Ernest James Zydeco

After an evening spent at an Ernest James Zydeco show, one finds oneself reverberating from the fresh take on American roots music: the bellow shaking accordion being stretched out to the rhythm scratched by the washboard and spoons: the aching voice of the resonator slide guitar reverberating in your ears. Ernest James Zydeco is inspired by roots music, but makes their own form of 21st Century music. Based out of Kansas City, Missouri, you will find them at regional festivals and clubs.
Ernest James, a professional zydeco and blues musician for over 15 years, draws on his southern roots to share with Kansas City his joy in his music. For the summer of 2009 the band is supporting their brand new recording, “Jubilee,” a cd that was recorded live with the full band in the studio. Tony LaCroix is the newest member of the band, playing guitar. He fell perfectly into place just before the recording of the cd. Barry Bob Barnes rubs the washboard for the band and is a multi instrumentalist and performance artist who brings great spirit to the band. DJ Clem plays bass guitar. A multi instrumentalist of immeasurable talent, he is an integral member of many KC bands. The drum chair duties are shared between Mike Meyers and Jaisson C. Taylor. Mike Meyers drives the thundering rhythm section with a balanced and train-like precision. Having earned a percussion performance degree, he has the ability to draw from jazz, rock and roll, funk, fusion, reggae, classical, country and polka when the moment calls for it. Jaisson C. Taylor, a veteran on drums, has toured the world and played with the likes of McKinley Morganfield, Koko Taylor, Bill Withers and countless other R&B and Blues greats. His presence in the band represents a tie to a great musical legacy. See www.myspace.com/ernestjames for details.
From Ernest James:
“My daddy’s family comes from Pineville Louisiana, where the dogwoods grow out in the woods. He left there as a young man and moved to the west coast Bay Area. So many creoles and cajuns left Louisiana in the 50s and 60s and moved to California looking for work and a better life. I grew up in a zydeco oasis in Oakland California, not realizing it till going back and seeing so many bands playing in the San Francisco area. Throughout life I have revisited my family’s ties with Pineville, Alexandria and Louisiana, trying to understand why my daddy left it long ago. In the process I have found my music fits into the zydeco tradition, bringing a strong past of blues to the accordion based band. Now blues and zydeco are just a part of who I am and how I express what I see in life.”