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Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Greezy, I have to say it sure is nice to have you bring all this up. I agree with you 100%. I could not stand to go to a festival to hear our music when I could hear just as good or better at my camp or at someone's house for a supper. And after looking at all the bands lined up to play there, I realized that I would really only like hearing 1-2 of them play live. (Jason Frey, Robert Jardell) Nothing against the other bands as they are all amazing musicians. Several of them are personal friends of mine. Not just musicians that I spoke to on a bandstand somewhere, but friends who have been at my house cooking a supper and drinking beer without a mention of music. Just friends hanging out. But these days it seems most of the better known groups are better known because of out of state or out of country fans who make trips here to see them.
I guess I just miss the good old days. I am lucky to have lived my entire life in the heart of great music (Basile,La) As a kid in the 70's my dad either worked in or owned a bar and I got to hear so many unbelievable musicians. (Yes, I was in the bar as a 12 or 14 year old. My job was to bring beer to the men playing cards in the back)But the bands playing at my dads bar did not travel out of state, country, or even out of town to play a big festival for people from around the world. They got off of work in the fields, grabbed their accordion, and headed to the bar.
I have a lot more to say about this but have work to get to. To be continued later.

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Thanks Mr Bertrand. You named two accordion players that I respect a lot. Never met either one of them, but watched them do over the years. Robert Jardell, I do appreciate his style, but I don't see him no more. Did he go off grid? Jason Frey, excellent player. I was told about Jason Frey by an old now deceased friend. The next time I saw Jason Frey play an accordion, my old friend was proven correct. That boy can play! The old friend was the maker of "Teche Brand Accordions". He shared many secrets with me about accordions, and he did all the adjustments I asked him to do for free! He was poor like the grass is green, but he didn't want money. Now that's a true friend!

I can only imagine the memories you have stuck in you head from working at your Dad's bar as a youngster. Priceless. And I can relate to a lot of them I bet. We had a similar place we went to in my neighborhood and yes I was the beer fetcher for whoever held up their can and looked at me. The men playing cards and drinking while a big square pot of chicken fricasse' was cooking on the old gas stove in the corner of the local grocery store rumpus room. Doc's was what it was called. Not a word of English spoken all night! Unbelievable! I'd go back to them times in a heartbeat and not look back. I'd stay there.

My guess is that you do play accordion Dav'id?

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

I hear what y'all are saying, I really do. The festival does not have the feel of the old dance halls, and it sure doesn't have the feel of a porch or kitchen (my favorite music environments), but consider that the old people when each of us were young probably thought the same of the nostalgic environment we're thinking of. It's never not been changing.

So some musicians seem haughty, I get that, but I personally know several that were playing on stage this weekend that I consider friends that I like and respect, so I just overlook the ones I don't care for.

The main thing, is if we left music in the porches and kitchens, it would die except for a handful of us. Events like this reach a lot of people, including young folks in La. If we reach them in an even like this, and they become interested in the music and culture, isn't that better than never reaching them at all?

The music scene is changing, just like it was when Iry and Nathan came on the scene. Imagine how many old fiddlers whined when the accordion was taking over, and now that's considered "traditional". What pains me much more that this is the loss of our language and customs. I want to scream every time I hear a Cajun say "crackling" instead of graton. How's that for petty?

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Bryan, now that's what I'm talking about! It's gratins got dammit! LOL You're right about the loss of our culture and customs, and yes the Festivals do their part to keep the younger people and outsiders interested in the Cajun music. I just wished they weren't so tainted. I know that our past as Cajun musicians and just regular Cajun people is not all perfect. You know too, I can tell. There was some ugliness going on back then I am very sure. I often got into arguments and throwing schicks with older people that were there to see it.
I once heard my Grandmother tell about seeing Iry Lejeune play in person. It was in Lake Arthur, La and they went to see a band at some dancehall which I can't recall. When they got there, situated on the side of this dancehall, was a little open shack. In that open shack all by himself was Iry Lejeune showing off his accordion playing probably trying to steal the show from the goings on inside the dancehall or to advertise what he was capable of to make a name for himsalf. She said he looked like a nobody! And she said it with disgust. But she also said....that man sure could play that accordion though! This was all she said about the memory. I'll never forget how she seemed to think of him or towards him. It's as if she didn't like him, but knew he was the cat's pajamas on accordion and couldn't argue with that much. Crazy huh?

