REVIEW: Buckwheat Zydeco, Five Card Stud (Island)
- Dan Enright
If you're a fan of zydeco music, be warned: this is not a traditional zydeco album. If you're familiar with Buckwheat's (Stanly Dural Jr.) work then you already know his penchant for incorporating pop music into his writing and arranging. He also uses the recording studio to add sugar that doesn't make it intto his live performances such as strings, percussion and horns. If you like the traditional sound, pursue recordings by Clifton Chenier or Beau Soleil. That stated, this is a good-time, up-tempo, zydeco influnced romp through current musical styles.
He's got Willie Nelson's first single "Man With The Blues" - with Willie singing. He's got a gospel arrangement of the traditional song "This Train" with Mavis Staple, he's got David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) adding vocals to the *happy* rockin' "Hey Baby," and the previously unreleased Van Morrison tune "Bayou Doll." These are mostly dancing songs, and they do get your feet a tappin'. Every musical style in the south is here - country, gospel, blues, zydeco, and r&b - combined into a sound that is instantly identifiable as Buckwheat's. While I didn't think this was an outstanding addition to his catalog, and would suggest newcomers listen to his Grammy winner 'On A Night Like This,' it should be included in the collections of serious fans. I would also suggest seeing him live if you want to get a true feel for the energy and power this man and his band generate.
