Review: The Buckwheat Zydeco Ils Sont Partis Band

This disk is re-released Stanley Dural from the Rounder archives. It's a best of and, it really is. Culled from his three Grammy nominated releases, this is Buckwheat gold. Still played live and on the radio, these cuts are the cat’s meow of high energy zydeco with Buck’s R&B big band feel and poundingly huge piano accordion. Brought into the field by a meeting with Clifton, the King, and his father’s prompting, Buckwheat recreated himself from his previous NOLA R&B band into the then new “zydeco” sound. From there, ol’ Buck did as much as anyone to popularize the South West Louisiana music to the outside world. From TV to the Olympics to Presidential inaugurations, Mr. Dural carried the flag high and proud. This disk is loaded with the cuts you know, from two-stepping “Walking To New Orleans” to R&B rave-ups like “Someone Else is Steppin’ In.” Hot and sweaty zydeco, ready to dance to, direct from the master with only the best cuts, this is pure, “ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for star time. It’s Buckwheat Zydeco and the Ils Sont Parti band, lemme hear you scream!—Mark Gresser