Call It What You Want
SW 6208 | 2008
Mercredi Soir Passe
SW 6194 | 2006
Never Satisfied
SW 6187 | 2004
Au Coup d'Eclair
SW 6183 | 2004
Bayou Groove
SW 6175 | 2003
Pour la Premiere Fois
SW 6159 | 1999
Dans le Coeur d'Ossun
SW 6142 | 1997
| A brief history...
Kevin Naquin started playing accordion when he was on 13 years old. About a year later, he placed second in the 1994 junior accordion contest sponsored by Mulate's Restaurant in Breaux Bridge. He learned fast partly because he worked hard at it, but also because he just had it in him. Two of his great-grandfathers were legendary Cajun musicians (fiddler Edius Naquin and accordionist Hadley Fontenot) who helped to keep the music alive during the lean years prior to the Cajun renaissance of the 1960s and 70s.
Heavily influenced by Don Montoucet of the Wandering Aces, and Steve Riley of the Mamou Playboys, Kevin has developed his own style of music and has gone on to win even more music awards: in 2004 he and his band dominated the Le Cajun Awards given by the Cajun French Music Association by winning Band of the Year, Best Recording Of the Year, which was "Bayou Groove," Song Of the Year, which was "C'est Trop Tard," written by Kevin Naquin & Ashley Hayes, Accordionist Of the Year (Kevin Naquin), Fiddler Of the Year (Louis Dronet) & Female Vocalist Of the Year (Ashley Hayes).
Reviews...
Southern Roots
Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys "Never Satisfied" and "Mercredi Soir Passe"
Kevin Naquin is a 27-year-old Cajun accordion player and vocalist whose great-grandfathers were the respected accordionist Hadley Fontenot and the lesser-known Eduis Naquin who played accordion, fiddle and harmonica as well as singing. Kevin's inherited skills on accordion are fully apparent. He plays in a powerful manner, has a good, strong voice and also does some writing. His recording debut came in 1997 on cassette, and he has now released seven albums - of these two, "Never Satisfied" is from 2004 and "Mercredi..." 2006.
The earlier release is based on traditional Cajun stylings but with a more pronounced beat. The five-piece band is boosted by the excellent swamp pop saxman Willie Tee on two numbers, namely the Naquin-penned title track, a real hotstepper, and "Une Femme Pas Bonne" which is Rockin' Sidney's "No Good Woman" with French lyrics. Kevin has also co-written two songs with Johnnie Allan, a tribute to American servicemen who pay the ultimate price in the fast waltz "La Derniere Demande" and "J'ai Envie De Faire L'Amour". "Dans Les Yeux Ce Soire" was also written by Allan, this time in conjunction with fiddle player Louis Dronet. Then there are cover versions of titles by the likes of Nathan Abshire, Iry LeJeune, Adam Hebert, Belton Richard and Austin Pitre, making up a fine album of predominately fast numbers (there are just four mid-paced waltzes) that was recorded at Mark Miller's MasterTrack Studio in Crowley.
The more recent album indicates that Kevin has found his own style. He has changed his bass player and done away with a guitarist, replacing him with pedal steel, and the drums seem more prominent. The title track opens with a recording of Eduis Naquin and continues with Kevin's development of the song in high energy fashion. It appears that Kevin has a sense of humor as he has co-written new words to the melody of Rockin' Sidney's "My Toot Toot" under the title "Ayou Mon Tennis Shoe" (with great sax from Pat Breaux) and he has also recorded Camey Doucet's "Hold My False Teeth" and the popular "Opelousas Sostan." There are a number of well-known songs here including Cookie & the Cupcakes' rockin' "Got You On My Mind", D.L. Menard's "La Porte En Arriere," Clifton Chenier's "Tee Na Na" with Derek Dugas on vocal, and other classics by Iry LeJeune, Dewey Balfa and Nathan Abshire.
This is another impressive album by a talented performer with a powerful band. As to which album to buy - take your pick. They are both well worth acquiring.
By Paul Harris
Blog Critics Magazine, April 13, 2008
Kevin Naquin "Call It What You Want"
I was just thinking. I might be one of the leading reviewers of Cajun music on the internet. Not because I'm - you know - any good at it, but just because there aren't that many people covering the genre, and that's a shame. It's a type of music that might appeal to a lot of listeners if it got a little more attention.
I've enjoyed Cajun music for years, but I have to confess that I certainly don't consider myself an expert. That might explain why I wasn't too familiar with Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys when I began working on this review, but I soon discovered that they're one of the top Cajun groups around.
Over the last decade they've released no less than seven albums, and judging by their newest, Call It What You Want (Appelee-Le Ca Tu Veux), on the Swallow label, there's a good reason for their popularity — these guys are outstanding.
Naquin, who comes from a family with several generations of musical history, is the heart and soul of the group, but his strong singing voice and nimble squeeze-box play are not the only weapons in their arsenal. The Playboys also feature Louis Dronet, Wayne Laverge, Tommy Bodin, Pat Stebbins, and Ashley Hayes (who doesn't quite fit the name Playboy but is still a valuable member of the group).
If you're new to Cajun music this might be the perfect album for you, because it's filled with a well-organized mix of music that ranges from Cajun standards to newer pieces, including a couple of country songs given a Cajun twist. But established fans of the genre should find it equally entertaining because there are some real gems here.
Traditional Cajun pieces such as "Valse De La Vie," and one of my favorites, "Johnny Can't Dance," leave little doubt that these guys can handle the old songs. But they're equally at home with new stuff such as "All Night Long," and a bonus track, "The Saints Are Coming," written to celebrate the area's favorite football team.
As mentioned before, they've also included a couple of traditional country songs that have been given a bayou reworking. Those include the old favorite, "Tennessee Blues," and a Floyd Cramer/Conway Twitty tune, "After All The Good Is Gone." Good stuff from a solid group, well worth a listen.
written by Big Geez
Awards... Best Accordionist - Kevin Naquin (CFMA 2004) Best Fiddler - Louis Dronet (CFMA 2004) Female Vocalist of the Year - Ashley Hayes (CFMA 2004) Best Recording - "Bayou Groove" by Kevin Naquin (CFMA 2004) Band of the Year - Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys (CFMA 2004) Song of the Year - "It's Too Late" (CFMA 2004) Accordionist of the Year - Kevin Naquin (CFMA 2002) Band of the Year - Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys (CFMA 2002) Best Recording of the Year - "Au Coup D'eclair" (CFMA 2002) Accordionist of the Year - Kevin Naquin (CFMA 2000) Best Recording of the Year - "Pour La Premiere Fois" (CFMA 2000) Male Vocalist of the Year - Kevin Naquin (CFMA 2000) Song of the Year - "Je Suis En Amour Avec La Femme Que J'ai Marier" (CFMA 2000) Band of the Year - Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys (CFMA 2000)
Related links...
|