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Corey Ledet Zydeco
Nouveau Electric Records
Houston born Corey Ledet keeps the zydeco flame burning bright with this new release full of hot grooves and soulful vocals. It was mostly recorded at Dockside Studios, Maurice, Louisiana, in June 2019, with one selection recorded during the Covid-19 lockdown. Corey is featured on lead, harmony and background vocals, accordion, drums, and washboard. Others playing on this album are Cecil Green on Hammond B3 organ, bassist Lee Allen Zeno, harmonica player Grant Dermody, Julian Primeaux on rhythm and lead guitar and backing vocals, and Gerard Delafose on drums and washboard.
Ledet comes from a family rich in music history. His great grandfather played bass with Bunk Johnson, while his grandfather, Buchanan Ledet, was the first zydeco drummer playing with Clifton Chenier and Rockin' Dopsie. Buchanan invented the twice-pumped bass drumming pattern called "double clutching" that's been an integral part of the genre ever since and is celebrated by the exuberant "Buchanan Ledet Special," one of several songs enthusiastically delivered in French.
Things start with the spirited "This Is All I Want," which conjures up the non-stop grooves of Boozoo Chavis. It is followed by "Buchanan Ledet Special," which has a brief spoken introduction. "Mon Marche" is a French rendition of Fats Domino's "I'm Walking" in a manner that would make Clifton Chenier smile. A bit more of a Clifton Chenier flavor is heard on "Per Mo (Call Me)." Grant Dermody adds a harmonica solo here. Dermody also is featured on the warp speed rendition of Ledet's cover of Big Joe Turner's hit "Flip Flop and Fly." He captures some of the high energy of such post-Chenier-Buckwheat Zydeco acts like Dwayne Dopsie. Try not to at least move one's feet listening to this track.
"Nina's Hot Step" is a traditionally rooted two-step creole instrumental that is a solo performance that Corey recorded to complete this project and adds to the variety of music here. Also, there is a delightful waltz, "Mon Make (I Miss)" that evokes Chenier's "Louisiana Waltz" from an early Arhoolie album. Ledet evokes some of the zydeco greats without imitation and, with his superb accordion playing and first-rate singing, has produced a sterling recording. The only possible complaint is that the playing time is short, but there is not one wasted moment.
I received a review download from a publicist. After writing the review I came across an article about the issues the pandemic has created for cajun and zydeco artists with the closure of clubs and cancellation of festivals that were major sources of their income. Corey was one of the artists mentioned, so purchasing this album helps Corey out in addition to providing the listener with some superb music. It is available on Bandcamp, https://coreyledetzydeco.bandcamp.com. Here is a video of Corey performing a song not on this album, "Promised Land Two Step." Yes, that is Paul 'L'il Buck' Sinegal on guitar on the left.
