Courtney Granger
UN BAL CHEZ BALFA
Rounder 6089
available on louisianamusicfactory
The future and continuation of the tradition of Cajun music has found its standard bearer in Courtney Granger. This young, 16 year old (seventeen by now), great nephew of Dewey Balfa is going to carry the flame into the future and it looks bright as all get out. The poise in all manner of things relating to the burden on his shoulders is remarkable. Of course the fiddle playing is to the level of the Balfa family standard, his singing shows great poise, expression, and maturity, particularly when we consider that this is from a 16 year old. From all manner of stories he is handling the burden and mantle of the family tradition in a manner that deny his sparsity of years. It does help on this disc that he is supported by both the Balfa family and those who either married into the Balfa family or who look to the family as the icons of Cajun Music. Such luminaries in this genre as Dirk Powell, Steve Riley, Christine Balfa, and Peter Schwarz all playing major contributing roles. Before you get the impression that this is solely a disc mired in tradition know that as well that Courtney wrote 2 of the songs here. He plays the traditional haunting Cajun songs with all the feelings of one who has seen the world and is worried by what has passed in front of his eyes, but every now and again the fresh blissful fiddling reflects the joyousness of his youth. Give a listen to the lightness and brashness that is in the playing of DOMINO TWO-STEP. With the all-star cast this is an open door into the vibrancy of the ancient Cajun tradition carrying on with a bright future.
Produced by Dirk Powell
Songs, times, and writers
1 LE TWO-STEP DES FESTIVAL ACADIENS - 3:10 - Courtney Granger
2 DEPUIS L'AGE DE QUINZE ANS (Since the age of 15) - 3:33 - traditional
3 CASEY JONES - 2:44 - traditional
4 THE NEWPORT WALZ - 3:27 - Dewey Balfa
5 DOMINO TWO-STEP - 2:53 - traditional
6 LES BARRES DE LA PRISON - (The Prison Bars) - 4:10 - Canray Fontenot
7 LE TWO-STEP DE RICHET - 3:41 - traditional
8 LE BLUES DE CADIEN (The Cajun Blues) - 3:01 - Will Bolfa
9 THE DRUNKARD'S WALTZ - 3:23 - traditional
10 ALLONS AU BAL DE BALFA (Let's Go to the Balfa Dance) - 2:59 - Kenneth Richard
11 LA BELLE DE LA LOUISIANE (The Bells of Louisiana - 3:20 - traditional
12 TEXAS TWO-STEP - 2:22 - Dewey Balfa
13 LA VALSE DES GRANDS MISERES (The Big Misery Waltz) - 3:08 - Courtney Granger
14 LA VIEILLE DANSE A BALFA/ TREVILLE EST PAS PECHEUR (The Old Dance of the Balfas/Treville is Not a Fisherman) - 3:42 - traditional
15 MERCI, NONC DEWEY (Thank You, Uncle Dewey) - 3:52 - Terry and Annette Huval
Musicians
Courtney Granger - lead fiddle and vocals with
Christine Balfa - guitar, triangle, and vocals (8, 10, 14)
Dirk Powell - bass, second fiddle, guitar, accordion (4, 7, 8, 10, 14)
Peter Schwarz - second fiddle (1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 15)
Todd Aucoin - drums (1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 13, 15)
Special Guests on Accordion
Steve Riley (1, 2,15)
Horace Trahan (5)
Special Guests on Triangle
Burkeman Balfa (8, 9, 13, 15)
Nelda Balfa Henderson (1, 2, 5, 7, vocals on 10)
Kenneth Granger (4, 11)