Feb. 24, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: LISA WOSKE
Cal Poly Arts
(805) 756-7110
Cajun Zydeco Master Geno Delafose Coming to Cal Poly March 15
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA -- A PBS-Smithsonian television documentary
described Geno Delafose as "the standard-bearer for traditional
Zydeco… and he has proved himself one of the most versatile
musicians in South Louisiana."
On Tuesday, March 15 at 8 p.m. in the Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly Arts presents Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie for an evening of spicy two-steps, waltzes, and their own brand of R&B classics.
Known as the “keeper of the flame” for the traditional folk music of Southwest Louisiana, Delafose will deliver surging, syncopated good-time music straight out of the bayou dancehall.
He will share the stage with his smokin’ hot French Rockin’
Boogie band,
featuring John Paul Esprite (bass guitar, vocals), Wilfred Pierre
(washboard, vocals), Gerard Delafose (drums, vocals), and Charles
Ardoin
(lead guitar).
Delafose, called “the young hope of Zydeco” by the
Boston Herald, is a
"squeeze-box triple threat" – playing the diatonic,
triple row, and
piano accordions.
Delafose was born into a family of Zydeco musicians; his father
was
zydeco legend John Delafose. The elder Delafose was key in re-launching
the current upsurge of Zydeco and the son is poised to crossover
Zydeco
to a wider country music audience with his charismatic cowboy spirit
and
lively presentation.
With French Rockin’ Boogie, Geno Delafose performs in many
of the same
dancehalls and churches that he visited as a child in his father’s
group.
Delafose fuses his Creole roots and modern voice through his
multi-accordion attack, playing the single-row and triple-row diatonic
button accordions for more traditional “French style”
tunes and changes
to piano accordion for pounding out contemporary Zydeco.
The performers know how to reach a diverse audience, with a wide
repertoire ranging from traditional Zydeco gems with French lyrics
to
innovative reinterpretations of country standards. Delafose also
has
written some original songs that are featured in his concerts and
on his
recordings.
"You're either going to love it or you're gonna hate it,"
Geno Delafose
explained in a recent radio interview regarding listeners' maiden
reaction to Zydeco. "And if you like it, it's going to be with
you forever."
In addition to being an in-demand touring artist, Delafose also
lives
the life of a true cowboy. He relies on his traditional Creole
sensibility for guidance in music and divides his time between
performing and operating his Double D Ranch outside of Eunice, deep
in
Southwest Louisiana’s bayou country, where he breeds cattle
and raises
quarter horses.
Tickets for the performance are $22 & $28, with student discounts
available, and may be purchased at the Performing Arts Ticket Office,
10
a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order
by
phone, call 805/756-2787; to order by fax: 805/756-6088. Order on-line
at www.pacslo.org.
Sponsored by John and Deborah Spatafore and by KCBX 90.1 FM.
For audio and video samples of Cal Poly Arts events, visit www.calpolyarts.org.
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