Tribute to Austin Pitre

This Cajun jam session was recorded in 1999 at an outdoor venue in Opelousas, Louisiana and features the members of Austin Pitre's group the Evangeline Playboys. Pitre passed away in 1981 but his legacy stands as a major figure in Cajun music. Fiddle player, accordionist and singer, he was known as a great showman as well as being a superb musician who performed from the 1940s through to the 70s. His early recordings (some made with accordionist Milton Molitor) were in the traditional Cajun trio style of accordion, fiddle and guitar with vocals tightly constricted and harsh.

Later work with his Evangeline Playboys saw the addition of drums and steel guitar played in the ‘ricochet’ style; and that's what this splendid tribute session recreates. The live and spontaneous nature of the recording adds to the marvellous atmosphere as the group swing through some of Pitre's best loved songs: ‘Les Flammes d’Enfer’, ‘Two Steps de Bayou Teche’ (the original of which was on the celebrated Charlie Gillett compilation Another Saturday Night); and classics like ‘Grand Mamou’ and his signature song ‘Evangeline Playboys Special’.