About Me
WATCH CEDRIC & BIJOU CREOLE:
Folk America at the Barbican: Hollerers, Stompers and Old-Time Ramblers
With Seasick Steve, The Wiyos, Cedric Watson and Bijoux Creole, CW Stoneking, Diana Jones.
This event has SOLD OUT but if you can't get enough of American Folk music why not book to see our Folk America: Greenwich Village Revisited concert on Thu 22 Jan at 7.30pm featuring Carolyn Hester, Judy Collins, Roger McGuinn, Eric Andersen - and hosted by Billy Bragg.
The
BBC’s Folk America series is a comprehensive survey of American folk
music which goes all the way back to the dawn of recorded sound.
In
it, the extraordinary people, the timeless songs and the multifarious
stories intertwine to make up a great and continuingly relevant
tradition.
In these two Folk America concerts we reflect, engage with and celebrate the music that has inspired the programmes.
Hollerers, Stompers & Old Time Ramblers
focuses on old time music; the sounds of the Appalachian Mountains and
of the Mississippi Delta which were first recorded in the 1920s and
1930s, and which still haunt the imagination today.
Maverick bluesman Seasick Steve will be joined by The Wiyos delivering a blend of vaudeville, hillbilly swing and old-time country, the authentic Hokum blues of CW Stoneking and the lonesome sound of Nashville’s Diana Jones.
Visit the BBC Folk America site
BBC
Four will broadcast the documentary series on Fri 23 Jan, Fri 30 Jan
and Fri 6 Feb. The Old-Time concert will air on Fri 23 Jan and the
Greenwich Village concert will air on Fri 13 Feb. These will be
accompanied by archive documentaries and sessions.
One of the most noted young talents to emerge in Cajun or Creole music in the past few years, Cedric Watson is a fiddler, vocalist, accordionist and songwriter of seemingly unlimited potential. Born in 1983, Cedric grew up in San Felipe, Texas surrounded by the sounds of blues, old soul, country and zydeco. Unlike his hip-hop focused peers, Cedric was drawn to the old-style French songs of Southwest Louisiana and the greater Houston area. He soon made his way to Lafayette, LA where he was enthusiastically accepted into the musical community and immediately recognized as an important participant in the continuity of Creole music.
Cedric has played with some of the great family names in Creole music, including Dexter Ardoin and the Creole Ramblers and Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys. With the Pine Leaf Boys, Cedric expanded his repertoire of Cajun songs while adding his Creole and zydeco foundation to the band's true-to-the-roots Southwest Louisiana sound. He plays old La-La French
music (traditional Creole music) in a trio of accordion, fiddle and guitar with his two musical godfathers, Edward Poullard and James Adams, in the band Les Amis Creole. With accordionist Corey "Lil' Pop" Ledet, Cedric turns to the more blues and R&B influenced songs of Clifton Chenier, John Delafose, Canray Fontenot, and Be'be' Carriere.
Now Cedric continues to explore the roots of Louisiana’s Creole music with his own band, Bijou Creole. Playing a variety of old-school zydeco styles, original material and Creole traditionals. The poly-rhythmic and syncopated sounds of Africa and the Caribbean are unmistakable in this ensemble of talented musicians.
Cedric has been making a name for himself reviving the old Creole fiddling styles of Canray Fontenot and Be'Be Carriere, injecting a healthy dose of his own personality and ingenuity, and bringing them to an ever-broadening audience. He has played across the United States as well as in France, Nova Scotia, Haiti and Spain, and would like next to go to West Africa and other parts of the French Caribbean. He has a keen interest in connecting Louisiana Creole music back to its homelands. "I want to present the Creole Nation of Louisiana to the Creole Nations in other parts of the world, to make these Creole cultures aware of the one in Louisiana, and vice versa."
Cedric's creative style and obvious joy in playing make him an engaging and exciting performer. Moving with ease between fiddle and accordion, his natural playfulness on stage makes him just plain fun to watch.
His soaring, soulful vocals, all in French, remind us of a time long ago. And his interest in reconnecting with the varied roots of the music in other parts of the world will make for an interesting ride. It will be nothing short of exciting to see what he does next. --Linda Castle
On February 8, 2008 Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole will join other great music genres in celebration for this year's Grammy award ceremony in Los Angeles, California. Watson's self-titled solo debut made it's way onto The Grammy's nomination list for 2009 (Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album). The Grammy's officially decided on a catagory for Lousiana's music in 2008 with Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience taking the award home. Thanks to Terrance & Cynthia Simien's perserverance for the catagory the Cajun & Creole's "hidden" culture can be recognized in front of the world.
Although these are not the first years where creole artist's have won or even been recognized for their talents in the genre, these are the first years that they have been added to viewable lists and tapings of this historical ceremony via internet.
Clifton Chenier (The King of Zydeco) was the first creole to win a Grammy in 1983 for his album, I'm Here!, recorded in eight hours in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Queen Ida won her Grammy in 1982 for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording for her album Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band on Tour. So as you can see "The Greats have paved the way" for this year's young and energetic nominee & last year's proud winner.
And the winner is......... --J.A.Thierry
