Re: What's the difference between Cajun & Zydeco styles ?
i'm scottish & when i recently discovered cajun music it sounded just like irish & scottish jig music. I just found a youtube vid explaining why this is so.
Re: What's the difference between Cajun & Zydeco styles ?
What is referred to as "Cajun" music today, was once called "French music" back in the day. To be vary specific, it's "traditional Cajun French music. This is the style of music that was brought by the Acadian people to Louisiana ( and other surrounding areas) after they were exiled from Nova Scotia in 1755. It began with mostly fiddle music and later added the diatonic accordion. If you listen to the old recordings of Joe Falcon, Iry LeJunne........ this is what we refer to as "Cajun" music. Zydeco music is simply, the influence of Creole and blues music on Traditional Cajun French music. The piano accordion is most identified with Zydeco music, with the addition of a lead guitar, and the fiddle is almost never used. Hope that helps
Re: What's the difference between Cajun & Zydeco styles ?
Can't identify the first song where you "See" him playing on the bandstand.
I Searched thru the albums:
French rockin boogie
la chanson perdue
that's what I'm talkin about
le creole cowboy
everybody's dancin
It sounds to me most like, "Chere ici, Chere la bas", could be sped up or slowed down for the live crowd. Might be a song not on his albums?
Sorry, I tried.
Re: What's the difference between Cajun & Zydeco styles ?
Here's an interesting video showing a difference between zydeco & cajun styles.
Cajun seems very traditional & cultural to me because that type of jig music is part of the celtic culture & tradition I come from, which includes the celtic peoples of france.
Zydeco is totally new & exhilarating to me & I know nothing about the traditions or culture of the beautiful people who have brought it to the world.
Infact the only static musical/poetic culture in Europe is probably the Basques, they have their own accordion driven music called "Trikitixa"- check out Kepa Junkera who is a real innovator of the stuff.
I'm by no means an expert of old folk music but there definately seems to be a tradition of modal music in north west Europe that the diatonic accordion or melodeon has latterly found itself at home in, perhaps replacing pipes.
Though it must be said that Cajun is Cajun and has evolved on another continent!
Re: What's the difference between Cajun & Zydeco styles ?
For the uninitiated, Zydeco music is an American roots music that evolved in Louisiana in the 1800s. It combines the music of Louisiana Creole (a blend of French, Spanish, African and Native American cultures) and Cajun music (a blend of French fiddle tunes, Irish fiddle tunes, German button accordion, Latin rhythms and Appalachian styles).