Most folks here had their intro to Cajun music through the movie, The Big Easy, starring Dennis Quaid as modern Robyn Hood police officer and paramour of the lovely DA played by Ellen Barkin. Since that 1987, Cajun has become vernacular in many movies, bars and homes. And Dennis Quaid has made it into all the tabloids, and Ellen Barkin has made it into the Revlon fortune of Ron Perleman! This release by Putumayo World Music is more "let the good times roll" music! Or as you might hear it in New Orleans, "laissez les bon temps roulez"!

Mardi Gras 2001 has passed into Mississippi mist, just barely! Truly, barely! There’s a funny little story about the housewife who has never been outside of her little Pennsylvania town. She’s married to a local boy and they have a sweet little married life. One day, after seeing the Big Easy, she and a couple of girlfriends get the notion of visiting New Orleans. And off they go. After their four day stay, which became five, due to a "flight cancellation", she comes back to her husband and when opening her suitcase dozens of beautiful beads come screaming out. Blissful hubby, not realizing any significance to the beads believes his wife was doing another arts and crafts project and thinks nothing of it. Until later, when he see his wife coming out the shower and spots a bright red rose tattoo in a strategically sensual place. Now his eyebrows are raised! What ever happened to his wife? His girl from the coal country? Well, to quote my great Cajun friend, Murphy, "she’s been kissed by a Cajun!" She never was the same. And to this day, the mere sound of an accordion breaks a light cool sweat all over this woman!

Murphy ought to know, he’s introduced many a woman to the ways and means of Cajun culture, so rich and drenched in colors, tastes, and sounds. And he is my tutor to all things Cajun. Cajun music is a history of struggle. Early Cajun’s trace their roots back to early French-speaking colonists of Acadia or as it is known today, Nova Scotia. Murphy likes to say that the smart ones left the cold north! In 1755, they were forced out, actually by the English in what is known as the Grand Derangement. For ten years they made a migration southward into the bayous south of New Orleans and towards the Texas border. The word Cajun itself started as a derogatory slurring of Acadian; and as happens with folks forging their way into the great melting pot of America, their songs became the knitting, which held their culture together. Drinking songs, holiday chants, the stories of the long journeys and of course, love’s lost!

So, here we are at winter’s break, spring not too far away, but it seems like forever since the bones felt some sustained, deep, penetrating warmth. There are options to jump start spring and get that warmth going again. One option is to pack up and take a trip down to N’awlins, get some good bayou buffet and have your senses explode with sight and sound. Men, don’t let your ladies go down there alone! Unless you are prepared to have her break into cool sweats at all things Cajun! Another option is to pick up this superb selection by Putumayo, and set up a Cajun party for the first day of Spring! You’ll find a great red beans and rice recipe inside the disk. And you might just get some things cooking in the most significant manner!

*****

Home