Ultimate Zydeco

This collection has a wide variety of songs from a far-ranging and eclectic group of artists. No collection can please everyone, and this one has some gaps in it because not all performers have recorded on the label, however, there is something here for pretty much everyone. For the well-seasoned traveler there are some lesser-known cuts from artists who aren't frequently heard, and for the newcomer this is a rich treasure trove. It includes traditional artists such as and some of the modern artists who pushed the envelope, exposing it to more diverse influences -- artists such as . This is also a great introduction to and their ever-expanding library. It contains more than an hour of music, distributed between 17 cuts and evenly interspersed between traditional and the more modern styles. The cuts are all well-produced and the sound quality is excellent. In addition there are two cuts by , a non-touring entity who were put together in the studio from some of the most road-tested musicians still playing. They include legend-to-be , who has a habit of handing out one scorching guitar solo after another, and laying down a steady bass beat. This is one of the best collections to be had. ~ Bob Gottlieb