Zydeco!
Photographs by Rick Olivier, Text by Ben Sandmel
University Press of Mississippi
ISBN 1-57806-116-4; 187 pp.

For a genre that has never been popular to write a book about, it's interesting to note that two books about Louisiana zydeco music have been published in less than a year. And like Michael Tisserand's Kingdom of Zydeco, author Ben Sandmel and photographer Rick Olivier provide a knowledgeable view into the vibrant Creole culture that's been revitalized during the last decade.

Although both books come highly recommended and would be enjoyed by dancing zealots living in the frozen Yankee wasteland (as the locals call it), the 187 pages of Zydeco! isn't quite so complete an exploratory thesis as Kingdom, which does so in 400 pages. Yet, at the same time, the sagacious Sandmel relates the essence of the story you need to know. The first few chapters introduce Creole people as their own proud entity, which segues into the legacy of zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier and his contemporary, Boozoo Chavis. The Buckwheat Zydeco chapter brings out insightful points regarding Buck's insistence on not being promoted as a Cajun. Not confusing the two ethnic groups is an important cultural concept that has resulted in other Creole identity crusades like Wilbert Guillory's Labor Day Zydeco Festival and the formation of C.R.E.O.L.E (Cultural Resource Education of Linguistic Enrichment), which develops the Creole French language and culture. Sandmel brings to light a couple of under-publicized musicians: Warren Ceasar, the first trumpeter to ever front a z-band, and the immensely talented Lynn August, who's never let blindness be an obstacle. The book winds down with a look at today's nouveau zydeco with an objective discussion about whether the new guard is indeed lyrically impoverished.

While Sandmel provides the knowledge for a greater appreciation of zydeco, Olivier's captivating black-and-white photos let you experience it. Through his aperture, you see the euphoria of performers and dancers in unimpressive nightclubs, their gritty intensity and even quiet moments of reflection. There are shots of Delton Broussard in front of a grain elevator and a boyish Chris Ardoin mixing a barrel of hog slop. Zydeco! has the appearance of a trendy coffee-table book, but it's much more than some misconceived decoration. But even if it never left the table, it would still be the coolest coffee table around. — Dan Willging (Denver, CO)

Fog on the Tyne,
The Official History of Lindisfarne
by Dave Ian Hill
Northdown Publishing
ISBN 1-900711-07-9 (1998)

When writing a band biography, the difficult part is to present the story in a way that keeps the group's die-hard fans happy, yet not in such detail as to alienate the casual reader. Dave Ian Hill has found that balance in presenting the story of Lindisfarne. His biography of the band makes for an interesting and entertaining account of the group's ups and downs and rebirth in the 90s. It also makes for an intriguing insider look at the rock and folk scene in England during the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Hill lets the participants tell the story. Through interviews with band members, management, fans, writers and fellow musicians, Hill intertwines those accounts for a first-hand/first person look at what happened, starting with the band's earliest days in the mid-60s to their renewed popularity in the 90s, after the tragic death of their main songwriter and singer Alan Hull.

Hill covers the band's entire 30-year history, including the spinoff projects like Radiator and Jack the Lad and Alan Hull's solo efforts. With over 120 photos, posters, and newspaper reprints, this offers a complete and compelling tale of one of Britain's favorite live bands. — Jim Lee (Simi Valley, CA)

Sukay Workbook
by Quentin Howard
Mel Bay ISBN 0-7866-4089-8 (1998); 95 pages, paperback, with CD; $22.95

This 95 page volume provides a fascinating, if brief, look at the music of the Andes and how to play it. If you have a zampona or a kena, there's solid instruction on how to play and how to advance your playing. If you don't own these flutes, not to worry — the book both illustrates how to make them. There's also a short history of Andean culture and music, information about one of the primary North American ambassadors of this genre, the group Sukay, and a CD to practice along with. — Kerry Dexter (Tallahassee, FL)