Mardi Gras 2012: Cedric Watson at The Blue Moon Saloon

Cedric Watson and Bijoux Creole
Blue Moon Saloon
215 East Convent Street
Lafayette, LA
February 16, 2012

Cedric Watson, even in the rich universe of Cajun and zydeco musicians in Louisiana, stands out for the sheer variety of genres he packs into one set. Whether with his button accordion or shiny fiddle, the guy can play up a storm.

While deeply respecting the culture that produced it, he consciously shows us the far-flung roots of the music that zydeco has assimilated. Riffs he’s picked up from listening to Haitian, Dominican, African, and Cuban music pop up playfully in his songs.

Listening to him sing in Creole French is a treat. Dancing it, with its rich range of zydeco, Cajun, swing, waltz, two-step and occasional rock 'n roll rhythms, is divine.

By the time his second set ends at the Blue Moon Saloon, it is what I call Clown Car Dancing, with an astonishing number of people  seemingly defying the laws of physics, occupying the same space at the same time. This syndrome happens regularly in southwest Louisiana.

With the Clown Car, a ridiculous number of people climb out of a ridiculously tiny car. In Clown Car Dancing, most people turn around after one dance and ask another partner to dance. Who wants to leave a jammed dance floor when a guy like Cedric Watson and his Bijoux Creole Band are playing such mesmerizing music on stage?

Photos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.

Special guests at the break, Chief Zydeco Mike and the Creole Headhunters

Comments

[Carole Blossom]

Count me out of the Clown Car....too much fun at the Blue Moon Saloon

[Wayne Hatford]

Mr T,

Someone from your Pierce School past who wants to commend you on a way cool blog! Just found out about it and wanted to say hi, also direct you to my website, what I've been doing of late, which is writing books.

Some great articles, and travel - my favorite thing!

Cheers,

Wayne Hatford
Pierce '85 to '92.