Le Trio Cadien

Thirtysomething fiddle virtuoso Ken Smith helps Louisiana elders D.L. Menard and Eddie LeJeune sound young again on this delightfully focused 1992 album of well-known Cajun blues, waltzes, and two-steps recorded in rural Massachusetts. Known as the Cajun Hank Williams since 1960, Menard applies his unforgettable twang-and-sob of a voice to such melancholy French standards as "Flammes d'Enfer (Flames of Hell)" and "She Didn't Know I Was Married." Eddie, son of the legendary Iry LeJeune, wraps his no-nonsense vocals and elegant accordion riffs around Menard's solid rhythm guitar, while Smith's fiddle dives and leaps about the other two like a frisky pup. Standout tracks include an exquisitely rearranged version of Iry's "J'Etais au Bal (I Went to the Ball)" and Menard's sassy tribute to "The Girls of Mexico." --Richard Gehr