C J Chenier

If ever a musician had cause to feel beleaguered, it would be C.J. Chenier, son of the late Clifton Chenier. He has quite a bloodline to live up to. The elder Chenier pioneered zydeco music in the '50s, his accordion-fired stew of Cajun and R&B virtually defining the form, and the invention and zeal of his performances setting a nearly unattainable standard. Universally hailed as the King of Zydeco, Chenier often wore a crown during his performances--and it looked good on him.

Each year during the week of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Crescent City's combo bowling alley/music club Mid City Lanes holds zydeco showdowns, with two accordionists--perhaps a revered veteran such as Boozoo Chavis and a young Turk such as Beau Jocques--leading their bands in alternating sets as they vie for the "championship" of the rousing Louisiana Creole music. It's all in good fun, of course.

The late Clifton Chenier sometimes donned a gaudy crown when he performed on stage, making like an Imperial Margarine commercial to emphasize his position as the king of zydeco, the spirited mix of R&B and Cajun folk music that has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past year. But Chenier's son, C. J. Chenier, wanted no part of that as he prepared to make his debut leading his father's Red Hot Louisiana Band at the Music Machine on Friday.

Blue Monday promoter Michael Kaufer has been bringing just about everybody who is anybody in zydeco music to Ventura County over the past few months. Wayne Toups was here, then Nathan Williams and noJ. Chenier is on the way to headline this week's Blue Monday presentation at Alexander's in Ventura. Chenier is the son of the king, the legendary Clifton Chenier. The senior Chenier wore a crown onstage and helped popularize zydeco music--he even coined the z-word.

In a splendid twin accordion blowout at Bogart's on Friday evening, Orange County's Chris Gaffney and Louisiana's C.J. Chenier each squeezed so many hot notes out of their instruments that it's a wonder they didn't squeeze them dry. There was some fine, satisfying music making going on.

Blue Monday promoter Michael Kaufer has been bringing just about everybody who is anybody in zydeco music to Ventura County over the past few months. Wayne Toups was here, then Nathan Williams and noJ. Chenier is on the way to headline this week's Blue Monday presentation at Alexander's in Ventura. Chenier is the son of the king, the legendary Clifton Chenier. The senior Chenier wore a crown onstage and helped popularize zydeco music--he even coined the z-word.

Each year during the week of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Crescent City's combo bowling alley/music club Mid City Lanes holds zydeco showdowns, with two accordionists--perhaps a revered veteran such as Boozoo Chavis and a young Turk such as Beau Jocques--leading their bands in alternating sets as they vie for the "championship" of the rousing Louisiana Creole music. It's all in good fun, of course.

In addition to the first Southern California performance by veteran Creole fiddler Canray Fontenot, the fifth annual Cajun & Zydeco Festival this weekend will feature contemporary Cajun group Michael Doucet & Beausoleil, zydeco's C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Cajun-rocker Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun and others. Promoter Franklin Zawacki said that accordionist Toups, who closes the daylong music, dance and food festival at 6 p.m.

Big Ass Truck, "The Rig," Terminus Bilal, "First Born Second," Interscope Buellton, "Avenue of the Flags," Film Guerrero C.J.

The seventh annual Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival will again bring a mix of established and lesser-known Louisiana musicians to Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach on Saturday and Sunday. Topping the lineup will be C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, John Delafose & the Eunice Playboys and Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, all of whom are making return appearances. Festival first-timers include Sheryl Cormier and the Iguanas.

In a splendid twin accordion blowout at Bogart's on Friday evening, Orange County's Chris Gaffney and Louisiana's C.J. Chenier each squeezed so many hot notes out of their instruments that it's a wonder they didn't squeeze them dry. There was some fine, satisfying music making going on.

If ever a musician had cause to feel beleaguered, it would be C.J. Chenier, son of the late Clifton Chenier. He has quite a bloodline to live up to. The elder Chenier pioneered zydeco music in the '50s, his accordion-fired stew of Cajun and R&B virtually defining the form, and the invention and zeal of his performances setting a nearly unattainable standard. Universally hailed as the King of Zydeco, Chenier often wore a crown during his performances--and it looked good on him.

The late Clifton Chenier sometimes donned a gaudy crown when he performed on stage, making like an Imperial Margarine commercial to emphasize his position as the king of zydeco, the spirited mix of R&B and Cajun folk music that has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past year. But Chenier's son, C. J. Chenier, wanted no part of that as he prepared to make his debut leading his father's Red Hot Louisiana Band at the Music Machine on Friday.

Remember the sultry intro to Ike and Tina Turner's version of "Proud Mary," where Tina snarls: "We never, ever do nothin' nice and easy."? The Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival turns 10 this weekend in Long Beach, and its founder and still-head-cheerleader, Franklin Zawacki, just may be the Tina Turner of concert promoters. Noticing that audiences around the country are getting more and more enthusiastic about the pumped-up rhythms of zydeco, what did Zawacki do for this year's fest?

* Bonnie Raitt, right, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby and David Lindley will team up as a unit at the Greek Theatre on Sept. 14. Tickets go on sale Sunday. . . . Tickets go on sale Saturday for the Watcha Tour, a rock en espan~ol package Aug. 15 at the Greek Theatre featuring Cafe Tacuba, Molotov, Illya Kuryaki, Control Machete and many more. . . . Tickets will be available Thursday for the Freestylers on Aug. 4 at the Hollywood Athletic Club and Machine Head Aug. 12 at the Palace. . . .