Andrus J. Espre
b. November 1st, 1952 in Duralde (Louisiana)
d. September 10th, 1999 in Kinder (Louisiana)
THIS IS BEAU JOCQUE
Mardi Gras
MY NAME IS BEAU JOCQUE
Paula
1992
Electricien et soudeur, il travaille d'abord pendant 9 ans pour l'Air Force. A la suite d'un accident au dos vers 1987-88, il se retrouve alité et commence à jouer de l'accordéon (celui de son père Sandrus Espre). A la fin des années 80, il forme un groupe avec sa femme Michelle (Shelly) au frottoir et prend le nom de scène de Beau Jocque. Dès 1991 et la création des Zydeco Hi-Rollers, il a mélangé de nombreux éléments Rock, Funk et Reggae à sa musique Zydeco. Guidé par Roy Carrier chez Lanor, Beau Jocque grave ses premiers morceaux à Church Point (Louisiane) pour le producteur Lee Lavergne. Du Zydeco rythmé toujours dansant - parfois un peu répétitif - comme sur les irrésistibles "When you think about me", "Pop that coochie", "Beau Jocque shuffle", "Ma brunette" (dérivé de "Pine Grove blues"). Derrière Beau Jocque travaille un groupe sûr et compact composé de Kevin Nagy (guitare), Retell Chavis (basse), Joseph Carrier (batterie), Wilfred "Caveman" Pierre (frottoir).
Electrician and welder, he first worked for 9 years in the Air Force. Following an accident at his back around 1987-88, he finds himself in bed and began playing accordion (from his father Sandrus Espre). In the late 80's, he formed a group with his wife Michelle (Shelly) on rubboard and took the stage name of Beau Jocque. Since 1991 and the creation of the Zydeco Hi-Rollers, he mixed many Rock, Funk and Reggae elements in his Zydeco music. Guided by Roy Carrier in Lanor, Beau Jocque records his first tracks in Church Point (Louisiana) for producer Lee Lavergne. Always dancing rhythmic Zydeco - sometimes a little repetitive - such as the irresistible "When you think about me", "Pop that coochie", "Beau Jocque shuffle", "My brunette" (derived from "Pine Grove blues"). Behind Beau Jocque works an accurate and compact group composed of Kevin Nagy (guitar), Retell Chavis (bass), Joseph Carrier (drums), Wilfred "Caveman" Pierre (rubboard).
BEAU JOCQUE BOOGIE
Rounder
Zensor
February 1993
Repéré par le producteur Scott Billington qui travaille chez Rounder, il grave ce disque à La Nouvelle Orléans avec son groupe régulier : Chuck Bush (basse), Ray Johnson (guitare), Steve "Skeeter" Charlot (batterie), Wilfred "Caveman" Pierre (frottoir). Diablement excitant et percutant sur "Give him cornbread", "Shelly Shelly" (pour sa femme), l'enthousiasmant "Damballah", la reprise inattendue et inspirée de "Baby please don't go", le superbe blues "Brown skin woman". Voix imposante et puissante, accordéon swinguant, tempos rapides, ambiance festive donnant constamment envie de danser. A coup sûr, un des grands albums de Zydeco des années 90. Un disque indispensable à n'importe quel amateur de musique louisianaise.
Spotted by producer Scott Billington who works for Rounder, he cut this record in New Orleans with his regular backing band : Chuck Bush (bass), Ray Johnson (guitar), Steve "Skeeter" Charlot (drums), Wilfred "Caveman" Pierre (rubboard). Devilishly exciting and punchy on "Give him cornbread", "Shelly Shelly" (for his wife), the exciting "Damballah", an unexpected and inspired cover of "Baby please don't go", the superb blues "Brown skin woman". Imposing and powerful voice, swinging accordion, fast tempos, giving festive atmosphere making constantly want to dance. Assuredly, one of the greatest albums of Zydeco of the 90's. An essential disc for any Louisiana music lover.
SOUNDS OF NEW ORLEANS vol.1
Friends of WWOZ
April 1993
GIVE HIM CORNBREAD LIVE
Rounder
September 1993
Avec ce disque live, on peut se rendre compte à quel point Beau Jocque et sa formation étaient devenus une des attractions les plus spectaculaires de la scène Zydeco. Ambiance bouillante garantie. On peut ressortir des reprises convaincantes de "Boozoo" Chavis ("Bad bad woman", "Do it all night"), de Big Joe Williams ("Baby please don't go) et de John Lee Hooker ("Boogie chillen" dans une version assez atypique) mais aussi ses titres plus habituels comme "Give him cornbread" et "Brown skin woman". Les musiciens sont les mêmes que sur "Beau Jocque boogie".
With this live album, we can realize how Beau Jocque and his band had become one of the most spectacular attractions of the Zydeco scene. Hot atmosphere guaranteed. We can highlight compelling covers of "Boozoo" Chavis ("Bad bad woman", "Do it all night"), Big Joe Williams ("Baby please don't go) and John Lee Hooker ("Boogie chillen" in a rather unusual way) but also his more traditional titles such as "Give him cornbread" and "Brown skin woman". The musicians are the same as "Beau Jocque boogie".
