Music Matters Albums Listen to samples of music that matters. Through iTunes Through Amazon Issue 15 Issue 16 Issue 17 Issue 18 Issue 19 Issue 20 Issue 21 Issue 22 Issue 23 Issue 24 Issue 25 Issue 26 Issue 27 Issue 28 Issue 29 Issue 30 Bruce Daigrepont's Links: Bruce Daigrepont Rounder Records

Bruce Daigrepont Paradis 1999, Rounder With the possible exception of the Beausoleil juggernaut, Bruce Daigrepont fronts the hottest Cajun band of the 21st Century. His album "Paradis" is one of the year's howlingest hotties of any genre. From a simple duet of accordion and T-fer (triangle) to zydeco breakdowns, Bruce covers the gamut of Louisiana French music. He makes the two steps, valses and old chanky chanks traditional, yet newly fresh. His acoustic sound adds a warmth to zydeco crunch downs like Clifton Chenier's "Ay Tete Fille" and "Zydeco Two Step." Daigrepont can croon sweetly or growl like Howling Wolf on the dark, swirly "Le Diable Est Lâché (The Devil Is Loose)." He wails with vibrato laced emotion on Amédé Ardoin's classic "Madame Etienne" and pounds out fais do do material a la "Ossun Two Step." My vote for the year's best from SW LA!—Mark Gresser