Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie – La Chanson Perdue (1998)

Delafose's devotion and consuming interest in traditional Creole and Cajun material is brought to full fruition on this delightful platter. English translations are right alongside their French counterparts in the booklet, but the message comes through loud and clear in either language. With his regular working band French Rockin' Boogie, contributing trance-like grooves ("Bon Soir Moreau"), Delafose digs deep for his roots on every track. He brings aboard Steve Riley for a couple numbers (his fiddle is particularly effective on "Quo Faire/Jolie Bassette"), then cuts a four-song acoustic session with Christine Balfa on acoustic guitar and fiddler Dirk Powell. The overall effect is an album that looks forward and backward for its inspiration and never disappoints for a second.~Cub Koda