I was casting around for band names recently, and we settled on Bon Chance Cajun Band. During the process, I stumbled on this funny website from MIT:
http://alumni.media.mit.edu/~bwhitman/10000.html
This is a list of "Ten Thousand Statistically Grammar-Average Fake Band Names" created as part of a research project. Kind of a 1000 monkeys typing exercise.
Dwight, I think we met at Augusta this summer. I was there for only the second time since 1998. I traveled down with Betsy (Terr) Fuller, my girlfriend. She's the guitarist in Bon Chance. We've morphed from a trio to a 6-piece with the addition of fiddle no. 2, acoustic bass, and triangle. Betsy's doing an awesome job of keeping us in the Cajun music tradition, writing great set lists loaded with waltzes. She and the fiddlers are the singers, too. She sends her regards.
Betsy's been working on some Cajun fiddle tunes, but time is limited and she's been pouring most of her musical energy into guitar. Here's our set-ready tune list: Ossun Two-Step, Lacassine Special, Reno Waltz, Amede Two-Step, Madelaine, Newport Waltz, Bee de la Manche, Valse Criminelle, Sur la Courtableu, Jai Passe, Acadian Two Step, Quo Faire, Jolie Blonde, Reel de Nonc Will, Catch My Hat, Oberlin Waltz, Dance Carre, Parlez-nous a boire, Valse de Marie, Fifi Poncho, McGee One-Step, Chere Bassette, Tit Galop, Eunice Two Step, Cherokee Waltz/Midland Two-Step, Chopique, Bayou Teche Waltz, Lake Arthur Stomp, Allons a Lafayette, Grand Bois, Jolie Bassette, Blue Runner, Chez Seychelles, Madame Bosso, Bonsoir Moreau, and Flames D'Enfer. We're working on doubling it so we can play dances here in Upstate New York. There are dance communities in Rochester, Ithaca, and Albany with several more scattered around New England. I never cease to be amazed at the many levels of musicality in Cajun music. It's a joy to be able to place these songs with like-minded musicians.
hi russ....
where y'all located? we play traditional cajun music as a duo, guitar and fiddle, down here in the mid-hudson valley. maybe our paths will cross sometime....
roger
www.cleomasghost.com
Roger, we're from the Rochester NY area. Betsy's been around Cajun music since her teen years. Her brothers are Charlie and John Terr (who with Charlie's wife Lynne Terr, organize the Augusta Cajun/Creole Heritage Week), and she's been connecting with Cajun musicians at Augusta and at Charlie's place in Chicago for many years. I fell in love with this music at festivals, and have been playing accordion since 1995, first with Chanka Chank, then with the Swamp Padres (both defunct). Bon Chance Cajun Band started earlier this year, and I've also started RedLine Zydeco, which made a successful debut this month. My rehearsals for these two bands are back to back (Wed, Thu) and every week, I'm learning how large the gulf is between the accordion styles. I've heard of Cleoma's Ghost (what a great name), and would love to meet and play together. Do you know Chris Woods (Slawinski)? She's tight with Betsy, and we've played tunes together up here a couple times this year.