Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers
Check It Out, Lock It In, Crank It Up! (Rounder)
Beau knows zydeco. And on his fifth LP, he reminds us, over and over again. There’s the Beau Jocque-as-superhero cover art and the self-referential rants of “Git it, Beau Jocque” and “do it Beau Jocque style!” For all that posturing, the heir to Clifton Chenier’s mantle delivers the high-voltage R&B, hip-hop infused brand of zydeco that has energized dancehalls from eastern Texas to Louisiana’s bayou parishes. With a grizzly growl befitting his linebacker’s girth the accordionist/singer turns some traditional favorites on their ears, notably on versions of “Tequila” and “Tighten Up.” His tight entourage–Michael Lockett on Hammond organ and keyboards, bassist Chuck Bush, drummer Steve Charlot, and rub-boarder Eric Minix–deftly entwines those styles, along with blues and country, for a lusty Creole gumbo.