For over three decades, the Louisiana-based Cajun band
BeauSoleil has perfected a winning recipe for a unique style of
music that’s just as appealing as any bowl of fresh New
Orleans gumbo. In fact, BeauSoleil, which will play Tuesday at
Royce Hall, melds so many genres of music, it has essentially
created a flavor all its own.
“In our career, BeauSoleil has always reflected the
diversity of Cajun music, not just the two-steps, but ballads,
blues, jazz, Tin Pan Alley, to such influences as brass bands,
jazz, Texas swing, country and swamp pop,” said BeauSoleil
fiddler Michael Doucet.
Because of its wide variety of musical styles, BeauSoleil
instantly connects with diverse audiences, often serving listeners
their first taste of authentic Cajun melodies.
“With Cajun music, even if you’ve never heard it
before, it can’t help but sound familiar because it has so
many different influences,” said Doucet.
However, BeauSoleil does not perform merely to show its
audiences a good time. It also works to save its dwindling culture
from extinction.
BeauSoleil takes great pride in its Cajun roots and has managed
to become recognized and accepted by mainstream America. Gradually
increasing its profile over the years, BeauSoleil has performed in
a variety of musical venues and festivals all over the world, even
playing for millions of viewers alongside Mary Chapin Carpenter at
the Super Bowl.
The group has also lent its recordings to several movie and
television soundtracks and was recognized by the Recording Academy
in 1997 with a Grammy for its album “L’amour ou la
Folie.” BeauSoleil’s raw, contagious enthusiasm
prompted Rolling Stone magazine to dub it “the best damn
dance band you’ll ever hear.”
Yet in spite of this recognition, BeauSoleil’s focus has
never shifted from its original goal of “celebrating our
culture.”
“We were never really looking for fame,” said
Doucet. “We originally only played in France until there was
a market for our music here (in the United States). In fact, we all
had “˜real’ jobs up until 1986 when we had so many
offers for performances that we had to devote our full time to our
music.”
Through its commitment to preserving tradition, BeauSoleil has
created a bridge between generations. Following BeauSoleil’s
example, a new group of Cajun bands are taking the ideas explored
by Doucet and company and modifying the ideas to express their own
musical identities.
“That’s really what we wanted to do: to teach young
people to develop pride in this culture,” said Doucet.
“We’re happy we could be a means for introducing them
to their roots.”
BeauSoleil will perform at Royce Hall on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m.
Student tickets are $20. Go to http://www.uclalive.org for more
information.