Recorded live at the Habibi Temple, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Boozoo Chavis is one of the reigning kings of zydeco. His 1954 song "Paper in My Shoe" helped define the genre. 40 years later, and after several decades spent away from the music business, Chavis released this live set, which finds him at the top of his game. The album was recorded in Lake Charles, Louisiana at the Habibi Temple, a massive structure used for auto shows and Shriner events that has a 5,000-square-foot stage.
Boozoo is relentless, as he sings and plays his accordion. He's matched every step of the way by his band, the Magic Sounds (two of his sons are in the five-piece ensemble). Though a tune like "Boozoo's Breakdown" is built on very simple components, it springs to life as an incredible rhythmic machine. The players are all linked as one steamrolling entity. They even revisit his old hit, playing it with a brightness that belies its age. LIVE AT THE HABIBI TEMPLE is the next best thing to being there.