The Acadiana Center For the Arts is hosting acclaimed film maker Les Blank tonight as he presents three of his documentaries on Cajun Music and culture. Blank will present three of his films J'ai Été Au Bal/I Went to the Dance, Hot Pepper and Yum, Yum, Yum! in the Main Gallery of the AcA March 24 and 25 beginning at 7 p.m.When I first saw these films I was taken by the raw power of the musical performances by all the artists, but I was under the impression that the future held promise to equal and build upon their work. That was naive of me. It's obvious now, that Blank captured the "golden age" of Cajun music and Zydeco. No artists have come close to matching the accomplishments of Dewy Balfa, Clifton Chenier, Canray Fontenot...etc. Seriously, check out Hot Pepper and tell me if the music of Clifton Chenier bears any resemblance to what passes for Zydeco today. These were the giants of our culture, and Blank presented them brilliantly. This was our music before tourism, before commercialism, before cliche'.
Now, get off my lawn!
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