C.J. Chenier

• Genre: Cajun/Zydeco

About

Although some Zydeco purists criticize C.J. Chenier for manicuring his music enough to fit into the R&B mainstream, those with more open minds can recognize innovation when they hear it. Chenier is the son of Zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier. His father's legacy left him "the Crown Prince of Zydeco" as well as his father's backline of studied and experienced musicians. C.J. Chenier's voice is similar in inflections to his soulful father's, though C.J. seems more able to effortlessly traverse between tenor and baritone ranges (often leaning towards the latter). His innovative injections of country music, two-step waltz rhythms, swampy R&B, Funk grooves, and gritty blues shuffles have single-handedly strengthened Zydeco music, giving the genre a rhythmic boost as well as a pair of magic shoes that make the music much more easy to dance to.

- Eric Shea