By C.J. Hirschfield

(September 13, 2023)

In 1982, I attended Oakland’s legendary Festival at the Lake, where my mind was blown by a dynamic and charismatic accordionist/ performer named Queen Ida—she and her Bon Ton Zydeco band had everyone on their feet dancing to a type of music that seemed at once both regional– universal. Seven years after that concert, the celebrated documentary filmmaker Les Blank (with partners Chris Strachwitz and Maureen Gosling) released I WENT TO THE DANCE (J’ai Ete Au Bal), a definitive study of the high-spirited and lively music of French southwest Louisiana, where both Cajun and Zydeco music originated. Featuring so many of the style’s musical greats, the film has been remastered, and will be screened this month, with the filmmakers and live music in attendance. (details below)

The film is a brilliant balancing act which weaves together the rich history of the musical style from its very beginnings while providing us with an atmospheric sense of space, location, and community. And of course, there’s the music. A Les Blank film will not cut off a song like so many others do; the song is the soul of his films. And what performers there are: In addition to Queen Ida, we get to tap our toes to Clifton Chenier, Michael Doucet, BeauSoleil, D.L. Menard, and many others.

The history of the Acadians, or Cajuns, is fascinating. The British forced the French-speaking Acadians out of Nova Scotia around 1755, when they began their trek to the French colony of Louisiana. There they met and mingled with Freemen of color, Native Americans and other French and European settlers, creating the rich Cajun and Black creole traditions that exist today.

The film makes excellent use of historical footage and photographs, as well as footage of the Louisiana countryside, with its sheep, cows, horses and musicians’ day jobs.

But the title of the film is no accident. Everyone wanted to go to the dance to listen, to connect, to experience joy. And their moves are a delight to see. Blank’s films always are about the pleasure and community that music can engender, and his and his team’s clear affection and respect for its subjects is what makes this film so special.

 Sadly, many of the film’s featured performers are no longer with us. But as we watch them perform, or sit around a table, laughing and telling stories, we are able to get a sense of their pride in the music’s roots, and in the Louisiana communities that were critical to its evolution.

My favorite part of the history was learning that it was the growth of folk festivals in the sixties that turned on a whole new—and youthful –audience to this great roots music. On stage with Baez, Dylan, and Peter, Paul and Mary, the Cajun/Zydeco performers could surely hold their own.

We all are lucky to be invited to this exuberant dance. Let the bon ton roulet.

Visit the Les Blank website.  

Maureen Gosling’s newest film THE NINE LIVES OF BARBARA DANE  has its World Premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival October 10 & 14. On October 10 there will be a live concert at Sweetwater Music Hall with Holly Near and Willie Chambers (Chambers Brothers), joining Barbara Dane’s son from Cuba, Pablo Menendez (Mezcla) who will lead Barbara’s band.

Learn about Chris Strachwitz at the Arhoolie Foundation.

Down Home Music Store

Harrod Blank’s website.

I Went to the Dance is screening around the country. Confirmed dates below. (For future dates follow the official website check here) CALIFORNIA October 13-19 – Digital Gym, San Diego November 13 – 14, 2023 – Laemmle Theaters, Los Angeles, CA Marc Savoy NEW YORK  October 8 – 9, 2023 – Upstate Films – Orpheum, Saugerties, NY OREGON November 26, 2023 – Hollywood Theatre, Portland, OR Chris Strachwitz recorded and produced thousands of hours of music, often released through his Arhoolie Records label and sold at his one-of-a-kind Down Home Music Store in El Cerrito. He worked closely with Les Blank and Maureen Gosling on many projects and the Flower Films offices were above Down Home Music. Chris passed away on May 5, 2023. Remembering Chris Strachwitz by Andrew Gilbert on Berkeleyside. A Tribute Memorial for Chris will be held Sunday, September 17, 11am at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. It is at capacity but you can get FREE streaming access here.  The Kitchen Sisters offer a wonderful podcast  “The Passion of Chris Strachwitz.” “THIS AIN’T NO MOUSE MUSIC!, is a feature length documentary by Chris Simon & Maureen Gosling on roots music icon Chris Strachwitz who was a detective of sounds, an archaeologist of deep American music, the antithesis of the corporate ‘mouse music’ that dominates the American ear. For the last fifty years, he has carried his tape recorder from sharecrop shacks to roadside honkytonks, from cantina dives to wild Blues clubs. His recordings brought Cajun music out of Louisiana, Tex-Mex out of Texas, Blues out of the country – and into the living rooms of middle America. These recordings revolutionized the sound of American music. In ‘This Ain’t No Mouse Music!’ we join Strachwitz for a hip-shaking stomp from New Orleans to Texas, Cajun country to Appalachia, as he continues his passionate quest for the musical soul of America. Featuring Ry Cooder, Michael Doucet, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Flaco Jimenez, Bonnie Raitt, Treme Brass Band, the Savoy Family, and many other stars of roots music.” Enjoy some musical samples. Scroll to the bottom for more.

 

 

C.J. Hirschfield recently retired after 17 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she was charged with the overall operation of the nation’s first storybook theme park. Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television industry where she produced two series, ran San Francisco’s public access channel and advocated on behalf of the industry. A former writer for Film Month, she also penned a weekly column for the Piedmont Post for 13 years and now writes features and reviews for EatDrinkFilms. C.J. holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from Stanford University.

Hirschfield currently serves on the programming team for the Appreciating Diversity Film series showing free documentaries in Oakland and Piedmont, as well as on the advisory board of Youth Beat, a youth media training program that provides low-income Oakland students with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s workforce.

C.J. says, “A good documentary takes us places we never could never have imagined, and changes the way we see the world.”

Watch more Queen Ida.

She passed away January 17, 2023.