PICK UP ON THIS
Rounder
October - November 1993
Comme "Beau Jocque boogie", la production est signée Scott Billington et les morceaux enregistrés aux Ultrasonic Studios de la Nouvelle Orléans. Son excellente reprise du "Boogie chillen" de John Lee Hooker est rebaptisée pour l'occasion "Zydeco boogie woogie". On remarque aussi "Mardi Gras blues" et "Pick up on this". Un disque souvent plaisant mais moins intense que "Beau Jocque boogie" avec la même équipe.
As in "Beau Jocque boogie", the production is signed Scott Billington and songs recorded at Ultrasonic Studios in New Orleans. His excellent cover of "Boogie chillen" (by John Lee Hooker) was renamed for the occasion "Zydeco boogie woogie". Note also "Mardi Gras blues" and "Pick up on this". A pleasant set but often less intense than "Beau Jocque boogie" with the same team.
I'M COMING HOME
Mardi Gras
1993 / 1999
Six morceaux gravés en 1993 aux Dockside Studios à Maurice (dont quatre sortiront sur le EP "Nursery rhymes") avec Russel "Sly" Dorion, "Cookie" Chavis, Michael Lockett, Chuck Bush, Wilfred "Caveman" Pierre, Steve "Skeeter" Charlot. Puis, six autres morceaux captés en 1999 au studio de Michael Lockett à Lafayette et produits par sa femme Michelle Espre. Le puissant "Nursery rhymes", l'atmosphérique "Zydeco slide" ou "She keeps holding on" avec Jeffery Broussard sont vraiment enthousiasmants.
Six tracks cut in 1993 at Dockside Studios in Maurice (four of which come out on the "Nursery rhymes" EP) with Russel "Sly" Dorion, "Cookie" Chavis, Michael Lockett, Chuck Bush, Wilfred "Caveman" Peter, Steve "Skeeter" Charlot. Then, six other pieces collected in 1999 in the studio of Michael Lockett in Lafayette and produced by his wife Michelle Espre. The powerful "Nursery rhymes", the atmospheric "Zydeco slide" or "She keeps holding on" with Jeffery Broussard are really exciting.
GIT IT BEAU JOCQUE !
Rounder
September 1994
Deuxième album live après "Give him cornbread". Il s'avère, toutefois, un peu moins créatif et puissant que son illustre prédécesseur. Après un long et frénétique "Beau Jocque boogie", on trouve quelques belles pistes comme "Sack O'Woe" ou "Beau Jocque run". Une prestation convaincante et entrainante. A noter que cette même année, il apparait dans le remarquable documentaire "The kingdom of Zydeco" réalisé par Robert Mugge.
Second live album after "Give him cornbread". It turns out, however, a little less creative and powerful than its predecessor. After a long and speedy "Beau Jocque boogie", there are some nice tracks like "Sack O'Woe" or "Beau Jocque run". A compelling and catchy performance. Note that this same year, he appeared in the remarkable documentary "The kingdom of Zydeco" directed by Robert Mugge.
GONNA TAKE YOU DOWNTOWN
Rounder
April 1996
BEST OF BEAU JOCQUE
Rounder
June 1997
CHECK IT OUT, LOCK IT IN, CRANK IT UP !
Rounder
March 1998
Dans ce nouvel album pour Rounder, on trouve quelques franches réussites comme l'excellent morceau d'ouverture "Come go with me", le blues "Going to the country" mais aussi "What you gonna do", "Slide and dip it" (dans deux versions dont une d'inspiration hip-hop assez déconcertante).
In this new album for Rounder, there are some frank achievements like the excellent opening track "Come go with me", the blues "Going to the country" but also "What you gonna do", "Slide and dip it" (in two versions including a disconcerting hip-hop-inspired version).
ZYDECO GIANT
Mardi Gras
1999
Derniers enregistrements de Beau Jocque aux Master Trak Studios de Crowley sous la supervision de Jerry Embree et Mark Miller. Cette fois, le son est un peu différent - moins traditionnel et par conséquent plus original - que dans ses autres albums. Il faut signaler les sensationnels "I'm a girl watcher", "I'm so tired of you doing me wrong", "Hot tamale baby", le beau blues "I ain't gonna worry my life no more", "No good woman" (avec deux versions radicalement différentes dont une version moderne très arrangée qui peut déplaire). Un disque inventif, très varié, parfois surprenant ("Breezin'") qui mérite d'être découvert. Peu après ces enregistrements, il décède d'une attaque cardiaque dans sa maison de Kinder.
Last recordings of Beau Jocque at Master Trak Studios in Crowley under the supervision of Jerry Embree and Mark Miller. This time, the sound is a little bit different - less traditional and therefore more original - as in his other albums. We should note the sensational "I'm a girl watcher", "I'm so tired of you doing me wrong", "Hot tamale baby", the beautiful blues "I ain't gonna worry my life no more", "No good woman" (with two radically different versions including a very modern and arranged version that can displease). An inventive disc, varied and sometimes surprising ("Breezin'") that deserves to be discovered. Shortly after these recordings, he died of a heart attack at his home in Kinder.
SUPER MARDI GRAS
Mardi Gras
1999
Cette excellente version de "Back door" provient probablement des mêmes séances que "Zydeco giant".
This excellent version of "Back door" probably comes from the "Zydeco giant" sessions.