Besides music, spending time with my wife Jennifer and our great families and friends. Also spoiling our dogs, riding my bicycle, prowling the back streets of towns in search of used instruments and other treasures, exploring the older neighborhoods of cities and meeting the local characters, swapping stories with friends and strangers, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, southern Missouri, the Great Lakes, southwest Louisiana, Civil War history, canyons and deserts, caves and cliffs, good views, old maps, geologic oddities and Amen brothers and sisters, a good cup o' joe.
Anyone who can tell me a good story. Wise, older people and younger folks who are wise beyond their years. I want to meet people who can teach me more tunes and/or techniques. Who can play their way into the pocket? Talk to me. I also love talking about guitars, playing them and learning more about their history and construction. I'm on the lookout for used guitar deals, mostly to pass along solid instruments to students. I'd like to meet anyone who can tell me where to get the best coffee and cannoli in their town. I'm serious. Also restaurant, deli, taco stand, roadhouse, brewpub and dance hall recommendations are always welcomed. Check out the video below - Cedric and Corey really ripped it up at the Moon.
Presently a member of Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Stomp, as well as L'Esprit Creole - the acoustic version (trio/quartet) of Creole Stomp. In L'Esprit, we play French music from Upper Louisiana - Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Some of these tunes date back to 300 years ago and the music reflects the French traditions in the upper Mississippi River valley. My Grandpa Bequette (known to everyone as Beck) was from southeastern Missouri so I have a strong interest in this music and culture. I've played some cool gigs with Morris and Dexter Ardoin, Hadley Castille, the Pine Leaf Boys, and Paul Gregoire and Roux de Bayou. One annual highlight is the Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week, an inspiring week of music and magic that happens every April at Chicot State Park near Ville Platte, LA. Balfa camp is sponsored by Louisiana Folk Roots - www.lafolkroots.org. I also play guitar for the Backyard BBQ Band and we play a variety of roots music - blues, folk tunes, western swing and honky-tonk music.
I admire many musicians including Fletcher Henderson, Django, Muddy and the Wolf, Louis Jordan, Hank Williams, B.B. King, Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, Tish Hinojosa, Christine Balfa, Dirk Powell, Don Vappie, Banu Gibson, Toots and the Maytalls, Boozoo, Beau, Jeffery Broussard, Leon Chavis, Eric "Big E" Frey, and many musicians - check out my friends for more info. A special nod to musical nephews Brian Krumm, Jeff Yonkus and Michael Porter; my buddies Randy Cordle, Doug Schroer and Matt Turino, as well as everyone in Creole Stomp. In our patch of the world we are blessed with an abundance of talent including Robin Kearton, Tom Faux, Jordan Kaye, Josh Houchin, Candy Foster, Bruiser Rummenie, Kathy Harden and a lot of strong singers and players. I have to mention my friend Darryl Broderick. He could crank out the boogie-woogie piano licks with the best of them - and I mean it, the best. With an ear for melody, a strong sense of rhythm and a booming voice, his talent was rich and from the soul. I'm really sad to note his passing in Nov.'07. We had a lifelong friendship and I really miss him.