Grammy winners and 10-time nominees BeauSoleil continue their scion-like march through the panorama of American music with Alligator Purse. Over the past 30-plus years, BeauSoleil has been the very heartbeat of Cajun music and culture, keeping it vital through not only their attention to tradition, but also through passionate and inventive experimentation. This time around these twin creative approaches combine yet again, manifesting themselves in some of music's most authentic and recognizable names.

On Alligator Purse BeauSoleil's fearless captain Michael Doucet leads the next installment of his musical journey along the lifeline of Cajun music, this time with an all star crew including Natalie Merchant ("Little Darlin'"), Garth Hudson ("I've Spent All My Money Loving You") John Sebastian, Roswell Rudd, Bill Keith and others. His notable friends help Doucet bring the rich folk traditions of south Louisiana into the 21st century through the genius interplay of a new take on Cajun favorites ("Marie") and the 'Cajunization' of modern folk classics. A French language reworking of Bob Dylan's cover of Muddy Waters' classic "Rollin' & Tumblin'" ("Rouler et Tourner") and J.J. Cale's "The Problem" stand alongside Cajun and Creole history lessons like "Reel Cajun (451 St. Joseph St.)," "Les Oignons" and "Theogene Creole", originally sung for John and Alan Lomax's historic 1934 field recordings.

Alligator Purse is the funkiest history lesson ever created, a sweaty sweep through the lore of one of the most vital veins of America's musical heritage and a stark reminder that musical history is best served by a dance floor, not a museum.

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