Dewey Balfa, Marc Savoy & D.L. Menard – Under A Green Oak Tree / Arhoolie CD-312

Description

CD 312

Dewey Balfa – fiddle & vocals; Marc Savoy – accordion; D. L. Menard – guitar & vocals plus string bass.

The entire classic session from November 1976. All of ARH 5019 + 6 previously unissued cuts.

1. Chameaux One-Step
2. J’ai Passe Devant Ta Porte
3. J’ai Fait Un Gros Erreur (I Made A Big Mistake)
4. Cajun Reel
5. Mes Petits Yeux Noirs
6. Lake Arthur Stomp
7. Jolie Blonde Du Bayou
8. Petite Fille De La Campagne
9. Ma Chere Maman Creole
10. Je Peux Pas T’oublier
11. Liberty
12. Mon Bon Vieux Mari
13. En Bas Du Chene Vert (Under A Green Oak Tree)
14. Mardi Gras Jig
15. La Valse A Pop
16. Port Arthur Blues
17. Dans Le Coeur De La Ville
18. La Porte Dans Arriere (The Back Door)
19. J’ai Ete Au Bal

REVIEWS

“In 1976 Chris Strachwitz brought together Balfa Menard and accordionist Marc Savoy for the Cajun supersession of all time. Balfa who began playing professionally during the war was highly influenced by western swing and his haunting fiddle lines are the perfect accompaniment to the mournful vocals of Menard whose soulful voice has earned him the title Of the `Cajun Hank Williams.’”

(Macon Fry — Wavelength)

“This is a set where you feel the musicians just sat down and played the music was flowing out as naturally as holding a conversation. Dewey Balfa is another of my favorite fiddle players and it’s a particular pleasure to hear the old Balfa Brothers’ sound recreated with Savoy switching to second fiddle for several tracks; the twin fiddle sound is one of Cajun music’s most potent combinations and it’s a pity it’s not used more. D.L. Menard earns his other nickname `the Cajun Rhythm Machine’ with some iron-tempo guitar; his voice although an acquired taste in its nasal abrasiveness is a remarkable soulful medium for the other ballads. A sprinkling of standards one or two rarer items such as a version of the old comic song known in England as `My Good Old Man’ and three excellent Menard originals make up a most enjoyable whole. And if you’ve got the record there are six unreleased tracks here.”

(Folk Roots)