soozi schlanger

Who says you have to be born in the bayou to play authentic, inspired and zesty Cajun music? This Toronto-based zydeco unit consists of Soozi Schlanger (vocals, fiddle, washboard), Peter Jellard (vocals, accordion, fiddle), Conny Nowé (guitar) and Rachel Melas (bass).
This is an infectious, rollicking disc that justifies the exhortations on the album jacket to dance, dance, dance. There are a few originals, including the title track, a smattering of traditionals and a handful of covers - a classic gumbo. With only nine tracks, do you call it a long EP or a short album?
This is a terrific Cajun-themed release, the fourth in the band's history, a vibrant effort that deserves a listen from zydeco fans regardless of where they hail from.

Swamperella, the Toronto Cajun band, have just produced their second CD, Black Cat Boogie, and I'm falling in love with their music all over again ...The 17 tracks on Black Cat provide plenty of opportunity to dance, but they also remind you that Cajun music is often melodic and beautiful.... The disc kicks off with the joyous and infectious "La Crep A Nazare," which positively sizzles. Fiddle player Soozi Schlanger, who pours her Cajun soul into the vocals, offers a wonderful reading on "Braille Pas, Jolis Petits Yeux Bleux," a song as bluesy as it is beautiful...Special notice goes to the CD's closer, the amazing "Les Barres De La Prison." Ad some surface noise and it would be right at home on an anthology of Cajun music from 1932.

Cajun/zydeco group Swamperella have an antidote to the winter blues: dancing. The band's fourth album is the perfect sound track for ice skating (something I personally tested out) or any activity involving movement.
Though they're from Toronto, the five piece display an exuberance and enthusiasm for Cajun music that's as infectious as it is DIY and punk rock - they aren't purists, and let bits of rock'n roll silliness slip in throughout the album's traditional Cajun tunes and originals sung in English and French.
The warm, live-sounding production makes Leopard Skin Coat sound like it could've been released at any point in the past 20 years, though some of the cover songs are much older than that. And it's not all a party. They end with a wailing, mournful rendition of the Balfa Brothers' Valse De Balfa.
Top track: Marid Gras Jig / Zydeco Est Pas Salé
Rating: NNNN (out of 5)

Swamperella is one of Toronto's favourite Cajun live dance bands, renowned for its toe-tapping and spontaneous performances. The enviable energy has been successfully captured on their third CD release, "On the Line". Even though almost half of the tracks are the band's arrangements of traditional Cajun compositions, covers such a B.Chavis' Paper in My Shoe elevate the band's status to "authentic" purveyors of the Zydeco style. Band members Soozi Schlanger (vocals, lead fiddle, washboard), Peter Jellard (vocals, button accordions, fiddle), Conny Nowe (acoustic and electric guitars), Rachel Melas (acoustic and electric bass) and Dave Pontello (drums and triangle) really do love what they are playing. The result is a well-rehearsed tight band with a firm grip on a musical style which is not the easiest to master. The biggest surprised are two original songs. Schlanger's vocals on her heart wrenching song Same Old You are unforgettable. Button accordionist Peter Jellard's instrumental Frankenstein is a rhythmical and melodic marvel for the instrument with a superb backing by the rest of the band. Co-produced by Swamperella and studio genius John Switzer, the sound quality is first rate. It is also good to hear Switzer play bass as a special guest along with Burke Carroll on lap steel and dobro.

". . . de la part d'un groupe non québecois, Swamperella (nom qui fait penser à Cinderella, ça sonnerait bien les Cendrillons des Bayous) . . . un quatrième album dans la vraie tradition cadienne. Pas d'interférences musicales incongrues ici, les six reprises sont bien dans l'esprit. Ils y ajoutent trois compos, qui semblent bien refléter les antécédents ou les goûts musicaux de leurs compositeurs : Leopard skin coat (Soozi) est un superbe rock'n'roll cadien, Le vieux vigneron (Peter), est un instrumental entraînant, un peu celtique, et Gander (Soozi) est plus zydéco. Voilà qui donne vraiment envie de connaître leurs parutions antérieures ... top notch "