Hot Chili Mama

As the world's most respected and well-known Cajun band, Beausoleil and their leader, fiddler/singer Michael Doucet, are a force unto themselves. Capable of playing both musicological demonstrations at the Smithsonian and hot, never-ending dances in bayou country, Beausoleil mix stellar musicianship and a dedication to Cajun traditions and history with the ability to heat up the tempos and keep the music contemporary. Here on their last disc (for now) of new recordings for the ethnic/preservationist Arhoolie label, Doucet and the band give a set of traditional Cajun covers like "Acadian Two-Step" and a few choice originals like the title tune, the respectful yet vital Beausoleil treatment. Slower tunes, ballads and waltzes dominate this set. More traditional than the band's later albums for Rounder and Rhino, this disc is still top drawer Beausoleil. --Robert Baird