Mardi Gras Cajun Dance Tuesday, February 16, 2010 Ashkenaz Community Center 1317 San Pablo Avenue Berkeley, CA map www.ashkenaz.com Show 8:00 pm
The Aux Cajunals Trio specializes in the kind of old-fashioned Cajun dance music that’s been played at Cajun celebrations in southwest Louisiana for more than 100 years. The Aux Cajunals sound, hard-driving but not ear-splitting, inspires audiences to kick up their heels on the dance floor while soaking up the rich textures of the acoustic instruments and the emotion-drenched French vocals. Suzy Thompson squeezes her Louisiana-made one-row accordions, doubles on lead fiddle, and brings the old Cajun and Creole songs to life with her powerful bluesy vocals. Agi Ban's lively fiddling combines with Eric Thompson’s rock-steady rhythm guitar to create a seamless mix that propels the dance rhythms of the band. These musicians have performed and recorded with many of the most respected names in Cajun and zydeco music, including Michael Doucet and Beausoleil, Marc and Ann Savoy, Queen Ida, the Magnolia Sisters, Ray Abshire, Dewey Balfa, and D.L. Menard.
The Creole Belles are a California based all-women band well known in the Cajun music scene for bringing the raw, driving authenticity of southwest Louisiana dancehalls to their shows. Popular zydeco musician and Louisiana native Andrew Carrière, son of legendary fiddler Bébé Carrière of the renowned Carrière Brothers from Lawtell, Louisiana will join Delilah Lee Lewis, fiddle & vocals, Maureen Karpan, accordion & vocals, Karen Leigh, guitar & vocals for this special double bill with the Aux Cajunals, along with Elaine Herrick, standup bass, Myrna Cooper, rubboard, Sam Siggins, drums, and Karen Celia Heil who will join us for some old-time twin fiddling.