Reviews

"The California Cajun Orchestra, besides being the hottest veteran west coast Cajun band, is a pure example of what the best of the honky tonk southwest Louisiana Cajun bands have been in the past. Whereas nowadays many local Louisiana bands are evolving into Nashville lookalikes, the California Cajun Orchestra delves back through dancehall classics, drawing out and preserving rare and popular gems from the dancehall tradition. These musicians have paid their dues on the acoustic Cajun circuit (Eric and Suzy today have an oldtime Cajun band "The Aux Cajunals" and Kevin Wimmer is the fiddler in the traditional "Balfa Toujours"), but this venture is the finest of the pure electric dancehall sound that is the preferred dancehall music of today's southwest Louisiana. Songs of Shorty LeBlanc, Amede Ardoin, Aldus Roger, Lawrence Walker, Iry LeJeune, and Boozoo Chavis lilt from their able fingers.

Accordionist Danny Poullard, from Eunice, Louisiana, bounces rhythmically through the melodies, drawing accordion licks from his greatest Cajun heros but also melding them into a sound all his own. His father, John Poullard, was a great accordionist in the Eunice area and Danny is carrying on the family tradition. On fiddles are California's finest Cajun style fiddlers, Suzy Thompson and Kevin Wimmer. Both of their fiddle styles are heavily influenced by Dewey Balfa and this kindred spirit blends their perfect technique into a fine sound. The twin fiddles played on the Aldus Roger numbers clearly relect careful listening to Tony Thibodeaux and Doc Guidry as heard on Roger's early albums. This detail adds to the band's sound's almost astounding similarity to the Lafayette Playboys' original recordings. On guitar is renowned flatpicker Eric Thompson. Eric throws in tasteful lead guitar parts in place of the standard Cajun steel guitar, and in between breaks he plays the choke chord guitar rhythm preferred by dancehall bands. Drummer David Hymowitz lays down a strong but never overpowering rhythm framework for the lead musicians to play around.

Going dancing to the California Cajun Orchestra would be like going back in time, walking into a Louisiana hall of the 1960's and dancing to the smooth rhythms of a tight, talented group of musicians who play like they know the feeling of dancing a waltz or a two-step. So hats off to the California Cajun Orchestra for their sensitive recreation of some of the best of the best Louisiana Cajun dance music." -- Ann Allen Savoy Eunice, Louisiana

"Hats off to the California Cajun Orchestra! The hottest west coast Cajun band...a tight, talented group of musicians who play like they know the feeling of dancing a waltz or a two-step." Ann Allen Savoy, Cajun musician and author of Cajun Music, A Reflection of a People

"This batch of (mostly) city folk can play Cajun! The orchestra is blessed with a number of fine vocalists, with Poullard and Suzy Thompson taking notable turns on the CD." Michael Parrish, Dirty Linen

"Anyone of the Cajun dancing inclination will enjoy this platter of well-executed two-steps and waltzes." Nigel Tassell, Blues & Rhythm

"The CCO romped, sang, and swung their way through long sets of first-rate Cajun material..." San Francisco Examiner

"The best party money can buy" Oakland Tribune

"A fantastic collection of dizzying waltzes and twosteps" Bay Guardian

"If you've been waiting for a Cajun band that's got the beef of bass and drums but reatins a keen sense of the acoustic traditions of the music, this one's for you." Brian Peters, Folk Roots Magazine

"Wonderfully authentic sound and impeccable musicianship!" Elderly Instruments Hot Platter review