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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Cajun Music Coming to the Bay

I rarely promote events outside of San Jose, but this one seems particularly unique. I've never even heard Cajun music before, so I thought I would toss this out there for anyone interested.



Sunday, September 19
Joel Savoy & Jesse Lége
Cajun Dancehall Music from SW Louisiana
Don Quixote’s Music Hall, Felton CA

Tickets $12
Matinee Show at 1pm
6275 Highway 9 in Downtown Felton, CA
831-603-2294

Cajun fiddler Joel Savoy (son of master accordionist Marc Savoy) is spearheading a growing movement of young Cajun musicians taking back their roots music. Founder of the Grammy-nominated label Valcour Records and the acclaimed Red Stick Ramblers, Savoy is equally at home playing the old twin-fiddling of Cajun masters like Dennis McGee, as he is playing swing or country fiddle for honky-tonk dancing.

He’s touring now with Cajun accordionist and vocalist Jesse Lége. Growing up in a rural, pre-electricity home in Gueydan, Southwest Louisiana, Jesse spoke Cajun French as a first language and learned music from relatives, neighbors and the family’s much-loved battery-powered radio. Listening to the Grand Ol’ Opry was as natural to him as staying up late at a Cajun fais do-do, and he brings that love of old school country and Cajun music to his collaboration with Joel Savoy. Jesse sings in the classic, old-school style of Cajun vocalists, and since French is his first language, he’s able to write new songs in this old style. He’s a master of Cajun dancehall music and the real deal.

Barry Ancelet, Professor of Folklore at USL: “Jesse Lége . . . is one of the great vocalists of contemporary Cajun music. His penetrating style and emotion-laden lyrics can make veteran festival producers such as this one weep backstage. This is the real stuff, straight and undiluted.”


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