Let the good times roll

WORLD Beat

Yunasi from Kenya and rising American zydeco star Cedric Watson and his band Bijoux Creole headline Todd Lavelle's Rhythm of the Earth Festival, which began last Wednesday and continues to Sunday, in the plaza outside CentralWorld. In addition to Yunasi and Watson, bands from Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and India feature, along with local outfits like reggae band Kai-Jo Brothers, Batucada, Ongsasin, the Kitchen Band and the Aram Drummers will play.

ABOVE AND BELOW: Back by popular demand, Yunasi performed a preview gig at the Huntsman Pub last Saturday night.

The festival site also features barbecue food stalls from around the world, NGO booths and an ancient "Puan" house. There is also a smaller stage set at the canal end of the site, for more acoustic sets. Music starts at around 7pm and the festival is free. The festival schedule is available at http://www.toddeastwest.com.

Yunasi played last year at the Rhythm of the Earth Festival and have returned by popular demand. I caught up with the band before a preview gig at the Huntsman Pub last Saturday night. Band leader Erick Odhiambo explained that the band was founded in 1998 but it was not until 2004 that they developed their trademark style, which they call sesube. "There was no real national style of music, so we developed sesube from different rhythms from all over Kenya," he said. They took sega music from the coast, isikuti from the West, nyanza and benga from the Luo people; on top of that they added a European component. They mixed up old and new and wrote their own songs in Swahili, English, French, Luo, Kisii and Luhya.

All their efforts began to pay off, when in 2006, they won an award at the US International Songwriting Contest for the song, Ji Opogore (The Difference of People) and in 2007 they won the BBC's prestigious "Next Big Thing" award. Odhiambo says that the band is keen to make a name overseas because they can then take that success and create interest for their music in Kenya. "It's an 'outside-in' approach," he says with a chuckle. "Our long-term aim is to be a bridge between the older generation that likes traditional music, the middle class and the young generation. If we can do that we can create something unique."

Yunasi have released two albums in Kenya, Nangi Amana and Nairobi - The Sounds of Sesube, but have yet to release an international album, though with more international exposure - the band depart on an extensive US tour later in the year - I think it won't be long before they get signed to a record label. The band has made copies of their Nairobi album available at their gigs, so if you get down to the festival you can pick up a copy there. Failing that, check out the band's website at http://www.yunasi.com. There are a couple of tracks available for visitors to listen to and information on the band.

Cedric Watson is one of the most talented zydeco musicians to emerge for years. The button-accordion and fiddler maestro is from San Felipe, Texas, where he grew up surrounded by blues, soul, country and zydeco. The latter is the funky style of music played by Afro-American Creole communities in Louisiana and greater Houston. Naturally, he found his way to Lafayette in Louisiana, where he played with all the great family names, eventually becoming a member of the famed Pine Leaf Boys band. In addition to setting up his own band, Bijoux Creole, he also plays the precursor of zydeco, La-La, in a trio, Les Amis Creole.

Watson released his debut album, Cedric Watson (Valcour, USA) in 2009 and it was nominated for a Grammy award. His new album, Esprit Creole (Valcour) recorded with Bijoux Creole, features Watson on button accordion and fiddle, supported by frottoir (rub-board), drums, guitar and bass. I've heard a couple of tracks off the new album and have checked the band out on the web, and they sound and look very good. Real "down home" music as they say. I'm so excited to at last get to see some zydeco music here in Bangkok. This is a rare treat, so don't miss it. Let the good times roll or, as they say in French creole, laissez les bon ton roulez.

More information on Cedric Watson at http://www.cedricwatson.com and http://www.valcour.com.

This column can be contacted at: clewley.john@gmail.com

Relate Search: Kenya Yunasi, American zydeco, Cedric Watson, Rhythm of the Earth Festival