The Official Sean Ardoin Website

The "Final Chapter...New Beginning" Sampler
review from ZydecoOnline.com

The Ardoin name is one of the most revered in zydeco music. Its legacy started with the legendary Creole musician Amede' Ardoin, followed by Bois Sec Ardoin, and Lawrence "Black" Ardoin and the Ardoin Brothers and has been passed on for generations from one accordion player to the next. Which brings us to Sean Ardoin. After co-leading the hot and critically acclaimed zydeco outfit Double Clutchin' with his younger brother Chris, Sean set out on his own musical journey in 1999. Sean Ardoin & Zydekool's hot brand of dancehall zydeco has been a fan favorite since 1999, with the group performing everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to a television performance on BET's top-rated "COMICVIEW". Sean Ardoin is truly one of Zydeco music's "triple threats", a rare combination of tradition, talent, and creativity. There are only a few Zydeco musicians of his generation that have pushed the boundaries of the music and contributed to its growth and development.

Alas, all great journeys come to an end as Sean recently announced his retirement from performing Zydeco music to focus on developing a musical career in gospel music. "I never thought I would stop playing Zydeco, stated Sean, but when God calls, you have to answer. My commitment to God is so strong, I wanted to do something for Him. My deep spirituality led me to pursue gospel full time." Sean has not, however, has not left the Zydeco Nation empty handed, as he is putting the final touches on his LAST Zydeco CD, "Final Chapter...New Beginning" to be released in the later part of 2006. A two year project in the making, the CD is a 29 track double Zydeco and Southern Soul CD. "Not only is "Final Chapter...New Beginning" unique, this project is a culmination of my life's work in Zydeco music and defines the Zydekool sound. I wanted to release the CD to show the world the many dimensions of Sean Ardoin & Zydekool."

As a prequel to the CD, Sean Ardoin and Zydekool has released an advanced sampler of the upcoming CD "Final Chapter...New Beginning." This sampler CD has 7 full tracks with a wide range of music that won't disappoint long time fans and is guaranteed to attract new listeners to the Zydeco Nation. What is impressive about the upcoming CD in general and the Sampler in particular, is the array of local talent assembled to create this project. "Everything needed to create the CD was in our own back yard." Sean proudly states. Even more impressive is the youth and discipline of the Zydekool band itself. Anchored by Linden Smith on the scrubboard, Trey Ardoin on the rhythm and lead guitar, A.J. Bellow on the drums, Marcus Jack on the bass guitar, and backed by well known journeyman lead guitarist Cookie Chavis, Sean Ardoin and Zydekool have put together an awe-inspiring composition of music that will intrigue listeners for years to come. "My band is the greatest" stated Sean. "I believe in fully developing musicians who not only love and respect the craft, but who are willing to grow with the music. For many of the band members, with the exception of Cookie, Zydekool was their first gig. They worked hard on this project and I am proud to have played with them." The talent of the band members is evident as they were quickly picked up by other bands. Linden and Trey now play with Chris Ardoin and Nu Step, A.J Bellow is playing with his father Chucky Carrier, and Marcus Jack is singing with a local gospel group called The Lighthouse Singers.

Track 1 of the sampler CD, Time 2 Party , is a Zydeco dance tune in line with the whole Zydeco vibe...highly energetic, the song begins in classic "Zydekool style", with a grandiose, fully hyped introduction. A.J. Bellow lets the listener know that this song is strictly for the dancers by shouting the words "It's the big one y'all!" before the song kicks in and make you want to find the nearest dance floor! "Time 2 Party is just me being me-everything I like is everything you hear."

Track 2 of the sampler CD, I Can't Go On (Without You) , is a smooth Zydeco love song expressing the emotions between two people deeply in love. The lyrics come together like poetry and add a powerful dimension to an otherwise solid musical piece:

"There was a time when I didn't need and didn't want anyone to love me, so I kept my heart hidden from the world. But then you came along and all that was right was now wrong and I didn't know how I got to this special place...I can't go on without you."

Sean states that "this song is my love song to my wife and how she changed my world for the better." The vocals are strong and in combination with intense accordion and guitar riffs make this song easily one of the best Zydeco love songs created as well as a potentially huge radio and dancehall hit. "I always like to create songs that are palatable to people's musical sensibilities, especially those unfamiliar with zydeco music. People appreciate good singing and what sounds good, they are universals."

Track 3 of the sampler CD, Make Luv Inn , is a steamy R & B song written by "Big" Rob, Southern Soul artist and the hype man in the legendary R & B group Zap featuring the late Roger Troutman and arranged by Sean Ardoin. The song is a cross between a Gerald Levert, R Kelly, and Zap piece, and the Sean Ardoin & Zydekool masterfully embrace these influences while making the song their own. One can really hear and appreciate the strength in Sean's vocals. This is a hot song! In a perfect world, if this song were based solely on its merits, it is a classic R & B hit.

Track 4 of the sampler CD, Grown Folks , can confidently be called the Southern soul anthem of 2006! This song is a "must hear" for anyone over the age of twenty five. With a classic southern soul beat, heavy bass line, and clever lyrics:

"I wanna be where the grown folks at, don't wanna go to no thug club. I wanna be where the grown folks at, cause it fits me like a glove..."

