Posted by Werd
on December 10, 2007, 6:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Cajun UK the future -- personal conclusions"
195.93.21.72
Well, this debate is certainly inspiring some wise words - about time too.
Martyn is so right that bands need to play to satisfy their audiences. That includes punters who have little or no specific knowledge of Louisiana music. If its good and they enjoy it, they'll want to know more and so the critical mass of enthusiasts will grow.
If this means they play versions of Blues, Rock & Roll etc, great! After all, C/Z music is just a part of the wider American music tradition but in the UK seems to be far too influenced by some purist anoraks who seem to think only their interpretation of "correct" music and dance should be allowed.
Those who have been to Louisiana will probably have experienced similar events to those I've seen. Sometimes packed venues, others where me and my pals doubled the audience. Some great venues and some nobody really thought about the customers. Some I really enjoyed but others....
But what struck me was a real feeling that this was an enjoyable, relevant part of their lives - not some near religious act of worship. Dancehalls full of (mostly young) people dancing numerous styles including Zydeco but also hip-hop, urban and street dance. Much of the Cajun dancing appears to be substantially the same as the Country & Western dancing I've seen elsewhere. But I got caught out because in some venues, the audience doesn't clap at the end of songs. So if you really want to be authentic - don't clap!
As for the music, UK bands are very rigid in sticking to Accordian/melodian, Washboard, Guitar, Bass and Drums, and sometimes a violin. In Louisiana I saw bands playing Cajun and Zydeco with various instruments including Saxophones, Clarinets, Banjo, Zither, blues harp and even Trombone.
Also one of the best Zydeco bands I've ever seen (J Paul Jr and the Zydeco Nubreedz) deep in Zydeco land (Lawtell) added rap to some of their numbers.
Martyn and Andy Watson seem to be making most sense in this debate but there might be some out there who would prefer C/Z to become an elitist genre with its own Masonic secrets and separate from the wider Rock & Roll and Blues where it truly exists.
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