No disrespect to big J here but I didn't get the zydeco feel with that tune. Number one a harp can't do what an accordian can sound wise and number two it didn't have that, I don't know how to describe it but I've seen CJ Chenier multiple times and if you stood in the back of the room the whole audience moved to the groove much like a reflex if the doctor hits you in the knee with his mallet, It just happens. To me that is the zydeco sound.
I love this vid...Jason is rocking. I know that he can sometimes be accused of playing too many notes but that was just perfect playing for that tune. I'm with BronzeWailer. Great post Nick. ---------- Oisin
I spent a lot of nights in TX, LA, and CA, at the feet of clifton chenier. For me, him and Boozo Chavis, another I sat at the feet of for many shows, are the whole enchilada. They mixed it all up but regardless what they played it came out with that make you move groove. These guys were the real deal. They traveled with pull behind trailers with their names on them and when they walked in a club speaking that crazy french and gold teeth shining/hair pomaded to all hieghts, man did the sounds flow. Here is a sampling of the sounds I heard live. The first has Clifton blowing harp and accordian. Walter
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
I rather liked it. Was it pure zydeco? nope but it had the flavor and was a fun tune. And for trying to partially emulate an accordion Jason did quite well.
I agree Jason did a good job on this tune. I get way sidetracked when it comes to zydeco. I am suprised more people don't cite clifton as a harp influence via his accordian playing. He does smoking fast runs like in the first song I posted. I figured the new modern guys would tap into his riff?? Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
Walter, I got to hang back stage with those guys a couple of times. Harry Hypolite was playing with CJ then. Harry was from his father Clifton's band; he was a hoot. He told me that CJ really had talent and he thought that he was even better than Clifton.
Lip ripper: Yes they were cool guys much like the old bluesmen- openhearted, welcoming, and cool to just listen to them talk! I would differ with Harry's take. CJ was fronting the band when you saw him and it is always politically correct to aknowledge your paycheck as the best :-) Seriously, I never though CJ was very good in a front persons role. He was best on sax backing his father. Those were mighty big shoes to fill much like hank williams jr had to deal with. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
1. this video was from a gig a decade ago, when jason was a mostly unknown sideman playing in an established band. 2. there are several other videos from the same show.
That makes sense Walter. This was in the late 80's and early 90's. They had a great act then and to think about what you said about measuring up to his father; damn, I missed a good one.
