Louisiana Man Chavis Is Fine for the Present

Boozoo Chavis had the first zydeco hit with “Paper in My Shoe” in 1955, but it was Clifton Chenier who shortly thereafter became the king of that hybrid R&B;/blues/Cajun style. Chavis returned to active performing a few years ago, and his hour-plus set at the Music Machine Friday showed that his command of zydeco’s infectious fundamentals will do just fine for the present, even if doesn’t provide a blueprint for the future.

His sextet’s performance was heavy on up-tempo romps as the Louisiana man, sporting a plastic apron to prevent sweat from damaging his accordion, danced energetically across the stage and tossed in semi-comprehensible patter punctuated by constant refrains of “Yeah, you right.” There was nothing particularly innovative in his performance, but the proof of its power was a joyously dancing audience that spilled over from the packed dance floor halfway back into the club.

In one of his first Southern California club appearances since the departure of longtime mainstays Willie J. Campbell and David (Kid) Ramos, bluesmeister James Harman opened with a too-polite run-through of proficiently rendered 12-bar blues basics. A little more wildness, guys.