'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar

Subject: 'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar
From: Will Fly
Date: 18 May 14 - 01:44 PM

I've long been fascinated by the music of the little-known (in the UK at least) Cajun guitarist Richard Fontenot. Some years ago I was browsing through the Smithsonian Folkways catalogue and came across his album "Cajun Country Guitar". In the sleeve notes, music collector Gérard Dole describes his visit to Iota, Southern Louisiana, in search of old French ballads and fiddle music. Finally, being told where the guitarist lived, one dark and stormy night, he sloshed through the mud, wrapped in an old tarpaulin, and knocked on the door of Richard Fontenot's small wooden house. Surprised and delighted at having an enthusiastic visitor, Richard plied him with coffee and conversation - and his Cajun guitar playing, starting with this number, "Allons a Lafayette". Fontenot had started as an accompanist to fiddle players and embraced the electric guitar and amplification - furthermore, amplification with delay - which gave him his unique style.

It's fascinating stuff - old Cajun fiddle tunes transposed to electrified, delayed and fingerpicked guitar - and, of course, I loved it as soon as I heard it. It suddenly struck me on this warm, sunny May morning, that today was a good day to play this lovely, warm, sunny music. So I just stuck the video camera in front of me and the amp, plugged in and played. Key of C, capo'ed on the 2nd - and plenty of delay. "Suyez les bienvenus!"

Will Fly - "Allons a Lafayette"

Music, tab and chords available from:

http://www.mjra.net/WillFly/Allons%20a%20Lafayette.pdf

Subject: RE: 'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar
From: Brian Peters
Date: 18 May 14 - 01:58 PM

Very nice, Mr Fly. As you say, just the job for a day when the sun shone even in Glossop.

I'm a fan of David Doucet myself, though his style's way different of course.

Subject: RE: 'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar
From: Will Fly
Date: 18 May 14 - 02:19 PM

I love David Doucet as well - great music!

Subject: RE: 'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar
From: GUEST,#
Date: 18 May 14 - 02:27 PM

Good picking, Will. Don't know if you heard the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si7geWoPNhY&feature=kp

Subject: RE: 'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar
From: Will Fly
Date: 18 May 14 - 02:32 PM

Yes! I was playing this earlier today! Loved it.

Subject: RE: 'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 14 - 04:57 PM

French lyrics avail from Joe Falcon on Youtube.

I also kinda like this take:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKmMxxO2wIM

Subject: RE: 'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar
From: GUEST,#
Date: 18 May 14 - 04:57 PM

Sorry, forgot my number there.

Subject: RE: 'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar
From: GUEST,#
Date: 18 May 14 - 05:04 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1r4NLnklrg

Lyrics in both French and English. The English lyrics would benefit from Monique's corrections, although I haven't seen any posts from her recently.

Subject: RE: 'Allons a Lafayette' - some Cajun guitar
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 May 14 - 07:26 PM

Thanks for the music, Will.