Goldman Thibodeaux and the Lawtell Playboys La Danse à St. Ann's

Goldman Thibodeaux and the Lawtell Playboys
La Danse à St. Ann's
Nouveau Electric Records

This new album is a real surprise and delight for fans of Louisiana music. Goldman Thibodeaux, aged 87, is a living legend and one of the last musicians performing in the traditional French Creole style. I had the pleasure of seeing him at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fais Do-Do Stage (pictured below), where he and the Lawtell Playboys entranced listeners and moved the many dancers with their music. Goldman and the Playboys have been a regular act for twenty years at JazzFest. They were scheduled to perform at this year's Festival, which was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thibodeaux may be one of the last living musicians to have seen the legendary Amédé Ardoin perform when he was a child. The Lawtell Playboys were founded in 1946 by brothers Bébé and Eraste Carriere. Bébé, known as the "King of the Zydeco Fiddle," and played alongside his brother Eraste, on accordion, for many years. Over time, Eraste passed the accordion position to Delton Broussard while Bébé passed the position of fiddle player to Eraste's son, Calvin Carriere. Goldman learned to play accordion in his 50s after a heart attack. When Delton became ill, he passed the accordion position to Goldman. Calvin and Goldman played for several years before recording their first cd in 2001 titled "Les Miseres Dans le Coeur." Before he passed Calvin, he asked Goldman to take over the band and continue using the name "Lawtell Playboys".

 La Danse à St. Ann's was recorded by Mark Bingham at the Thibodeaux Family Reunion, November 2019 in Mallett, Louisiana. Bingham and the band's fiddle player Louis Michot (co-founder of Lost Bayou Ramblers) produced this remarkable document. This recording was made at a church hall with hundreds of family members gathered. The Lawtell Playboys' line-up at this performance was:

Photo © Ron Weinstock

Goldman Thibodeaux - accordion and vocals; Brock Thibodeaux – frottoir; Louis Michot - fiddle and vocals; Courtney Jeffries - acoustic guitar; Justin Leger - electric bass; and Barry Cormier - drums and vocals.

 It is marvelous to hear the traditional Louisiana creole music as heard here, starting with a marvelous two-step, "Two-step de St-Ann's." This driving number showcases not only Thibodeaux's one-button accordion-playing but Michot's down-home fiddle set against a simple rhythm groove. Much of the music here goes back to the La La music style that preceded zydeco, including irresistible fast dance numbers like "Allons Sur la Plancher," "Allons Dancer," and relaxed waltzes such as "Valse des Miseres." There are more modern numbers like the blues "Lucille," a staple of Clifton Chenier's repertoire, "Watch That Dog," evoking the late Boozoo Chavis, and "Pauvre Hobo," a reworking of the cajun fiddler Harry Choates' cajun swing recording.

Goldman Thibodeaux sings and plays with the robustness of a younger man. Added to the charm of these performances are some of the comments included. For example, Goldman announces that food is ready, and folks can get their plates and meals. The final track is an intermission announcement for all the family members to go outside the Church Hall, where a drone will take a family picture. This atmosphere adds to the charm of the marvelous music presented here.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is a video of Goldman Thibodeaux in performance.