.com (on deck)
themusicalrevolution@yahoo.ca

Posted by Mattay at April 01, 2004 11:10 AM