Bios

SUZY THOMPSON (accordion and fiddle) grew up in the Northeast, studied classical music as a child, and fell in love with Cajun music when she heard the Balfa Brothers at a folk festival in the mid-1970s. In 1981, she received an NEA grant to apprentice with master fiddler Dewey Balfa in Louisiana; other influences include Dennis McGee, Cheese Read, and Canray Fontenot. In 1983, Suzy formed the California Cajun Orchestra; they have 2 award-winning albums on the Arhoolie label. After Dewey Balfa's death in 1982, Suzy began studying Cajun accordion with Danny Poullard. Suzy has been a Cajun fiddle instructor at Augusta Cajun-Creole Week, Port Townsend Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, and Ashokan Southern Week. She has recorded with the California Cajun Orchestra, Blue Flame Stringband, Any Old Time, the Klezmorim, Eric Thompson, and as a side musician with Laurie Lewis, Rinde Eckert, Sukay, and the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. Suzy appears in Les Blank's film J'ai Etais Au Bal (aired nationally on PBS as French Dance Tonight), playing fiddle with D.L. Menard and with Danny Poullard.

ERIC THOMPSON (fiddle) has been active in traditional music since the mid-1960's, when he won the World Championship cup at Union Grove. In the 1970's Eric began traveling to southwest Louisiana to learn from older musicians such as Dewey Balfa, Dennis McGee, and Marc Savoy. Musicians with whom he has worked during his career include the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, the Balfa Brothers, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Laurie Lewis, and Jody Stecher. Recordings include 2 solo albums featuring his guitar flatpicking, many band albums including the California Cajun Orchestra's 2 CDs, and numerous recordings as a sideman. Eric has taught at many music camps including Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Augusta Cajun-Creole and Old-Time Weeks, Port Townsend Fiddle Tunes Festival, Ashokan Southern Week, and Lark In the Morning.

AGI BAN (fiddle) grew up playing classical violin in southern California. In the early 1970's she became interested in traditional fiddling, and made her first pilgrimage to southwest Louisiana. The mid-70's saw Agi touring extensively in Europe, then returning to San Diego to form the Rhythm Rascals, a wonderful swing trio; she has also performed with Queen Ida and with Bayou Pon Pon. Dr. Ban is the owner of Ashby Chiropractic, in Berkeley.

ALAN SENAUKE (guitar) has been at the forefront of American traditional music since the 1970's. A former editor of Sing Out! Magazine, he has toured and recorded with many fine musicians, including Michael Doucet, High Country, Blue Flame Stringband, and the Fiction Brothers. With Eric and Suzy Thompson, he was a founding member of the California Cajun Orchestra. Like the other Aux Cajunals, Alan has spent time in southwest Louisiana visiting older musicians. A Zen priest, he is also the Executive Director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

Appearances

The Aux Cajunals have appeared at:

Ashkenaz, Berkeley
Freight & Salvage, Berkeley
Boulevard Restaurant, San Francisco
Cajun-Zydeco Experience, Ardenwood Farm, Hayward
San Francisco Jazz Festival
Larkfest at the Cannery, San Francisco
Berkeley Free Folk Festival
Berkeley Farmer's Market
Powerhouse Pub, Folsom