By Marilyn Delk
DCCA News
Exciting news! Terrance Simien is returning to our community to present his fun-filled and informative “Creole for Kids” show to fourth- through sixth-graders in Darke County and Greenville City Schools from November 4 through 8 as part of Darke County Center for the Arts’ Arts in Education program. But wait, there’s more! Terrance and his Zydeco Experience band will be performing their not-to-be-missed DCCA Coffee House Series show at Montage Cafe, 527 South Broadway in Greenville, on Thursday, November 7.
If you are asking “What’s so exciting about that,” you are undoubtedly among those who have never enjoyed a performance by this two-time Grammy Award winner and his talented crew, never been moved to join the crowd on the dance floor even though you can’t really dance, never felt the joy of experiencing a group of talented artists proudly performing with pride and enthusiasm the music that is their heritage. And did I mention that a show by Terrance and his band is simply a lot of fun!
Terrance leads a highly skilled band which includes 30+-year collaborator Grammy-winning Danny Williams on keyboards as well as Grammy-winning Stan Chambers on bass, who has been with the group for over 15 years. Other members are drummer Ian Molinara-Thompson, saxophonist Noah Boshra, and Michael Christie on trumpet. The group is sometimes joined by Berklee College of Music graduate Ethan Santos on trombone; Ian is also an alumnus of Berklee, while Noah graduated from Tulane University. Michael’s degree is from the lesser known Shenandoah University, a school which is rated among the top 10 per cent of music programs in the country.
Driven by African and Caribbean rhythms, zydeco is the traditional music of the French-speaking black people of Louisiana, the Creoles, The sound was embraced by blues, jazz, and folk audiences during the 20th century, and in the 21st century has incorporated rock, funk, and rhythm and blues sounds. The Creoles sang their songs through good times and bad, through slavery, and Jim Crow; Terrance and his merry band have been at the forefront as the face of this exhilarating, complex, and diverse brand of music since the 1980’s.
When Terrance first started his band while still in high school in 1981, he was one of only three young artists performing this traditional music.; he was supported and mentored by the pioneers of contemporary zydeco, including John Delafose and Clifton Chenier. Adding to this heritage as well as enabling musical versatility, Terrance was also inspired by the Neville Brothers, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan, Earth Wind and Fire, and the Commodores.
Terrance Simien’s contributions to American roots music and as well as promoting the cultural identity of his people are vast, his ability to share the unique role played by the Creoles in the history of this country contributing to a deeper understanding of diverse peoples. The term Creole possesses several meanings, communicating different things to different people, and more than one ethnic group has a claim to the term; but in its broadest sense, Creole means native, and refers to the black, white, and mixed-race people who are native to Louisiana.
Ultimately, a performance by Terrance Simien and his Zydeco Experience is the embodiment of the Cajun French phrase, “Laissez le bons temps rouler,” which translates to “Let the good times roll!” And that is definitely what you will experience at Montage on November 7—abundant good times. Tickets for this not-to-be-missed good time are $30; to get your tickets, contact DCCA at 937-547-0908 or www.darkecountyarts.org or at DCCA’s office located within Greenville Public Library. DCCA office hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. If any remain by showtime, tickets will also be sold at the door the night of the performance.
