In this album, Kevin returns to his early traditional influences. He grew up listening to Don and Adolice Montoucet, his baby-sitters when he was a kid, as well as the music of his own family tradition, including great-grandfathers Hadley Fontenot and Edius Naquin. Naquin recorded a number of ballad and fiddle tunes for folklorists Harry Oster and Ralph Rinzler in the 1950s and 60s. Fontenot played accordion and recorded with the Balfa Brothers back in the 1970s, including their landmark first Swallow album., THE BALFA BROTHERS PLAY TRADITIONAL CAJUN MUSIC. There’s more than a bit of Balfa influence here as well.
Kevin still enjoys playing the complex, high-energy arrangements his Ossun Playboys are known for. But he also loves sitting down and playing and singing the old stuff straight up with his friends for the pure joy of it all. Make no mistake, the music still swings, with twin fiddle rides by Beau Thomas and Cameron Fontenot and tight harmonies by Jimmy Hebert and Blasien LeBlanc, and there still a drive from Blasien’s brushes, Jimmy’s bass and Tony Daigle’s triangle, but it’s more playing to play, playing for listeners, sitting on somebody’s back porch waiting for the meat to be smoked, the fish to be fried or the crawfish to be boiled, or in somebody’s kitchen waiting for the gumbo or the etouffee to be ready. No need for an outlet or an amp. Just traditional music unplugged. LA MUSIQUE TRADITIONNELLE DEBRANCHEE. -Barry Jean Ancelet, President, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles Board
Release date: October 14, 2022, 11 tracks
