Captain Gumbo


Captain Gumbo is a Dutch band formed in 1987, which plays mostly zydeco and Cajun music; that is, music in the French traditions of the U.S. state of Louisiana, based around the diatonic accordion. In 1990, their version of "Allons à Lafayette" reached No. 30 in the Dutch singles chart. The band was still active as of 2013.

History

Captain Gumbo was formed by , Hans Soeteman, Joost Witte and Gerard de Braconier . Soeteman was soon replaced by ; who was later replaced by Nico Heilijgers; who was himself later replaced by Jan van den Berg. Keyboard player Roel Spanjers has often played with the band, as has saxophonist Jan de Ligt.
Gumbo is a type of stew from Louisiana. It is the official cuisine of that state, which is also the heartland of zydeco and Cajun music. In 1980, Queen Ida released the album Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band in New Orleans. It includes a song called "Capitaine Gumbo", co-written by her and her brother Al Lewis. Captain Gumbo covered the song: it is the second track on their first album, 1 More 2 Step. That suggests a possible origin for the band's name.
In 1990, Captain Gumbo released their first CD, 1 More 2 Step. The opening track is their version of the song "Allons à Lafayette", first recorded in 1928 by Joe Falcon and Cléoma Breaux. It was released as a single, and in 1991 it peaked at No. 30 in the official Dutch music singles chart. On the back of that success, the band toured Louisiana, performing at Breaux Bridge, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, meeting their musical heroes such as D. L. Menard, Eddie LeJeune, Rockin' Dopsie, Marc Savoy, Boozoo Chavis, Chubby Carrier, Walter Mouton and Harry LaFleur, and supporting Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys.
Neither 1 More 2 Step nor the band's next album Back à la maison was a commercial success. Their third album, Chank-a-Chank, peaked in the official Dutch album chart at #79. Their more recent releases have been commercially unsuccessful.
The band toured widely in the Netherlands, playing both large and small venues, and supported Fats Domino at a concert in Rotterdam Ahoy. They also performed in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. Since 2001, their live appearances have been less frequent.

Discography

  • 1990 – 1 More 2 Step, MW Records MWCD/MWMC 2001
  • * 1991 – "Allons à Lafayette"
  • 18 November 1992 – Back à la maison, MW Records MWCD 2006
  • 1 March 1994 – Chank-a-Chank, MW Records MWCD 2012
  • 5 May 1997 – Midlife Two-Step, MW Records
  • 6 July 2001 – Gumbo No. 5
  • 2013 – Vive le Capitain, MW Records MW 2032

Personnel

Band members have included:

  • Gerard de Braconier, guitar and backing vocals, from 1987, formerly in the band
  • Jan de Ligt, saxophonist, from
  • , diatonic accordion and vocals, from 1987, formerly in the duo Kruis & Mol
  • Jan van den Berg, bass guitar and backing vocals, from
  • Joost Witte, drummer and vocals, from 1987, formerly in the band Toontje Lager

Formerly

  • , bass guitar, -
  • Nico Heilijgers, bass guitar,
  • Hans Soeteman, bass guitar, 1987 -, formerly in the band RoToR
  • Roel Spanjers, keyboards, - unknown date, of the band Normaal
  • Rens van der Zalm, violinist, guest artist on ''Back à la maison''

Cover versions by Captain Gumbo

Many of the numbers performed by Captain Gumbo are their own interpretations of earlier recordings. One writer claims to have identified more than 70 of them. Such interpretations include: