Bois Sec Ardoin with Balfa Toujours

ALLONS DANSER

Rounder 6081
visit the group's website

This is one of those rare gems that come along about as often as you find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This is another in the long line (these musical families go back to the nineteenth century) of joining of these 2 families to play some music. Both families are known for preserving the musical tradition of their cultures. The Balfa family is from the Cajun tradition, while the Ardoins stem from the Creole tradition, they know the music from back when it was called "French Music" and not separated. (The liner notes, by Dirk Powell, will give more information should you wish it about these families and their antecedents) The music on this disc evolved out of friendship and mutual admiration for the music that they share. It is a special album that not only has the latest band from The Balfa family group, playing with the 82-year-old elder of the Ardoins, but also has Steve Riley playing the drums. This disc is about as close as you are going to get to the pure music of this region before it was 'discovered' and its children were introduced to VH-1 and MTV, and the hybrids formed when the "French Music" was mixed with Rock and Roll and Rhythm & Blues. Don't mistake me I love Zydeco music and the new forms coming from this region, but it is good to know from whence they have sprung. Balfa Toujours have 2 very good discs out on Rounder and get out and play around the country a pretty fair bit so they are relatively known. Bois Sec Ardoin is however 82 years old and not traveling the club circuit any longer. He and his former partner, legendary fiddler Canray Fontenot who died in 1995, earned several National Heritage Awards for their music. This is the music of the swamps of Louisiana. It is the music of friends gathering together to have a good time, share the bounty of the earth as well as the bare cupboards. This is the music of the 'Fais-do -do'. It is the music of a culture that is in danger of becoming hybridized. Most importantly it is the music to turn to partner and say, "Allons danser (Let's dance)!"

 


Bois Sec Ardoin

songs, and times  - all songs except as noted are traditional:

  1. Allons Danser (Let's Dance) - 3:27 - Canray Fontenot
  2. Dimanche apres-midi (`over the e)  (Sunday afternoon) - 3:24
  3. Quoi faire (Why?) - 3:17
  4. La valse a (` over a) Austin Pitre (Austin Pitre's Waltz) - 3:12
  5. Fais pas tout ca (Don't do that) - 2:57 - Alphonse Ardoin
  6. La valse des meches (the Waltz of the Swamps) - 3:00
  7. Sundown Special - 3:16
  8. La valse de 'tit Maurice (The Waltz of 'Tit Maurice) - 2:49
  9. Lacassine Special - 3:26
  10. Chere Toutoute- 4:01
  11. Duralde Ramble - 4:08 - Alphonse Ardoin
  12. La valse de quatre-vingt-dix-neuf ans (The ninety-nine Year Waltz) - 4:41
  13. fond de culottes ( The Seat of My Pants) - 2:25
  14. La valse de Grande Prairie (Grand Prairie) - 4:02 - John Lloyd Broussard
  15. Jongle a moi (Think of Me) - 3:25
  16. La robe barree (The Special Dress) - 3:28 - Alphonse Ardoin
  17. Allons danser (un autre petit bout) ( Let's Dance: another little bit) - 1:40 - Canray Fontenot

Players
Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin - accordion, vocals
Christine Balfa - guitar, triangle, vocals
Dirk Powell - fiddle (2,4,8,12,14,15) bass, triangle, vocals
Kevin Wimmer - fiddle (1,3,5,6,7,10,11,13,16,17)
Mitchell Reed - triangle
plus special guest Steve Riley - drums (1,3,5,6,7,10,11,13,16,17)

Produced by  - Dirk Powell