flatsharp - Posted - 06/25/2008:  19:51:51

Working on the traditional cajun fiddle style. Very complex slides and bow technique when you REALLY listen to the old traditional players.

Incredible rhythm ... even when played solo or with two fiddles particularly. So much stereotypical-popularized cajun out there that doesn't even compare to Dewey Balfa or Dennis McGee's stuff. Anyone else out there working on the subtleties of old time cajun fiddle style?

bsed - Posted - 06/25/2008:  20:49:21

Yup, and if I could find a way to reproduce that blusey Balfa sound on the fiddle, I'd die a happy man!

Just call me Dwight.

Monkey - Posted - 06/26/2008:  08:42:56

I've heard some really interesting playing but mostly just in snippets. I've never connected them to actual names or recordings.
Can you turn us on to some specific examples?

flatsharp - Posted - 06/26/2008:  18:37:22

To give just a few examples, well that is tough... well, here
goes!... Dewey First..

YouTube has some good posts of film clips...
here a few...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPaDIVMiWwQ

Clip from a film about the Balfa brothers, last part
shows all three brothers performing a beautiful cajun
waltz. Like all great players it doesn't look like he is
doing much.. but the subtle slides upward and downward
with that rhythmic bow and those 'just right' double stops
and unisons... yikes it is tough to figure out!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y_iip5lEug

Great video clip I believe from the Aly Bain BBC series
"Trans-Atlantic Sessions"... a few good closeups of
his playing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8GKslT3NJw

Maybe my favorite clip on YouTube of the Balfa Brothers playing.
They are playing their waltz. Dewey is seconding his brother Will playing lead on the tune he wrote.

As far as CD's.. the one I would most recommend would
be one put out by Swallow Records-Flat Town Music
entitled "Dewey Balfa & Friends". It is a re-issue of a
couple of top notch earlier LP's "Fait a la main" and "Souvenirs".

Listen to the Valse De Balfa on the CD compared to the
video.. a whole lot more going on with one of the Schwarz's
seconding Dewey I believe.. great great great

I can listen to his playing over and over and think I know
what he is doing.. then I listen again in a week and realize
I was all wrong ,or miss the important little things he does.

I don't claim to be any expert on Cajun playing (to be sure)
but I am trying to absorb the style bit by bit..

Edited by - flatsharp on 06/26/2008 18:38:38

Mike_Fontenot - Posted - 06/27/2008:  09:18:06

quote:

---

Originally posted by flatsharp
[...]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8GKslT3NJw

Maybe my favorite clip on YouTube of the Balfa Brothers playing.
They are playing their waltz. Dewey is seconding his brother Will playing lead on the tune he wrote.

---

flatsharp - Posted - 06/28/2008:  09:49:30

A quick note about the Dewey Balfa CD "Dewey Balfa & Friends" I mentioned earlier. This CD has 24 tracks from 2 LPs from Swallow Records. The two albums were some of the last work Dewey recorded and the music is wonderful. Superb twin and some triple fiddle work on most of the tunes. Authentic tasteful traditional accordion work by Robert Jardell. Can't say enough about the CD for someone who wants to listen to the real thing. You can preview the tracks easily at:

http://www.floydsrecordshop.com/Dew...7c04$22$EC0$

Floyd Record Shop in Ville Platt LA is the most complete source of cajun music and is the outlet for Swallow Records.
(not affiliated with the store or label, but they do a great job)

This music and fiddle playing will get to you !

Have fun!

flatsharp - Posted - 06/28/2008:  16:11:37

DENNIS MCGEE .... I said I would find some specific examples.. well Dennis McGee didn't record a great deal it seems like to me considering how important he was to the style.. the currently available CD "The Complete Early Recordings of Dennis McGee" will give you a good start if you haven't heard his style. The tunes were recorded of old 78's back from the 20's and 30's.

You can easily preview some of his music here:

http://www.last.fm/music/Dennis+McG...le?autostart



He recorded with many others over the following years but as a sideman to accordion players and such. Another solo album with Sady Courville is "Encore" from Swallow records.

Somewhere I have some tunes with him playing with Angelas LeJuene that maybe are the best, but I can't find where! All really good stuff. He played with a lot of upward and downward slides like from F# to A on the 1st (E) string and from A to C# and back down smooth as a whistle...

I would love to hear from Dennis McGee fans and discuss his techniques and keep this thread moving !

Edited by - flatsharp on 06/28/2008 18:09:00