The group
Tasso is comprised of three excellent musicians: Randy Vidrine on guitar and vocals, Mitchell Reed on fiddle, and accordion player Philip Allemond. All three musicians have Cajun roots, and have pooled their resources to create their homage to the traditional music of their culture. Hence, the name of this CD is
The Old Timey Way. For material, the musicians draw on some of the tried and true favorites of their Cajun heritage: "La Jolie Fille" (Pretty Girl), "Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler" (Let the Good Times Roll), "Le Doux Pas de Chopique" (Choupique Two Step), and "Quelle Etoille?" (Which Star?) are among them. Of course, the recording includes an obligatory rendition of the Cajun anthem, "Jolie Blonde." No dance album would be complete without it, and this recording is a dance record, replete with waltzes and two-steps. Keeping the dancers happy is the raison d'être of Cajun musicians. There are also a number of rather obscure tunes, which were culled off antiquated sheet music and tapes of old 78s that Allemond received from Cajun music collectors in Europe. Every effort has been made to play the tunes in the style of the old-time musicians, complete with the high-pitched French-language vocals of Vidrine, as he accompanies himself on guitar, along with Reed's plaintive fiddle and the melodious strains of Allemond's accordion. "Mon 'Tee Canaille" (My Little Sly One), "Attrape Mon Chapeau" (Catch My Hat), and "Font de Culotte" (Seat of the Pants) are rare musical gems that spring to life under the loving touch of three young musicians striving to play in the old-timey way. ~ Rose of Sharon Witmer