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Greezy, I'll say again. It sure is refreshing to read your post on here. I have not visited this page near as often as I used to because I was starting to think I was the only one who thought like that. But your post have me checking in a lot more now just to read your thoughts on our culture and music. Bryan Lafleur and I have enjoyed many a cold beer together either surrounded by Mardi Gras runners in Basile or at his parents home in Mamou, and I can honestly say some of the best music I have heard was in his dads back yard surrounded by friends and smoke from the fire pit. If you ever feel like joining us for a few cold ones and some good food, you are more than welcome buddy.

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Dave, where's Bryan's dad live? What town only, don't give an address on here. I'll keep the invite in mind cause that sounds like my kind of thing, but I can only imagine what it would be like for me and you guys if I'd show up over there. How I'd have to iron out the reputation that may proceed me. LOL, all the controversy and bitterness that clings on me. Maybe I could show up in full Mardi Gras regalia and glue the mask to my face so's you guys couldn't take it off and maybe park down the road and walk in so yall can't see my license plate. Haha.

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

You don't have to ask David, my dad lives near Mamou. Mom put a stop to our gatherings there, unfortunately, so we have to seek other environments. The gatherings are always smallish, and invitation only. You'd probably be invited, as you seem our kind of people, but you'd have to reveal yourself to at least somebody. No bad reputation precedes you, I do not wear my feelings on my shoulder, and enjoy talking to people I disagree with, but I doubt we disagree much, just have different perspectives, and that's good. Besides that, I don't generally make my mind up about people from someone else's opinion or via internet exposure. The glue on the mask would only make it a mild challenge, and possibly painful. I'm a fireman by trade and one of my greatest joys is a locked door. Jason Frey has been a recent regular at our gatherings, and you're right, he's coming along nicely on that box, heh heh. But he comes because he's a nice guy and fits in with the crowd. Our recent place of gathering is a very old house in the prairie, with incredible acoustics in a kitchen/dining room that has seen a lot of music for more than a couple generations, and is my favorite setting for our music. The proximity to the kitchen has also been quite handy.

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Cool then, no glue on the mask. No mask either. Jason Fry and I have or had a mutual friend. See below video. The fiddler. He was also the maker of Teche accordions. Gone now to the blue yonder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlMkiK32FBI

I'll check back with you over time. I'm still working on stepping foot out into the world. Makes me nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof!

Those acoustics in that old house would be a much welcome thing. I also had the same experience playing in a old (all cyprus wood interior) bar. Nothing to baffle the sound except the clothes we had on. And I never forgot that sound! It was like we stepped back in time. Even smelled old in there, but in a good way. Not mildew, but the old wood smell.

Do yall require drunkedness before the music starts? Or do yall pace it out evenly from sober to eventual drunkedness? I can go either way or without, makes no difference. Although my body shakes when I'm on the whiskey.... Looks like I'm freezing to death and my teeth chatter to where I can hardly talk, but other than that, I'm ok. LOL

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

I bought my first accordion from John Hebert in the late 70's. I asked every old accordion player to teach me, they all said the same thing "you can't teach dat, you have to have it in your head." Well I had it in my heart but couldn't send that information to my fingers. I went to a 3 day Balfa Camp, had a good time drank some beer and didn't learn ****. Thanks to Jimmy Breaux, Steve Riley, Paul Daigle and a couple of lessons from Ray Abshire I learned how to play enough to play with other musicians. I have no use for Balfa Camp. But I appreciate the guys that taught me to play.

In case you didn't see this video that was on LPB


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkdG60Qd_-I


Also I wrote my fist song and it is available on iTunes and Floyd's Record Shop for 99 cents. The title is "The Chickens Know It's Mardi Gras" buy and support my music it cost a lot of money to get the thing on the radio..


Jerry

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Good video Jerry. I hadn't seen this ever. Judy pulled at my heart the way she reacted while she was doing her spot. She obviously longs for the better times like we do. Portland Oregon? Geez she came a long way. Is there some kind of movement going on here where peeps from California, Oregon, Michigan come to South Louisiana to leave everything they know behind and start over. Something's going on. First migrant I ever met was Tina Pelione that works over at the Savoy Music Center. Lived out the back of a truck sometimes I think. Now she's making accordions like she was born on the Bayou Teche or something.

