Zydeco

The CD wallet cover invites: "Travel with us to Southwest Louisiana for an unforgettable musical adventure"... and that is just what the CD provides. I love the energy and sincerity of lyrics and performance found in top-level Zydeco music. The people at Putumayo have collected eleven signature performances by different Zydeco stars. Each cut is accompanied by a useful photograph of the artist, a brief overview of their work, including their place in Zydeco musical culture. Top stars for this information--a guide to our Louisiana tour. Collectors or just curious folk will appreciate having access to this learning. Most of us will just listen to the music. Some of us will already have a cut or two from here on first release albums by these musicians. One caveat: this is not the 'bush' Zydeco as rendered by semi-professional local bands; these are the 'giants' of the business and their work features polished musicianship and wider musical knowledge. I really like Buckwheat Zydeco. Putumayo offers 'I'm On A Wonder', a bluesy Zydeco with a powerful Buckwheat vocal. Boozoo Chavez and the Magic Sounds offer the amusing but pointed 'Lula, Lula Don't You Go To Bingo." In other words, each cut here is a gem and yet there is so much variety that the whole CD does not ever begin to sound alike. Absent here are bands like the Balfa Brothers but 'outsiders' will be introduced to The Creole Zydeco Farmers, Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band (Ca Fa, a great vocal and accordion number), Rosie Ledet (a gutsy bluesy "You're No Good For Me"); Beau Jocque and the Zydeco High Rollers ('What You Gonna Do'--showing his vocal prowess.) Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas offer 'I'm In Love', just one of their well-known numbers. Gene Delafose and French Rockin Boogie offer a swinging 'Bye Bye Mon Neg', a tradition-steeped Creole Zydeco. The tracks conclude with Chris Ardoin and his reggae influenced 'Stay In Or Stay Out.' There is not a single lame selection on this disc and I believe it will please a very wide audience of music lovers who are seeking adventure. Please note that my version of this CD did not include two cuts listed by the publisher: No. 6--Burning Flames Special and No. 12--'Hoochie Coochie' by Joe KK and Zydeco Force. I would have liked to listen to them, too but what is there is all worth five stars.

I wasn't exposed to much music as a kid and so I am sadly lacking in appreciation for many kinds of music. I don't want my kids to be the same way, especially since my oldest seems to have an affinity for music. In my quest to expose them to as many different types of music as early as possible, I scoured Amazon for the highest rated CDs. I came across this one and bought it because everyone absolutely raved about it. I don't know that I had ever heard a Zydeco song before I purchased this CD. However, it is now one of my favorites. I don't know any of the artists and I can't comment on that aspect of it. However, I can tell you that every time this CD is on, my toes start tapping. There isn't a song on it that I don't enjoy. Both of my kids start boogieing around the house and my 2-year-old picks up his instruments and tries to play along. It's great fun and given a choice of different CDs to listen to, my kids almost always choose this one over more "kid-friendly" ones. I highly recommend this CD to anyone who is interested in hearing some Zydeco but doesn't know enough about it to know what they want. The money I spent on this CD is the best investment I have made in music in a long time.

Not really my favorite type of music. Am more into jazz, Latin, and opera but very well done.

This was a great purchase that bring the feel of New Orleans to our home in washington state. I would recommend purchasing this to anyone looking for some great happy music.

Living in SE Texas there are often times when I hear a bit of Zydeco during festivals but I haven't ever had any real exposure to it. Not long ago I was looking for some new music to liven things up in the studio and I ordered Putumayo's "Zydeco". It is the best music I've ever found to play while I'm working. Each song complements the last and keeps me energized as I spend the day working on my own art. While some are a bit slower than others it never slows it down so much that I loose my working Rhythm.

I bought this CD because my kids (6 and 4 years old) became interested in Zydeco after watching Disney's The Princess and the Frog and listening to the soundtrack practically nonstop. I thought it would be a great way to introduce them to more of the Cajun music that they heard and loved from the movie. We all love it. If you're interested in introducing young people to a new genre of music, this is an excellent choice.

There is better crawfishing music out there. This is an enjoyable listen to accordion and that Cajun beat, but not one of my favorites.

Found out that a friend loved this kind of music and could not even identify the genre. I knew it was Zydeco. Searched for just the right CD to start her collection...read the reviews and the list of songs on Amazon for this CD and this was the perfect "first" for her. It had all the classics. She called me when she got it (practically the next day!!!) you can't beat the speed and accuracy of the Amazon shipping department and raved and raved about her gift that I sent her as a "thank you for your hospitality" gift.