Zydeco Crossroads: A Tale of Two Cities

Robert Mugge's follow-up to 1994's The Kingdom of Zydeco (also newly available) takes its name from a yearlong Creole music/interviews series (which also covered dance and cuisine) that was sponsored by Philadelphia radio station WXPN. The first performer, C.J. Chenier, talks to host David Dye about his days playing saxophone and keyboards in funk bands before following in the footsteps of his father, Clifton Chenier. Mugge and Dye also travel to Lafayette, LA, to catch up with Chubby Carrier, Major Handy, Lil' Nathan Williams, Rockin' Dopsie, Jr., and Buckwheat Zydeco. Vasti Jackson, a Mississippi artist, joins in to add his talent on guitar. All told, there's a mix of races, genders, generations, and even genres, since some of the younger performers customize their repertoire with pop, reggae, and hip-hop elements. As accordion player Sean Ardoin of Creole United puts it, he aims to "do new stuff in an old way." The 19-song set list here encompasses originals and covers, like Soul Creole's swinging version of Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier," while the lyrics toggle between English and French (in the case of the latter, Mugge provides onscreen summaries rather than lyric translations). Comments from author Michael Tisserand (Kingdom of Zydeco) and KRVS disc jockey Herman Fuselier add context to the music. Also included is the documentary Rosie's in the House Tonight, an hour-shy profile of musician and band leader Rosie Ledet, who notes that female accordion players are still a rarity, even though Queen Ida is every bit as famous as male accordionists from the Chenier and Ardoin families. Presented in LPCM stereo, this is recommended. (K. Fennessy)