Keith Frank & the
Solieau Zydeco Band
LIVE AT SLIM'S
Y-KI-KI
Shanachie 9018
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Keith Frank is recorded on this disc the way Zydeco bands should be captured, live and working the packed in crowd and the dancers in a dance hall. He culled this 70 plus minutes down from 5 and 1/2 hours of tape, recorded one night. He said he didn't take a break the whole night, and after seeing him perform and get the crowd up and dancing, then watch the band feed off the energy they generate, I can believe it. They never seem to want to quit or even slow down between songs. The band is lead by the three Frank siblings, Keith on vocals, accordion, and keyboard; Jennifer on vocals and bass; and Brad on vocals and drums, but all of the band get to step up to the microphone. This family comes to this music from their father Preston, a Zydeco band leader of a more traditional style. Keith is not afraid to stand in their and try to incorporate anything that comes to mind. He has done DIXIE and THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, with his band as zydeco numbers. Strange but he manages to pull it off. You don't see the dancers leaving the floor when he does these odd twists and that is a sure enough sign that what he is doing is working. His music becomes almost trance music, because when he and the band hit that groove they just lock in and hold it right there, rock solid. The trappings over the beat, that weave and keep the music from becoming boring are what he does so well. If you know Zydeco you know it isn't the lyrics, though at times they kind of slap you in the face. He has a song that is driving along with a full head of steam down the road and you suddenly awake to the lyrics to realize that the burning question is what kind of toothpaste is his pretty baby using (HEY PRETTY BABY [WITH YOUR TEETH SO WHITE])! Then again Zydeco music is generally not about the lyrics, it is the beat that is all important, and this band can churn it up with any band on the circuit today. If you need a variety of music on your discs, you won't find it here. However if you like to lock into a groove and dance you will be in heaven.
Produced by - Keith Frank
Songs and writers ( times not given)
All songs by Keith Frank unless noted
1 GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE TIME
2 SHE FOOLS AROUND (SHE PETAHSAY) - Wilfred Latour
3 WHY YOU WANNA MAKE ME CRY? - Preston Frank
4 HEY PRETTY BABY (WITH YOUR TEETH SO WHITE)
5 CO FA
6 YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART - traditional
7 DONNE-MON CA (GIVE IT TO ME) - traditional
8 HOLD ON TO IT
9 CA JOUE' MA MUSIQUE DE TUER LES HERBES ( WHEN I PLAY MY MUSIC, I WANT YOU TO KILL THE GRASS
10 MAYMEL - Classie Ballau
11 SOMETIMES WE MAKE YOU MOVE YOUR FEET
12 CHOCOLATE 3 STEP
13 RISING TO THE TOP
14 SOILEAU ZYDECO
15 MOVING TO THE GROOVE
16 I LIKE TO DO MY THING
17 I WANT HER - Keith Sweat
the Musicians
Keith Frank - vocals, accordion, keyboards
Jennifer Frank - vocals, bass
Brad Frank - vocals, drums
George "Lee" Attle - guitar
James "Chocolate" Ned - vocals, scrubboard
Joe "Chopper" Chavis - cocals, scrubboard
Scott Ardoin - guitar