Nathan &
The Zydeco Cha Chas
Let’s Go
Rounder 2159
released in 2000
visit the band's website
and on myspace
also available on amazon
What a refreshing Zydeco disc this is, it consists of 14 songs that tell stories of people’s joy, heartache, lives and hope composed by Nathan Williams. This is not the new Zydeco whose songs consist of grunts and lines are repeated until they seem to stretch behind the horizon. These are the tales of Southwestern Louisiana and the people that live there by one of the masters of the genre. Nathan and this band grab a groove as well as any of the bands around and they can ride with it through the whole song without the repetition that gets so wearing. They explore the song both musically and vocally without resorting to the redundancy which is so prevalent in some of the zydeco bands that don’t care about the story the song carries. This band has been around for a good number of years and like a good horse has logged the miles and wet saddle blankets that let it shine no matter what. Listen to how they hit it on the great dance tune “Cricket Leg Zydeco”. Gerard St Julien Jr. on drums and Mark Anthony Williams on rubboard lay it down and the rest of the band dance all around this beat. Nathan has been playing the piano accordion, the instrument of choice for the late King, Clifton Chenier, for all these years but on “Put a Hump in Your Back”, he picks up and boogies with the triple row accordion. If you want a true taste of the Creole culture of that area give this disc a spin. You just might want to give your travel agent a call too, for sure thing by the finish of this disc you will have worked up a big appetite for a steaming bowl of gumbo.
Songs and times – all songs composed by Nathan Williams
1. Let’s Go – 5:24
2. Too Much Wine – 4:27
3. Put a Hump in Your Back – 3:47
4. Zydeco Rumble – 3:29
5. Everything Happens for the Best – 3:41
6. Hard Times – 6:01
7. Zydeco is All I Know – 4:02
8. Cricket Leg Zydeco – 3:45
9. Can’t get Nuthin’, Sucka – 4:20
10. El Sid O’s Party – 4:21
11. You Don’t Love Me No More – 3:08
12. Stay Out All Night 4:43
13. Oh Mom – 2:55
14. Le Bon Manger – 4:05
Musicians
Nathan Williams – accordion and vocals
Dennis Paul Williams – guitars
Allen “Cat Roy” Broussard – alto and tenor saxophones
Wayne Burns – bass
Mark Anthony Williams – rubboard
Gerald St. Julien Jr. – drums
With
Derek Huston – tenor saxophone on 5, 7, and12
Scott Billington – producer and harmonica on 1 and 10