Cascade Zydeco

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ZYDECO MUSIC & DANCE

"Everybody?s Dancin, All Night Long", a Geno Delafose zydeco favorite!

Zydeco (zy-deh-co) music emanates out of the bayous and prairies of South Louisiana, centered around the town of Lafayette. The music may be characterized as French-Creole rhythm and blues with Caribbean overtones. It is sometimes confused with Cajun music. While having many similarities, zydeco music has a more driving beat. The most obvious difference between the two sounds is in the instrumentation; the fiddle shares the lead in Cajun music, but is rarely heard in zydeco; the rubboard is predominantly a zydeco instrument.

Cajun music was brought by the French Acadiens to South Louisiana after their expulsion from Nova Scotia in the 1700?s. Zydeco music was created in Louisiana, by the Black descendants of former slaves from the Caribbean and the Mississippi Delta region who settled in South Louisiana. It is an outgrowth of African and Caribbean rhythms married to Cajun rhythms, married to Delta blues. Zydeco is a true Louisiana gumbo!

Zydeco music began being played in church halls and private homes in the 1930?s, and was dubbed ?la la? music. These impromptu dance events were for and by people of color. By the 1950?s, the music had grown to the point where it was being played in dance halls throughout Southern Louisiana. People of all colors and ethnic backgrounds began discovering zydeco music. The principal ambassadors of the time were John Delafose, Clifton Cheiner and Boozoo Chavis. The music was being transported to Texas and other states by these ambassadors and other zydeco musicians. Soon, Clifton Cheiner anointed himself the ?King of Zydeco.? As zydeco music spread, people around the country began taking notice of these infectious toe-tapping rhythms. It was hard to sit still when zydeco music was being played! As zydeco music gained in popularity, bands began touring the South, East Coast and California to play at dance events and festivals. In the early 1990?s, dance camps to teach zydeco sprang up around the country.

About this time in Oregon, a group of contra and Cajun dancers decided to add zydeco to their music/dance repertoire. They held the first ski/zydeco dance weekend at a church camp at Suttle Lake in the Cascades in February 1994, with the local Cajun band Blackfish playing. The music was an instant hit, and the camp became an annual weekend event for zydeco. Instructors were brought in from Louisiana. Bands came from Louisiana and California. The group began putting on additional zydeco dances throughout the year. And Cascade Zydeco was born!

About 2001, Cascade Zydeco was reconstituted as a non-profit organization, with an elected executive committee and membership, dedicated to promoting and popularizing this music and dance genre. Cascade Zydeco is now on an upswing in popularity. The group meets every Wednesday evening at the PPAA Hall for a lesson and dancing to cd?s. Monthly live music dances are held with zydeco bands from Louisiana and California. An annual weekend dance camp is held in September, and a one-day workshop in March so as to stay sharp with the footwork. And, at the Waterfront Blues Festival over the Fourth of July weekend, the A&E Front Porch Stage is dedicated to zydeco music on Friday evening and all day Saturday of the festival.

Cascade Zydeco is a group of friendly folks from a broad range of professions and ages. Newcomers are welcomed and regulars take time to help beginners become familiar with the dance steps. Check out the web site at www.cascadezydeco.com  and also send your email address to dickbrainard@gmail.com  for our monthly announcements of upcoming activities.

Et toi!

This article provided by Dick Brainard, a member of Cascade Zydeco. He can be reached at dickbrainard@gmail.com.

Read Dick's first article about how Zydeco came to the northwest.

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