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Discography
"The Heat Is On"
Track 1) INTRO
begins with a funky jam session that let's the world know that Leon Chavis and
the Zydeco Flames are here to stay!
Track 2) Country Woman
is and ode to all the women with a country girl attitude. Inspired by a Zydeco
Force song, the song has an old school flavor, yet is a creative of blend of
traditional Zydeco and Zydeco Nouveau.
Track 3) Hold me Tight
incorporates an old school Zydeco two-step beat that you'll hear in on a
Saturday night, deep in Southwest Louisiana in Slim's Y-Ki-Ki, Richard's Club,
Offshore Lounge, or underneath a summer night on trial ride. Inspired by a
sensual dance and intimate conversation with a woman while dancing, "Baby, hold
me tight, I wanna love not fight…" this is definitely a song for sweating and
close quarter dancing.
Track 4) Dear Love
was one of the first singles released from this CD and became and instant local
hit in Southwest Louisiana. According to Leon, he was heavily influenced by the
Red Hot Chili Peppers (one of his favorite groups). It is personal and true
Zydeco love song about a boy growing up into a man and passionately in love. "I
never ever want to lose your love, you're the only one my heart dreams of. I
never ever want to feel the pain of seeing you walk away."
Track 5) Heart of a Lion
is a "message from the ancestors" states Leon. That message is to stick together
never give up in spite of the odds. "No matter what happens to a guy like me.
I'll never give up on being who I wanna be. I'll never give up. I'll never stop
trying, I gotta succeed, I got the heart of a lion." The song is an upbeat
mixture of Creole and Cajun influences.
Track 6) Hot Girl
shows the different influences of different musical traditions of Louisiana that
come together to form a hot dance song. The song is a mixture of Zydeco
Accordion rhythms, Baton Rouge Blues, and sewn together with a jazzy New Orleans
sound.
Track 7) Don't Work Don't Eat
is a new song with an old message that
everyone can relate to "If you don't work, then you don't eat. If you don't
grind, then you don't shine." The song is a lively song with an old school
Creole flavor. Leon anchors the song in that old creole tradition by singing a
verse in Creole French.
Track 8) Hey Momma
is the heart and soul of the CD. This song is definitely destined to become a
Zydeco Classic. Not only does the song begin to show the development and depth
of musical talent Leon has, but the song is deeply personal and gives us glimpse
into a very personal part of Leon's life. Inspired by the Zydeco classic Jole'
Blon (immortalized by the late Clifton Chenier, and reintroduced to a new
generation of Zydeco listeners by Zydeco Force), the song is a dedication to
Leon's mother, who passed away when Leon was 10 year old. "This song was the
first time I was able to express into words how I truly felt then and now… it is
a conversation with my mother in heaven." Although the song (musically) itself
is rooted in traditional Creole and Zydeco Music, Leon makes the song his own
through soulful accordion playing and singing with such emotion, that at one
point in the song you can actually hear the accordion wailing in pain and love.
Subtle music "flaws" were left in the song that makes the song truly personal.
This song has become one of the most requested songs in southwest Louisiana.
Track 9) The Heat Is On
is the title track the CD and is anchored by Leon's father Joseph "Chopper"
Chavis, a respected musician in his own right, and the band's scrubboard and
keyboard player. This high energy Zydeco song was inspired by the legend
himself, Bob Marley, and contains an accordion hook that can only be described
as "sinister." Supported with a funky baseline, the subtle sound of the scrub
board, with a groovy lead guitar, paced by a by high paced drumbeat and you have
a song that displays a unique level of musical complexity, but able to keep the
dancers moving and groovin'. Leon adds to the hype by smoothly reminding the
crowd why they are here, "Everybody come on out, just to see Leon and the Zydeco
Flames, because the Heat Is On!"
Track 10) Allons Zydeco
(Creole for "let's Zydeco") was inspired by the old Creole tradition "la la
music" and Cajun traditions, bringing an awareness of how closely related the
musical styles are and how these traditions still influence a new generation of
Zydeco and Cajun Musicians. Allons Zydeco is sung in French and is elevated to a
new level with a musical modulation commonly found in Cajun music. "Hey Let's
Zydeco, get down on the floor, come on ya'll, get on the floor to Leon's Zydeco!"
Allons Zydeco!
Track 11) Casinos
is a more polished track and capable of a commercial crossover to most people
unfamiliar with zydeco music, incorporating musical elements from the New
Orleans Mardi Gras tradition of counter hooks and tricky breaks made popular by
Zydeco's musical ambassadors the King of Zydeco himself, Clifton Chenier and
Zydeco's proudest Creole man, Buckwheat Zydeco. Leon's musical stint in Southern
University's Marching band (known worldwide as the "Human Jukebox") is evident
as he skillfully plays a New Orleans second line on the trumpet to a Mardi Gras
beat! The song is a big time show stopper and reminder of the influence of the
musical traditions of Louisiana in general, New Orleans in particular has on the
world.
Track 12) Vas Manger
(Go Eat) is the last song on the CD and is a fun and lively original track based
on an experience Leon had while visiting his girlfriend's grandmother on a
Sunday afternoon. It is centered in the vibrant Louisiana cultural tradition
where food is the central experience to family and community. "Woke up this
morning, and my stomach was growlin'. And then I went
to mama, and she was there smiling. And then she said "if you hungry today, then
she pointed to kitchen and said 'Vas Manger!'
Reviews
The Heat Is On! The debut album from Leon Chavis
is a good solid album. With 12 tracks ranging from traditional Creole music,
Zydeco, Southern Soul, R & B and jazz. The Heat Is On is a multi-faceted project
that is rooted in tradition, yet clearly incorporate contemporary musical
elements and experiences of today's musicians. For Leon, this CD is much more.
"This CD was like my child. It started off as an experiment, but it became a
deep and personal learning experience. I wanted to nurture the music and
influence its development, yet it became more of an exploration on who I was as
a person. For me, the music became spiritual." That experience prompted
Leon to begin "to read more about my ancestors and draw upon the wisdom and
experience around me, and how the music gave hope to the people who heard it…Zydeco
music like having a good cup of coffee in the morning after a rough night!"
Review from Rod Sias (www.zydecoonline.com)
When you’re kin to a former reigning zydeco
monarch like Boozoo Chavis, there’s always pressure to uphold the family name.
Though that’s something Leon Chavis has never forgotten, the good news is that
he hasn’t capitalized on surname recognition. Instead, the 25-year-old Lawtell
native has benefited more from his formal training as a trumpeter at Southern
University (an unusual accomplishment for a zydeco musician) in addition to
being mentored by R&B/zydeco vets papa “Chopper” and T-Broussard. When it came
time to record, he didn’t rush the process but took nearly a year to deliver one
of the freshest sounding debuts in recent memory. Chavis’ accordion playing
exudes steady timing, accurate phrasing and a solid, buoyant tone. With Chavis
and his Zydeco Flames supplying plenty of punch, smack and snap to the
proceedings, every one of these dozen originals is toe-tapping and infectious
enough to entice everyone within earshot to secure a spot on the dance floor and
homestead it until closing time. His occasional finishing touches are
intriguing, like the squelchy keyboards (“Intro”), funky bass notes (“Hot Girl”)
and jazzy trumpet lines (“Casinos”) that recall the day when Warren Ceasar blew
a hot horn in Clifton Chenier’s band.
Review from Dan Willing(www.offbeat.com)
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