Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole - 'L'Esprit Créole'

Leave it to an “upstart” outsider like accordionist/fiddler/singer Cedric Watson to shake things up in revered Louisiana Cajun/zydeco musical territory.

The 26-year-old Texan prodigy does just that on “L’Esprit Créole” as he and his youngblood quintet present a spirited homage, and totally original take, on traditional music from the Pelican State. This “Créole Cowboy” takes on the rhythm-happy music with equal parts reverence and innovation.

He and his band cook up a musical gumbo spiced with heaping helpings of accordion, fiddle, electric guitar and percussion, simmered in a sonic etoufee liberally flavored with vintage soul, Texas two-steps, blues, early rock ’n’ roll and West African/Caribbean polyrhythms.

Watson renders all lyrics in Cajun-French/Créole patois as he and his band serve up Texas roadhouse waltzes in “J’suis Parti au Texas,” Cajun Philly soul in “J’suis Gone a la Blue Moon” and Bob Marley reggae syncopation in “C’est La Vie.”

“L’Esprit Créole” will make every day a rousing Mardi Gras party.

– Eric Feber, The Pilot

Tracks to download “Bijou Créole,” “Zydeco Paradise”

Buy "L'Esprit Creole" (Link goes to Amazon.com)

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