ZYDECO, LA LA, YA YA: An evening of Zydeco Music and Conversation

Lawrence Ardoin and Tradition Creole along with Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie performed at Ducrest-Gilfry Auditorium on Saturday, March 19th

Nick Spitzer acted as Master of Ceremonies for event. Nick Spitzer is the host of public radio’s American Routes, and Tulane University professor of anthropology. Spitzer was honored this year with the College of the Arts SPARK Lifetime Achievement at ArTech Fusion. As a documentary filmmaker and sound recordist in African French Louisiana communities, founding director of the Louisiana Folklife Program and a folklorist specializing in Creole music and culture at the Smithsonian Institution and elsewhere, Spitzer has been a longtime friend of the Ardoin and Delafose families. It was a wonderful evening of music and conversation.

The concert title "Zydeco, La-La, Ya-Ya" has historical ties to the musicians as well as Creole culture.  La-La is a name used for the older Creole music that Lawrence Ardoin and his father, Bois Sec Ardoin, played. Ya-Ya refers to the expression “Gumbo ya-ya,” meaning everyone talking at once. Zydeco is the contemporary Creole popular music for which accordionist Geno Delafose is so well-known, as was his father John before him.

Lawrence “Black” Ardoin was born in Duralde, Louisiana in 1946. He originally played drums with his father Bois Sec and siblings in the Ardoin Brothers Band. He later picked up accordion after the tragic loss of his brother, Gustav, and took the responsibility as leader of the group when his father retired. In 1984, Ardoin recorded Tradition Creole on Arhoolie Records with fiddler Ed Poullard, who will be joining him for this concert. Ardoin’s sons Chris and Sean have each gone on to form their own successful zydeco bands. Lawrence and Sean recently recorded and toured with another band, Creole United.

Geno Delafose was born in Eunice, Louisiana in 1971. He is the son of the famous accordion player John Delafose. Growing up, Geno played rubboard in his father's band, the Eunice Playboys--he was featured in that role for Spitzer’s 1986 film Zydeco. Geno Delafose debuted on accordion with the album French Rockin' Boogie on Rounder Records in 1994. The album title became the name of the band with which he continues to perform. He was nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album” category for Le Cowboy Creole (2007). He was the first black cowboy invited to perform in the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada in 2010.

Nick was also able to visit with students in Traditional Music and Folklore classes
and was interviewed live by Todd Ortego on KBON-FM