Grammy Nominated Zydeco Master Corey Ledet
On a tour through Russia, Ledet was treated like royalty, complete with his own security detail. Fans rushed to touch the band’s signature zydeco rubboard — the metal, shoulder-slung vest used to scratch out those infectious rhythms. Enthralled by its sound, they nicknamed it the “magic instrument.”Ledet has taken his music everywhere — Hawaii, Canada, Europe — and always hoped to capture the electricity of his live shows. But the right moment for a live album never quite appeared.
That changed when the Anchorage Folk Festival invited him to perform.
“When that came up, I thought, this might finally be the chance,” said Ledet, 44, a two-time Grammy nominee. “When I arrived, they had everything ready to record. I started thinking about Clifton Chenier — a lot of his best live cuts were recorded far from home. It worked for the King of Zydeco, so I figured, let me try this.”
The result is Live in Alaska — the debut live album from Corey Ledet Zydeco, featuring Ledet’s mysterious new accordion, “Black Magic.” After combing through three days of recordings, the band chose 11 tracks that solidify Ledet’s well-earned nickname: The Accordion Dragon.
The album delivers high-energy, onstage versions of English and Creole favorites from Ledet’s 15 previous releases, plus a brand-new track, “Alaska Funk,” an impromptu jam born right there onstage alongside his tight-knit Louisiana crew.
website www.CoreyLedet.com
Social Media www.Instagram.com/coreyledetzydeco
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