Clifton Chenier
The Best of Clifton Chenier -
The King of Zydeco & Louisiana Blues
Arhoolie - 474
Release - 7/2003
available on
Arhoolie
Clifton Chenier was the unchallenged King of Zydeco until his death in 1987, he was also known as a Blues Musician. He is the one credited with the melding, and popularizing, of the music of the French Creoles of Louisiana and southeast Texas with the Blues and Rhythm & Blues, creating the form of music we know as Zydeco. He was a powerful blues singer as this disc shows on various cuts but give a good listen to his soulful vocals on “Brown Skin Woman” or “Hot Rod”. This man sang with emotion rung up from the depth of his very deep soul. Much of the syncopation that made his music so unique, memorable, and danceable was done by his older brother Cleveland Chenier on rubboard. The fact that he gathered excellent musicians around him that were imbued with this infectious good time
love of music helped too. Though this disc concentrates a lot on his blues and R & B roots we have a good helping of the Zydeco side (he was remarkable in that the music he produced was a true marriage and the parts are inseparable.) Listen to this infectious take of “Zydeco Sont Pas Sale”, done with just his vocals and piano accordion, Cleveland on rubboard, and long time drummer Robert Peter and see if your feet don’t just start dancing all on their own. A solid and strong disc emphasizing one of the other roots of The King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. It ends with a good 15 minute interview of Clifton for radio station KPFA by Chris Strachwitz, who also produced this memorable disc, and founded Arhoolie Records.