This song is like a Fleetwood Caddie, "smooth daddy, real smooth!" Juke joints from Houston, Texas to Memphis, Tennessee beware, a southern soul hit is coming your way!

Track 5 of the sampler CD, Love is What I'm Asking For , is a very different track in that is a hybrid Zydeco and swing-out song. Sean Ardoin and Zydekool collaborate with Jeremy Frugé of Jeremy and the Zydeco Hot Boyz on the accordion to produce a smooth swing-out/zydeco song. According to Sean, "the track was originally mixed for a previous Jeremy and Zydeco Hotboyz CD, but I felt the track did not get enough exposure, so we rearranged the song and wrote new lyrics." This song is musically outstanding and in Sean's words it's "Zydeco Coming Together."

Track 6 of the sampler CD, Love Me Back , is a hot zydeco track and is a song about a lost love. "This is how I would feel and what I would say if my wife left me" Sean reflectively contemplated "I try to let the music take me to places that I normally would not want to go." The vocals, musical arrangement, and musical execution of this track is powerful. This is an exceptional song that has a fresh sound and is cutting edge.

Track 7 of the sampler CD, Back 2 the Sand , is a bonus track and, perhaps, the biggest surprise of the CD sampler. It is an acoustic arrangement bringing light on a new phenomenon in the United States, women going off to war. "This song is from the perspective of a husband whose wife has come back from Iraq and must return to the fight." Sean voice is complimented by an acoustic guitar and the song is simple but not simplistic and the lyrics are full of emotion and deep. "It's "simple complexity" stated Sean, "the song begged for an anthem build up, but I resisted that because I felt that the message was more important than the music." This track is a definite crossover song with a message and will only be release on the sampler CD, so it is destined to become a rare hidden jewel waiting to be rediscovered again and again.

The "Final Chapter...New Beginning" Sampler, simply put, is outstanding and a must have! The CD is a fresh blend of old school and new school Zydeco, incorporating elements of vintage Southern Soul, R & B, clever lyrics and exceptional musical talent. "Nobody listens to one type of music anymore, so we strive to make the Zydekool sound multidimensional. Why would it not be that, we don't do anything halfway." It is not a pure Zydeco CD, but you should not let that prevent you from picking up one heck of an album!!! If the Sampler is a preview of the full CD, we may be looking at something very special.

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SEAN ARDOIN BIOGRAPHY:

Sean Ardoin represents both the rural roots and progressive future of Louisiana's foot-stomping Creole-zydeco sound like no other artist. Sean's family is truly zydeco royalty: his great-great-uncle Amédé was the first south Louisiana Creole accordionist to record; his grandfather Bois-Sec has been one of the best-known practitioners of the state's rural Creole sound for six decades; his father Lawrence brought the family's sound to his generation; and Sean co-led the acclaimed zydeco outfit Double Clutchin' with his younger brother Chris.

Though he's just 32, Sean is a dancehall veteran with more than 25 years' experience under his belt. He started his apprenticeship at the tender age of five with The Ardoin Brothers' family band. His first love was the drums and sometimes the group would let him play waltzes and slower two-steps. One day, when Sean was 11 and his father was trying to teach his mother how to play the accordion, Sean told them he knew how to play that lick. Much to the amazement of his parents, he did.

[Photos by Gabriel Lewis Photography]

Sean then spent eight years playing rubboard and accordion with Lawrence Ardoin & His French Zydeco Band before heading to LSU, where he nailed down the parade beat in that school's famed marching band. He sang with a number of funk-oriented college bands, but the rootsy boogie he'd grown up with kept calling, and he decided to form a zydeco band for the current generation with his little brother Chris (then 10 years old) on accordion.

Chris Ardoin & Double Clutchin' quickly got noticed, releasing radio and dancehall hits, developing an international following and releasing several albums for Rounder and Maison de Soul. The band even gigged at Carnegie Hall.

Then, in 1999, Sean and Chris decided to separate, citing the usual "creative differences." "We're better brothers than bandmates, don't get it twisted though I love my lil bro Chris and will do my best to help him on his journey to greatness in music and in life. Nothing is thicker than blood!!" notes Sean, referencing the many double bills their bands have shared since the breakup of the dynamic duo.

After emerging as the creative force behind the acclaimed zydeco combo Chris Ardoin & Double Clutchin', Sean struck out on his own, moving from his role as songwriter, vocalist and drummer to bandleader, accordionist and frontman par excellence.

From dancehalls to festival stages, Sean Ardoin & ZydeKool have made hundreds of national and international appearances on stage and on television including a recent performance on BET's top-rated "COMICVIEW" hot on the heels of their gig at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The group was also nominated for "Best New Zydeco Band" by the Crescent City's OffBeat magazine. They tour nationally, playing every weekend they're home in dancehalls and clubs from New Orleans to Houston, regularly stopping off for high-profile gigs, such as; the New Orleans Swamp Festival and The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival.

Noted jazz guitarist Mark Whitfield and drummer Ron "Scooby" Worthy of J. Paul Jr. & The Zydeco Nubreedz helped shape Sean's ZydeKool sound, along with bassist Derek Greenwood from Double Clutchin' and brother Chris, who occasionally joins the band on guitar and bass.

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