Search - Tom Rigney, Flambeau :: Happy to Be Here

Blues Violin

A. James Santella | Los Angeles | 10/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The shufflin' syncopation of Zydeco makes it an ideal object for partying. With his roots approach, violinist Tom Rigney puts that happy feeling into his program while maintaining an historic appreciation for art. He mixes Jump Blues with Zydeco, and explores the many ways that this Southern music has affected us. Singing traditional lore, originals, and established standards, Rigney creates an instant party. Hank Williams' "Jambalaya" becomes an anthem for America's melting pot. Crawfish pie and fillet gumbo find their way onto everybody's dinner table. Kokomo Arnold's "Milk Cow Blues," featuring a slow, burning guitar solo by Danny Caron and a sizzling piano solo from Caroline Dahl, appears just in time to remind us that loneliness and the Blues go hand in hand. Rigney sings about it and follows with a pining violin interpretation to drive the message home. His "Do the Zydeco" gets your feet dancing in place to lyrics that paint a mental picture of these festive events.

Rigney, with 25 years on the San Francisco scene and a soulful dedication to Southern Louisiana dance music, founded Flambeau in 2000. You can hear audio samples from the album at www.rigomania.com. Singer/violinist/leader Rigney is the son of baseball legend Bill Rigney, who managed the Giants in the late 1950s, the Angels in the 1960s, and the Twins in the 1970s. He returned to manage the Giants in '76. Tom Rigney and Flambeau do for Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans Second Line what his father did for baseball. The bandleader's "Party Gras" sums it up, reminding us how much we need a little celebration every day."