The California Cajun Orchestra – Not Lonesome Anymore ? ARH CD-356

Description

Arhoolie CD-356

Danny Poullard – accordion & vocals; Suzy Thompson – fiddle & vocals; Eric Thompson – guitar; Charlie St. Mary – rub-board & vocals; Bill Wilson – bass; Sam Siggins – drums; Kevin Wimmer – fiddle; Andrew Carriere – vocals.

1. Hix Wagon Wheel Special
2. Valse Criminelle
3. Monsieur Leonard
4. Sugar Bee
5. Lake Charles Two-Step
6. Not Lonesome Anymore
7. Jolie Bassette
8. Mon Coeur Fait P’us Mal
9. L’Anse A Paille
10. Tell Me Pretty Mama
11. Veuve De Basile
12. Shamrock Two Step
13. Louisiana Waltz
14. Midland Two-Step
15. Hathaway Two-Step
16. Valse du Mariage
17. Lake Arthur Stomp

REVIEWS

“`Not Lonesome Anymore’ is an appropriate title for the California Cajun Orchestra’s new Arhoolie release. CCO’s gigs are hardly lonesome affairs with an increasing number of local fans letting their feet take their hearts where their minds never dreamedinto the world of a real fais do do (all-night dance).

The album provides a cross-section of the CCO’s un melange piquant of two-steps waltzes and fine Cajun blues. Filling out the band are bassist Billy Wilson (who also plays accordion with Motor Dude Zydeco and Bayou Pon Pon) drummer Sam Siggins (a member of the same two bands) and rubboard player Charlie St. Mary. The sessions also featured Kevin Wimmer on second fiddle and Andrew Carrierre son of Creole fiddler Bebe Carriere on vocals.

At the heart of CCO’s authentic sound is an authentic man Danny Poullard. Poullard was born on a farm near Eunice Louisiana the heartland of Cajun music. Now perhaps the most versatile of all Cajun accordionists he commands the aggressive fingerings of vanguard players like Mark Savoy and Paul Daigle but is equally adept on slow and droning Cajun-Creole numbers. Also in the band are fiddler Suzy Thompson and electric guitarist Eric Thompson.

Dancing is the raison d’etre of Cajun music and Poullard says he’s noticed an improved quality of dancing at CCO gigs. `At first not too many people out there knew how to dance too good’ he observes. `Now there’s more of them and their dancin’ is gettin’ better and better!’”

(Harton Firmin — BAM)

“blistering instrumentals and soulful vocals…great to listen to better to dance to.”

(Kerry Blech — Victory Review)