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Archive Files of Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco Musicians |
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Cajun Jam Sessions |
| Shown in the top picture, taken during a Saturday afternoon jam
session at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice are, from left, George Sonnier on
fiddle; Kern Fruge on accordion; J.B. David on guitar; Pilar David on triangle; David
Domengeaux with the National Park Service; and Matt Fruge on triangle. Musicians perform
at the center every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. The session is not open to
walk-in musicians. The second picture was taken September 17, 2000, at Festivals Acadiens in Lafayette during a jam session sponsored by Louisiana Folk Roots, a group which is organizing the Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week in April 2001. Sessions were held under a tent throughout the weekend during the festivals. Members of Balfa Toujours and other well know musicians joined the sessions off and on each day. Cajun musicians have probably been getting together for jam sessions and house dances since they first came to Louisiana. Many musicians today play only among friends at home whenever they feel like getting together. Others take part in regular jam sessions at locations throughout Acadiana. Some jam sessions, like the one at the Savoy Music Center just east of Eunice, have taken place every week for many years. Other sessions come and go, but, if one location stops having sessions, musicians will soon find other places to gather. In Eunice at the Savoy Music Center, everyone plays together throughout the session. In another session that was held at the Saddle Tramp Riding Club in Church Point, musicians would take turns performing together. Creole and Zydeco musicians also get together for jam sessions. Family members, visitors, and musicians come and go throughout the sessions. Jam sessions are also held at clubs and restaurants. For example, Acadiana Records has released two CDs featuring musicians who gather each Wednesday for jam sessions at an area restaurant. |
All photographs and text by David Simpson.