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Sweet Honey in The Rock
The good times roll out onto the bay with two acts steeped in the sounds of the Big Easy. The Zydeco Flames infuse blues, funk, R&B, reggae and gospel into a rubboard-powered repertoire of tunes in French, Creole and English. Pianistic piledriver Mitch Woods is making waves with Big Easy Boogie featuring New Orleans mainstays, guitarist Jimmy Moliere and Fats Domino saxophonist Herb Hardesty. All tickets include a sumptuous buffet and all the fun you can have until the San Francisco Spirit returns to port.

The good times roll out onto the bay with two acts steeped in the sounds of the Big Easy. All cruise tickets include a sumptuous buffet and all the fun you can have until the San Francisco Spirit returns to port.

The Zydeco Flames infuse blues, funk, R&B, reggae and gospel into a rubboard-powered repertoire of tunes in French, Creole and English. Pianistic piledriver Mitch Woods is making waves with Big Easy Boogie featuring New Orleans mainstays such as guitarist Jimmy Moliere and Fats Domino saxophonist Herb Hardesty.

The Zydeco Flames trace their origins back to a party for the premiere of Les Blank’s classic 1989 documentary on the music of southern Louisiana J’ai été au bal (I Went to the Dance). Featured in the hugely popular computer game “The Sims Unleashed,” the band’s music has been heard around the world. While steeped in the classic zydeco sound of Clifton Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco and Queen Ida, the potent five-piece combo has honed an expansive sound, propelled by Andre Thierry’s driving accordion and Lloyd Meadows’ expert rubboard work.

Mitch Woods, a foot-stomping pianist in the tradition of Professor Longhair, leads an all-star band devoted to Crescent City rock ‘n’ roll, the sound pioneered by Fats Domino, Little Richard and Dave Bartholomew, the legendary New Orleans composer and producer who collaborated with Woods on his latest album Big Easy Boogie. Together, Woods and the Zydeco Flames offer a smorgasbord of Louisiana funk and groove.

Close program notes

Zydeco Flames Personnel: Andre Thierry (accordion), Lloyd Meadows(vocals, rubboard), Timm Walker (bass, vocals), William Allums (drums), Frank Bohan (guitar)
Mitch Woods Big Easy Boogie Personnel: Mitch Woods (piano, vocal), Herb Hardesty (Fats Domino Band) (sax), Jim Peterson (sax), Danny Bittker Bari (sax), Anthony Paule (guitar), Larry Vann (drums), Henry Oden (bass)