Lil’ Brian and
The Travelers
Worldwide
Freh’toi Records
High Rollers Entertainment
HRE-5050
visit the band on
myspace
also available on the
louisianamusicfactory
The name of the group has changed from Lil’ Brian and The Zydeco Travelers to Lil’ Brian and The Travelers, and it reflects more accurately the music. Yes it is still rooted in the Zydeco music he grew up with in the Houston area, however he is infusing this music with the hip-hop and rap music that is so prevalent today. Remember that Zydeco itself is the fusion of heavily syncopated Creole La-La music with the Blues and Rhythm and Blues, and now it is seeing another transfusion of influence in some bands. Change is growth, and as we are in the beginning stages here who knows where it will go. Lil’ Brian
certainly has the pedigree and background to be called a Zydeco musician and this is a direction that he and some others are pioneering, while there are others that choose different directions in which to push Zydeco, such as Terrance Simien, who is infusing the lyrics with full stories instead of using the voice to accentuate the beat with nonsense syllables, or putting in a hearty dose of heavy bass as Beau Jacques did. You pick which style you is most pleasing to you, or ride with all of it and see where it leads. You have to take your hat off to this group for being willing to try and push the boundaries.