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Juliet Varnedoe: Cajun Bleu

By C. Michael Bailey
September 13, 2022
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Track review of "Sing High Sing Low"

New York City vocalist

Juliet Varnedoe

piano and vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Juliet Varnedoe has developed a keen feel for the collective music of New Orleans. Her first single from her self produced 2022 release Cajun Blue, "Mon Ch��ri" revealed an international approach to the regional music that freely mixed Dixieland with zydeco, the blues, and sleek Caribbean sounds, creating a languid, humid and organic breeze.

On her follow-up single, "Sing High Sing Low," Varnedoe swerves hard into the direction of zydeco, taking full advantage of Jon Dryden's accordion who meets Clark Clayton's tail gait trombone, crossing swords and creating a wonderful mashup style still looking for a name. The melody resembles

Elvis Presley

vocals
1935 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" (RCA, 1956) played over a NOLA shuffle beat driven out to the country where only francophone Creoles live. There is an element of the barrelhouse in

Eric Pan

piano
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Pan's damped piano as the main solo break of the song before Varnedoe returns, singing in French that flows back into English as the song veers toward its melting pot coda, while the second line dances down the street.

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Track Listing

Mon Ch��ri

Personnel

Juliet Varnedoe

piano and vocals

Ben Rubin

bass

Clark Gayton

trombone

Jon Dryden

accordion

Shawn Pelton

drums

Eric Pan

piano

Album information

Title: Cajun Bleu | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

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