The Times Picayune
New Orleans, LA - Friday, November 28, 2003

Red Stick Ramblers
Bring It On Down
Memphis International Records

Fiddler Joel Savoy -- the eldest son of noted Cajun musicians and folklorists Marc and Ann Savoy -- and fiddler/vocalist Linzay Young trace their pedigree to southwest Louisiana, but they assembled the Red Stick Ramblers three years ago in Baton Rouge. On their second release, the Ramblers trot out Cajun tradition for a spin on the dance floor, but pick up some other, equally entertaining partners -- Western swing, bluegrass, 1920s-era jazz -- along the way.

The upright bass and Glenn Fields' in-the-pocket drums get a workout in the spry singalong "Stay All Night," with its especially joyous fiddle. Savoy's fiddle carries the day on the French-language "Parting Waltz." "Two Step des Condamnes" is an accordion-led Cajun two-step, with a cool guitar solo. They tone down for the intimate regret of "What Do I Do?" and "Rattle My Cage," a mournful bluegrass meditation written and sung by guitarist Chas Justus, accented by a weeping fiddle. "When The Sugar Cane's Tall" is a bittersweet country road song.

But clouds rarely linger. Following "Rattle My Cage," the Ramblers ease through gypsy jazz great Django Reinhardt's "Blue Drag," with some nimble picking courtesy of Justus and mandolinist Josh Caffery. The Ramblers have even bigger fun with Western swing legend Bob Wills' "Bring It On Down to My House." One refrain contains the memorable line, "You made me sprain my ankle and I hurt my back, 'cause you're 10 pounds of sugar in a five pound sack." Another line posits, "Well I ain't braggin' but it's understood, I don't do nothin' that I can't do good." It could be the Red Stick Ramblers' motto.