Le Musique Creole (CD - 1996)

Personnel: Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin (vocals, accordion); Canray Fontenot (vocals, fiddle); Gustave Ardoin (vocals, accordion); Lawrence "Black" Ardoin (drums); Isom Fontenot (triangle).

Liner Note Authors: Chris Strachwitz; Revon J. Reed.

Recording information: Falls Church, VA (07/24/1966-??/??/1973); West Of Mamou (07/24/1966-??/??/1973).

Photographers: Chris Strachwitz; Michael P. Smith; Les Blank.

The superb La Musique Creole is most notable for its inclusion of the rare 1966 Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin and Canray Fontenot LP Les Blues du Bayou, the record cut in the wake of the duo's triumphant appearance at that year's Newport Folk Festival. Long renowned as among the finest Creole records ever made, its 16 tracks capture Ardoin and Fontenot at the peak of their powers; their interplay on cuts like "Les Blues du Voyager," "Duralde Ramble," and the bluesy instrumental "La Danse de la Misere" borders on the telepathic. The inclusion of eight tracks from a 1971 Arhoolie LP also titled La Musique Creole, as well the Ardoin Family Orchestra's previously unreleased "Ardoin Two-Step," is just the icing on the cake. A must for all Creole fans. ~ Jason Ankeny

A classic album, originally recorded in 1966, by a legendary Cajun musician whose older cousin Amede is generally conceded to be the father of zydeco. Here, the music of the younger Ardoin (the nickname translates as "dry stick") is extremely traditional; most tunes feature the absolutely bare-bones accompaniment and Ardoin's accordion and the fiddle of Canray Fontenot, although on tunes like the shambling "Ardoin Two Step" and "Jolie Catin," they also make room for some appealing trash-can drums. Another break with tradition is the walking bass line on the amusing "Le Boss," which seems to want to be Creole rockabilly. There's a certain amount of repetition here from track to track, of course, but there's also an amazing and really potent sense of a vanished time and place. minimize