Recently, students in band and French classes had the unique opportunity to attend a performance by a zydeco band, The Arrow Jazz Band from New Oreleans, Louisiana’s National Historical Park! The special concert visit was in partnership with the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park.
Zydeco is a popular music genre that evolved in southwest Louisiana by French creole speakers. It blends forms of folk and popular music, including blues, R&B, jazz, and music originating from Louisiana Creoles and the Native American people of Louisiana.
The band, whose members included drummer Leroy Etienne, accordionist Sunpie Barnes, “Guitar Matt” Hampsey, bassist Peter Carter, and vocalist Jade Perdue, played two separate concerts in the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Performing Arts Center so that multiple band classes could attend. Students had the opportunity to sing along and learn some creole words and sayings in the song lyrics.