Voyageurs (Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, 2015)
Accordionist, singer-songwriter and composer Steve Riley continues to take Cajun music beyond tradition by incorporation a fabulous mix of traditional Cajun music, rock, blues, country, bluegrass, and Celtic music on his new album titled Voyageurs.
The album’s cover reflects the spirit of the album. Steve Riley saw it in Leroy Evans’s motel room. He really liked the Mardi Gras Meets Sgt. Pepper feel and decide it to use it for the cover of Voyageurs.
The music selection includes French Creole and English-language originals by Steve Riley and his band mate, fiddler Kevin Wimmer, together with classic Cajun pieces by well-known southern Louisiana songwriters and traditional material as well.
The album opens with “Au Revoir Grand Mamou “, a powerful Cajun rock piece that sets the crossroads tone of the album. Other highlights include the masterful fiddle in “Allons Boire Un Coup”; the catchy “Bernadette”; the western-swing flavored “Brasse Donc Le Couche-Couche”; the irresistible blues-rock of “Boozoo’s Blues”; and the grooving Celtic instrumental Malcolm’s Reel where all the musicians delight the listener with virtuosic interplay.
“A lot of the songs on the record are about travels,” says Steve Riley. “There is all this imagery that’s really striking, all the things you had to go though, to leave your home and take your music and your message around the world.”
The lineup on Voyageurs includes Steve Riley on accordion, vocals, fiddle and guitar; Kevn Wimmer on fiddle and vocals; Brazos Huval on bass; Sam Broussard on guitar and vocals; Kevin Dugas on drums and percussion. Guests are Eric Adcock on organ; and Calie Guidry and Maegan Berard of Sweet Cecilia on vocals.
Voyageurs showcases the seductive toe-tapping rhythms of Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys’ inventive Cajun music.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
