Set Me Free
Louisiana Red Hot Records
Reviewing Dwayne Dopsie's album "Up in Flames" in 2010 I wrote, that a son of the late Rocking Dopsie (Alton Rubin) "Dwayne ‘Dopsie’ Rubin is one of several sons that followed their legendary father into zydeco music and has in the years since his father’s passing has established himself as one of zydeco’s relative young guns." I observed that his brand of zydeco was more in the vein of Clifton Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco and Nathan Williams with a rocking blues and R&B styled sound in contrast to the music of the late Beau Jocque or Boozoo Chavis that focused more on vamping on a chord or two. I originally saw him at a Festival in Maryland where he was impressive for someone so young. I more recently saw him at one of the last Pennsylvania Blues Festivals where he just tore it up with his act. He brought together an exciting visual performance with his soul-drenching bluesy and soulful zydeco.
He does not have that extensive a discography, so his new release, "Set Me Free" is most welcome. In addition to Dwayne's vocals and accordion, the Zydeco Hellraisers are Paul Lafleur, washboard; Brandon David, guitar, Tim McFatter, saxophone, Dion Pierre, bass, and Kevin Minor, Drums. On two tracks, Alton Rubin, Jr. aka Tiger Dopsie, plays Drums, and Rocking Dopsie, Jr. plays washboard and vocals. With the exception of a cover of Guitar Slim's "The Things I Used to Do," Dwayne Dopsie wrote all the songs.
Things kick off with the hard stomping groove of "Take It Higher" whose melody partially incorporates the Bobby Bland hit, "Turn On Your Love Light" as he takes the energy and takes it even higher with a stinging guitar solo added that would have made Lil Buck Senegal smile. More of his piano accordion prowess opens the ebullient "Louisiana Girl" followed by the reggae-tinged groove of the title track with Dopsie's classic soul singing. Then there is "My Sweet Chaitanya" that suggests Clifton Chenier's renditions of Fats Domino numbers. A more traditional zydeco performance is "DD's Zydeco Two Step" again recalls some of Clifton Chenier's classic zydeco, followed by the relaxed feel of "Lafayette Boogie." Dwayne Dopsie then does a top-flight rendition of Guitar Slim's "The Things I Used to Do," with a wailing sax and tough guitar alongside Dopsie's one-man orchestra accordion and a terrific vocal.
The rest of the recording is full the same sterling vocals and music. This outstanding album certainly will make a terrific record for parties to get folks up and dancing, but it will warm the pulse of those who simply sit back and listen. Dwayne Dopsie is at the top of today's zydeco field and "Set Me Free" is as good a zydeco recording as any in the past several years.
I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is a video of Dwayne Dopsie from June of this year.
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