Arhoolie Presents American Masters, Vol. 3: 15 Louisiana Cajun Classics

by Louisiana Cajun Classics / Vari

Overview

Digging from the extensive Cajun archives at Arhoolie, this album, part of the American Masters series, gives the listener a nice overview of a genre's facets. Luckily for the listener with a short attention span, this compilation features very few of the oldest, scratchiest-sounding works and has a pretty good focus on the up-tempo stuff. Beausoleil opens it up with a jig, followed by a slow waltz from Nathan Abshire and a two-step from Wade Fruge. Balfa, Savoy, and Menard take up another slower number, followed immediately by Cheese Read jumping with his fiddle fast and hard enough to sound like a small ensemble. The California Cajun Orchestra has a bouncing swing to its work, Harry Choates has a little country in his sound, and the old Hackberry Ramblers take their opportunity to contribute a slow rendition of "Jolie Blonde." The Savoys and Doucets combine for a nice rendition in honor of Amede Ardoin, Canray Fontenot uses his fiddle to good effect in "Bernadette," and Austin Pitre uses a bass drum to pound out the power of "Bosco Stomp." The Magnolia Sisters provide a traditional song, Dewey Balfa returns with a romp ("Basile Breakdown") heavy on the triangle, and Michael Doucet makes a nice vocal show. The album finishes up on the venerable Joe Falcon and his fiddle playing is a raucous, if not cacophonous piece ("Flames of Hell"). Overall, it's not a bad collection of Cajun music at all, with the weight of the Arhoolie catalog to back it up. For those interested in Cajun, it's a fine starting point, comparable with Rounder's Essential Collection. ~ Adam Greenberg

Product Details

Release Date:	11/05/1996
Label:	Arhoolie
UPC:	0096297010327
Rank:	100915

Tracks

1. Le Jig Francais  -  BeauSoleil  - Michael Doucet
2. Chere Te Mon  - Nathan Abshire  -  Public Domain
3. Port Arthur Blues  - Wade Fruge  -  Public Domain
4. J'Ai Passe Devant Ta Porte  - Dewey Balfa  - D.L. Menard  -  Public Domain  - Marc Savoy
5. Fiddle Stomp  -  Public Domain  - Wallace Cheese Read
6. Chicot Two-Step  -  California Cajun Orchestra  - Danny Poullard
7. Poor Hobo  - Harry Choates  -  Traditional
8. Jolie Blonde  -  Hackberry Ramblers  -  Traditional
9. Two Step D-Amede  -  Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band
10. Bernadette  - Canray Fontenot
11. Bosco Stomp  - Austin Pitre  -  Public Domain
12. La Robe Barr¿¿e (The Striped Dress)  -  Magnolia Sisters  -  Public Domain
13. Basile Breakdown  - Nathan Abshire  - Dewey Balfa  -  Public Domain
14. Grand Tasso  - Michael Doucet  -  Public Domain
15. Falmes De'enfer  - Joe Falcon

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Michael Doucet   Primary Artist
Hackberry Ramblers   Primary Artist
BeauSoleil   Primary Artist
Marc Savoy   Primary Artist
Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band   Primary Artist
Canray Fontenot   Primary Artist
Magnolia Sisters   Primary Artist
Dewey Balfa   Primary Artist
Wallace Cheese Read   Primary Artist
Joe Falcon   Primary Artist
D.L. Menard   Primary Artist
Wade Fruge   Primary Artist
Nathan Abshire   Primary Artist
Austin Pitre   Primary Artist
Harry Choates   Primary Artist
The California Cajun Orchestra   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

BeauSoleil   Performer
Wade Fruge   Arranger,Performer
Dewey Balfa   Arranger,Performer
Joseph Falcon   Performer
Luderin Darbone   Arranger
Nathan Abshire   Arranger,Performer
Ann Savoy   Arranger
Tom Diamant   Editing,Producer
Marc Savoy   Arranger,Performer
The California Cajun Orchestra   Performer
Harry Choates   Performer
Chris Strachwitz   Editing,Producer,Photography
Wallace Cheese Read   Arranger,Performer
Magnolia Sisters   Performer
Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band   Performer
Michael Doucet   Arranger,Composer,Performer
Hackberry Ramblers   Performer
Austin Pitre   Performer
Traditional   Composer
Jane Vidrine   Arranger
Wayne Pope   Cover Design,Design
W.L. Reed   Arranger
Danny Poullard   Composer
Canray Fontenot   Performer,Composer
D.L. Menard   Performer,Arranger
Dix Bruce   Photo Restoration,Layout Design,Artwork,Design
Public Domain   Composer