I really believe that the only way we will get back what was lost is to reject modern society, all learn to speak Cajun French again, and go back to doing hard work and playing harder. I don't see it happening. Too many people, too little space, too many points of view, and way way too much got dam money seeking and drug use above all else.

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Great video Jerry. You and your wife really have it. I am most impressed.

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

G-Mac, I sincerely thank you for your comments. You are so right on.

In 2002, I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle to work in Sacramento. I moved back to Tokyo shortly after and could not play the guitar (I had played for money for many years but my left hand was munched), so on a lark I bought an accordion from Junior Martin.

I totally got into it, was completely mesmerized by the Cajun/Creole music culture. Because I was so very far from Louisiana, I started the Cajun Accordion Discussion Page which eventually morphed into this place. I practiced my butt off and got to be able to play okay.

But something always bothered me -- I am not a Cajun, this was not my culture, I'm stealing something here. When I moved back to California I went over to Danny Poullard's house a few times before he passed and he was most helpful. There were always a bunch of people from the Bay area who were very protective of their stand in that scene. It was very ingrown and once again, I thought, I don't want to intrude on another's culture that was rooted in deep, deep soil.

I stopped playing accordion until recently. Now I play again, but only at home for my own amusement. I'm Irish for the most part and Irish music has been completely submerged under a bunch of other folks. The music is there, not the culture and the blood, sweat and tears behind it. Please don't lose your culture to a bunch of folks who are not grounded in it.

I would love to hear you play. :- )

Sincerely,

Tommy Quinn

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Tommy Quinn, I wanted to thank you for creating the Cajun accordion discussion page. I did not know it was you. Another unsung hero! I wish more Cajun musicians would come here, especially the professional accordion or fiddle players. They're either unaware of the bravenet, or they are avoiding it on purpose. I saw Jaime Bearb (Cajun fiddle, accordion, and vocalist) on here once trying to sell an accordion. He was in and out like a fart in the wind, didn't have much to say. Just trying to make a buck it seemed. No interest in staying to chat. It would help us all to hear these "big hitter's" input on the matters at hand. I can say for certain that there are a couple generations of Cajun accordion players that have a lot of concerns and gripes. Accordion players that had to start out on their own because they watched older family connected accordion players die off before they took interest in playing themselves. This accordion discussion is a great advantage to help iron out some uncertainties, and also to address the uncertainties yet to come.
Sorry about your left hand. I know an accordion player that lost his left hand pointer finger (he was going to be a fiddle man before the accident. He can play the seconds side, but struggles with them as he's missing the finger that plays the top chord button. He plays the keyboard just fine, I just can't help but to think that his rhythm will suffer over all. But he can tap his feet to make up. That's how fiddle players do it. Timing is kept with the feet and the fiddle matches up to that timing. Accordion players should do it the same way. "You got to learn to play your feet first", that's what my grandfather told me about the Cajun music. In other words, tap yo feet and get into the rhythm and burn those rhythm's into your heart, mind and soul. Very few accordion players both Cajun and non Cajun know this at soul level. If they did know it, we'd all be witnessing much better accordion playing and presentation out there! Keep it real Tommy Quinn. By the way, are you Japanese? You lived in Tokyo you had mentioned. Because that would be a first for me, a real life genuine Japanese Cajun accordion player. You'd be the talk of the jam sessions if you were. Laters, G-Mac..the G is for ganksta mother f@#$%^&. LOL

Re: Festival Acadien et Creoles - Oct 13-16

Big Thanks G-Mac. No, I'm just white trash Irish... -L- Grew up on an Ohio corn farm, moved to California to play music in the '60s, ended up in Japan for 20 years. Long story.

Years ago, there were a lot more "heavy hitters" on my page but the constant bickering by a few turned them off. There is still a nice core group here. Bottom line is that the music is great and so are the Cajun/Creole folks who have played it for a 100 years. I hope the same can be said a 100 years from now.



Jamey Hall's most excellent Cajun Accordion Music Theory

Brett's all new Cajun Accordion Music Theory for all keys!

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