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 USA
TODAY
Thursday, May 2, 2002
Entertainment
"New
Orleans JazzFest Taps its Roots"
by Edna Gundersen
NEW ORLEANS
- During jazzfest's opening weekend, toe-tappers and two-steppers
swarmed the Fair Grounds' stages to soak up some of the coolest
acts you've never heard of: the Zulu Ensemble gospel chorus, Creole
accordionist Goldman Thibodeaux and Zydeco.... Rockin' Dopsie Jr.
Continuing today through Sunday, jazzfest is top-heavy with area
practitioners of jazz, gospel, blues. zydeco and other indigenous
strains, all drawing enthusiastic crowds. Fans wallowing in tronibone
bleats, second-line beats and Tabasco-laced eats don't seem to miss
the pop pinup ruling radio.
"In
gospel, Cajun, zydeco and every category I found more groups than
ever," he says. "They're better, they have careers, they
tour and have record deals, they're known outside New Orleans. Every
level and generation is cranked up."
As older voices fade, will traditions wither on the vine?
"I don't see it," Dopsie Jr. says. "Younger musicians
in Cajun and zydeco are playing traditional music. We'll always
have old-time brass bands. And there will always be someone in each
generation who sings 0 Death a capella."
Contemporary sensation Lenny Kravitz drew youthful hordes, but so
did such pre-boomer figures as piano hero Eddie Bo, zydeco pioneer
Alphonse "Bois Set" Ardoin, IlL. Menard (the "Cajun
Hank Williams") and guitarist James Burton, onetime sideman
for Elvis Presley.
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