You could say that Corey Ledet was born to play music, and you wouldn’t be wrong. His grandfather Buchanon played drums for Clifton Chenier and Rockin’ Dopsie. Other members of his family played with the likes of Bobby Blue Bland and Louis Armstrong. Corey was the ripe old age of 10 when he first started picking up gigs playing drums with Wilbert Thibodeaux and The Zydeco Rascals in Houston.
Corey Ledet Zydeco was recorded in June 2019. Like a lot of recent music projects, this was delayed. Before “Nina’s Hot Step,” Ledet acknowledges that the pandemic occurred in the midst of making this project. It’s fair to say that it was worth the wait.
Among the originals is a cover of “I’m Walking” by Fats Domino. The arrangement is quite different than the original. That includes the lyrics, which Ledet sings in the regional dialect Kouri-Vini. He also includes a cover of “Flip, Flop, and Fly.” Is it different to hear this song without any brass? Yes, but this version will get you moving just as well as the swing version.
While this is a zydeco album, Ledet also incorporates some other influences into these songs. The harmonica in “Pel Mo (Call Me)” gives a definite blues feel. Parts of “On a Roll” have a soul sound.
This album is a celebration, which is nice because we could all use something to celebrate these days. It celebrates Creole culture and family as evidenced by “Buchanon Ledet Special”, a tribute to Corey’s grandfather. On top of that, zydeco music is pretty celebratory. You don’t find a lot of sullen ballads in the genre, and you won’t find any on this album. The melodies on this album are upbeat, and they just might have you looking for a dance partner. Find Corey Ledet Zydeco and more, here: http://coreyledet.com/web/
Corey Ledet – vocals, accordion, drums, washboard
Cecil Green – Hammond B3
Lee Allen Zeno – bass
Grant Dermody – harmonica
Julian Primeaux – guitar, backing vocals
Gerard Delafose – drums, washboard
Produced by Corey Ledet and Louis Michot
Recorded at Dockside Studios, Maurice, Louisiana
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