Augusta's 2006 Cajun/Creole week was a superb experience. Here's the rundown of accordion players who performed at the nightly dances: Ed Poullard, John Vidrine, Keith Frank, Corey Ledet, Paul Daigle, Zach Huval (heard on the original Charivari recording), Nolton Simien, Jesse Lege, and Steve Riley. Except for the zydeco players, all the above were on staff as teachers and/or one-on-one mentors. Fiddlers playing the dances included included Dave Greeley, Ed Poullard (who also sat in with Keith Frank on some great old-school repertoire), Brazos Huval (bassist w/ Mamou Playboys), Steve Riley, Al Berard, Jane Vidrine, Courtney Granger, Tracy Schwarz, and Steve Riley. Every night's dance was well-attended, and I don't think any listeners or dancers left disappointed. I was with Nick in Steve Riley's class, who opened up his book of music to us, both technique and tunes. After lunch, the cultural sessions included the up and coming Louisiana scholarship students, elder statesman of Creole accordion music Nolton Simien, and a presentation by the Mamou Playboys. Concerts included most of the above musicians, plus eminent players from the parallel universe of Augusta's guitar week. It's an overwhelmingly friendly place, where students and teachers mingle, and there are jam sessions every night that often last till the birds sing. An incredible energy thrives all week. Having been there in 1998, 2005, and again this year, I can honestly state that some of my most profound musical experiences have happened here, and the seeds of others, both past and future, have been planted at Augusta.

Hi Russ!

Dang, I don't recall where you were sitting in
the Riley sessions.

Going around the room clockwise, I recall
John Tallekson, Anne, myself, Chuck (from the
"State" of Pittsburg ), Julie,
then a couple that I don't recall, Ron, another
I don't recall, and finally, Briggs.

How's that for memory fade!

Do you remember where you were sitting, or any
other salient feature that may jog my memory?

Anyway, yes, what an absolutely fabulous experience!

Steve has more tricks than Carter has liver pills!

And it was great of him to so copiously share them.

I just met up with Steve again this past Sunday
in Madison WI. He said he had a good time with
our group. I'm happy for him, teaching can be a
bear too!

So, see you there again next year?

--Big [8-]]

Nick, I was immediately to Julie's left. Steve's coming to Ithaca (near here) and my town of Rochester 8/2-3, and this weekend the Grassroots Festival (Ithaca) brings Walter Mouton and Keith Frank to the area. The Magnolia Sisters play Rochester 8/10, and Ray Abshire's a couple hours to our east on 8/5. When it rains, it pours. I loved Steve Riley's spontaneous translations of Cajun lyrics from the CD books you had.

OK, Russ ..

I'll look at my photo's to find you :-)

Had you brought the red 3-row accordion?

re: Steve & lyrics .. I suppose lyrics are not part
of an accordion seminar, but heck .. it *really* helps
for me to hear the actual artist phonetisizing
(is 'phonetisizing' a word?) the lyrics.

Makes the tunes complete for me!

Merci,

--Biggeroo

PS: Sounds like a knock-out line up in your
neck of the woods!

Nick,

That was my new red Baffetti 3-row Steve played. He sounded great on that instrument - I'm inching my way into learning it with the help of Corey's DVD, and by slowing down some of my favorite triple row tunes. Corey Ledet tore it up on the three-row Wed night at the Icehouse dance. I was standing across the rail with Jesse Lege, and we were both astounded at Corey's technical virtuosity and musicality on the triple note. He'll be at Grassroots this weekend, along with Keith's band. It's an annual tradition to have all-night dances which this year will feature the Redstick Ramblers on Friday, and alternating Keith and Preston Frank sets on Saturday. Augusta was good preparation to stay up all night. My zydeco band is opening for the Mamou Playboys in Rochester, and my Cajun band is opening for the Magnolia Sisters a week later. It's an honor to share the stage with these particular musicians. Minus me (obviously), my Cajun group gets to back Ray Abshire at the Earlville Opera House. The scene around here has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years, driven in part by a good dance community, regional bands from Rochester and Ithaca, festivals, and monthly dances featuring Louisiana bands. My own roots as a player go back over 10 years to a group called Chanka Chank, which ended up touring the Northeast, and as a result of opening for Boozoo, performing at his Dog Hill Festival. That was borderline surreal, but he was sincere in his appreciation of the band and we were treated as well as everyone from Louisiana who played that day. I ran into Classie Ballou, Jr., his bass player, who toured with Zydeco Joe last year, and he instantly remembered my old band, and the fun we had together. Before Boozoo's band, he was the bass player with War. Now there's someone who can fill out the bottom of a zydeco band. I attribute everything good that happened with my bands, then and now, to the Augusta experience, mainly learning what it takes to play music as well as possible in a band with good personal chemistry and a great sound. Some of it is fate, but a lot of it is having a goal and working toward it. I'm very lucky to have fine musicians around here who love Louisiana music. Leaving Augusta with the feeling that I'm a musician with a day job, instead of someone who happens to play music as a hobby, was the spark that got all this going.

Russ,

You are one lucky dude .. in my area, Cajun/Zydeco
is one rare commodity!

I'm including a few photo's.

Judging by your description, you must be the person
with the gray shirt on, talking with the person
sitting next to you?


left to right: John, Anne, Big's chair, Chuck, Julie, Russ, ?, Ron, ? & Briggs.


left to right: John, Anne, Big's chair, Chuck, Julie, Russ, ?, Ron, ? & Briggs.


Briggs, (if I got his name correct.)


I forgot who this was, but he played purdy good ..

--Big

Nick, That's me in the photo next to Julia, and to my left are Steve Burnside, Ron, Tim Kness, and Briggs Brown. Briggs was one of the scholarship students from Louisiana. He often plays at DIs. Both Briggs and Braylin Daigle, Paul's son, have impressive rhythm. They are as steady as a rock,playing alone or in a band. That's pretty amazing in 13- and 14-year old musicians.

Agreed!

When I was 13 years old, I had a paper route
and a Teisco electric guitar!

(I was almost a Beatle!)

--Big

Hey guys,
What are the chances of getting some footage of the class? I would be glad to barter or whatever for a DVD.
Can you throw me a bone? I was in Ed Poullards class. After Steve Steinman mixes down our class, I could get some of that out.

By the way, I totally agree with you assessment of the week, Russ. Kickass!

thanks,
Kirk Jones