Gumbo and Zydeco...

  Another event that's been on my radar for a couple of years and I was glad when the stars lined up and we made it to the Gumbo and Zydeco Cook Off in Lufkin Tx sponsored by the Angelina County Citizens Chamber and The Pineywoods Trail Ride Association. Prizes were awarded for the best gumbo and the best dancers. Supplying the music for the dancers was Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames. 

Leon comes from a fine old zydeco family. He is the great nephew of Boozoo Chavis one of the all time giants of zydeco music. I've see Boozoo at the jazzfest in New Orleans and here's a photo I made that day which I can only date as sometime in the 1990s. As you may have guessed gumbo and zydeco is hot work. 

I think one of the best shows I have seen and one of those that fall under the category of I'd see it again if I could was in 2001. Right before jazzfest time Boozoo had a heart attack while playing in Austin, Tx. The band with guitarist Sonny Landreth filling in played their gig obligation at the fest dedicating the show to Boozoo. It was a heartfelt tribute and I was glad to be in the audience. Boozoo passed a week later. 

I've seen a couple of zydeco shows this year and they all play Boozoo's tune "Uncle Bud." 

I did manage to get my photo on the Lufkin Daily News web site, taken while I waited on a bowl of gumbo and an order of beignets. Many thanks to Brock West the photographer for keeping me in the news. 

At $5 a bowl the gumbo was a bargain and it was good with shrimp and sausage but next year I think we should enter Suzi Powell in the contest. 

Money from the event went to affordable housing projects in our area. 

There are many festivals for zydeco and gumbo, some with RV camping in easy striking distance just over the Sabine River in our neighboring state of Louisiana. Come spring they will be in full swing and I'll be looking for a good one. 

Leon and the boys were very good and very loud. It's been a few years since I have played the VFW and the stage has had some nice upgrades but I have never got to play that loud there. Good show guys!