Customer Reviews

Night & Day [VHS]

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For those that don't know, Zydeco is a down home form of music from the Bayou mixing a wide variety of influences, from Cajun music to the Blues - - with (depending on the artists) touches of New Orleans R & B, Carribean Music, and anyting else that can be put in the gumbo. - - Its main instrument is often the accordian, but in the hands of a master like C.J. Chenier or Rockin Dopsie, this is no Lawrence Welk thing... The accordian rips out screaming and soulful blues licks... becoming almost like a Hammond Organ you can wear around your neck. - - The rhythm of Zydeco is Cajun Creole with a lot of extra rhythm !

I bought this video almost 10 years ago, and still watch it now and then. A great documentary about Zydeco, shot entirely in its home ground. - - Great footage of Rockin' Dopsie, Buckwheat Zydeco, Clifton and C.J. Chenier (he had passed by then), Bozoo Chavis, Zydeco Force, John Delafose, Terrence Simien and countless others on stage, and mosing on he farms. (In my opinion, Dopsie and Zydeco Force steal the show !) - - also includes a great gospel performance as well - - a nice balanced display of Zydeco from its roots in Cajun and The Blues, to more modernistic "rock" and "blues" expressions of it.

Zydeco in essence is live music - - it doesn't always carry over to record (atleast there's a big difference between hearing it live vs. on record) - - in offering some of the many sites and sounds that go with it, this video is a priceless resource.

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This is the most informative tape out there. It makes you laugh and cry. It makes you want to jump in a car and drive to the south!