Customer Reviews

J'ai Vu Le Loup, Le Renard et La Belette

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This is the last album recorded by the original lineup of brothers Dewey, Will and Rodney. Rodney (guitar) was killed in a car accident soon after. This is perhaps their most polished album, and a great first purchase for anyone curious about cajun music.

I agree with the previous reviewer in saying that this is not to be a first purchase, as a "dipping of the toe" in the genre of Cajun music. I would also like to drive home the fact that this is NOT to be your first Balfa album. Get the first two (they are on one CD) and get some of the field recordings and get this one to round out your collection.

I say this because you might believe this is a studio album, in fact, its a set of recordings made by Frenchman (as in Europe) Gerard Dole, and originally released on France's "Cezame" label (that's right, not originally issued in the States). These were obviously (by the sound of crickets and such) made on someone's front porch. That allows for a laid back sound, and the Balfas are in fine form, though a different line-up than the studio LPs (no designated accordionist, although Dewey Balfa takes a few pecks at the instrument), Rodney's son Tony is on board as guitarist, and there is little reliance on the triangle. So what do we have here? A bunch of guys sitting around, casual like, having fun, doing what they do best. You can picture them sitting around on a porch doing their thing. On top of this, we get several tracks with the late Rodney Balfa singing lead, and to tell the truth, I can't believe this man was never offered a solo recording shot. Just listen to that voice! Grand Ol' Opry? I bet the man could've sung anything thrown at him!

We also get Dewey Balfa singing "Casey Jones" - good for those unfamiliar with the language as you might be able to pick up a few words and match them against the English lyrics you know.

Speaking of Anglo material, we get "Je Suis Content D'etre Un Cajun", "I'm Proud To Be A Cajun from Grand Mamou". Yes, a Cajun-ized version of Merle's classic.

So what did I mean by rounding out your collection with this album? Go from the Swallow recordings and pick up "Louisiana Cajun French Music, Vol. 1: Southwest Prairies, 1964-1967", released by Rounder. It includes seven recordings by the Balfas that I think would give a better idea of what they were about and can be appreciated in tandem with "Play Traditional Cajun Music".

Here them state their case, then pick up "J'ai Vu le Loup, Le Renard et la Belette" to hear them have fun when not being the great heroes saving the day of Cajun music that they were.

Another outstanding recording by the Balfa Brothers,complimentary of their vol.1,vol.2 traditional compilations on Swallow, - what's so amazing listening to the Balfa's is the smoothness, the tightness,and flawlessness of their overall sound,- the twin fiddles,the harmonies, some accordion,it's the old time Cajun repertiore that the brothers chose to play and playing these melodies is what they did best, entertaining the people like you and me. The Balfa brothers music is so limited like other old time Cajun music, we're lucky to hear what is available. This twelve track compilation,"J'ai Vu Le Loup,Le Renard et La Bellete", displays various instrumentations,-fiddle,guitars,accordion,harmonica,the triangle,(the crickets) featuring an accordion solo "La Vieille Danse A Balfa". Naturally there's the trademark Balfa vocals/harmonies prominently revealed on the albums titled first track. This French produced recording on Rounder features the real deal Bayou sounds,listen for Dewey Balfa's version of "Casey Jones", another essential recording of the Acadians.

I've got some 30 to 40 albums of Cajun music, plus a dozen of Zydeco's (Chenier's, mostly of course), which I listen quite often when I'd go for a change of mind/spirit from my really huge collection of Blues and Jazz. Well, I bougth this LP in 1980, and it was maybe my first exposure to those marvelous Acadian sounds. Then I've also got albums by Nathan Abshire, Beausoleil, DL Menard and the Savoy-Doucet Band, all of them fantastic stuff. BUT I think I must say this with no doubt: this one was and still got to be my favorite Louisiana traditional music album ever. Sure it is the one that I've been listening more times at least. Those up-tempo "Je Suis Content d'Etre Un Cajun" and the tittle track, i.e., are nothing sort of SUPERB, marterful music!

I grew up in New Orleans, which is not Cajun country, but I have a great affinity for Cajun and Zydeco music. I love this album and can't add much to "Additional's" excellent review. This person gave a great historical perspective as well as a great review on the album itself.

I will add that the title, if my high school French serves me correctly, translates to, "I have seen the Wolf, the Fox and the Weasel." Thank you Balfas for saving Cajun music to the point where it now has its own Grammy category.