Zydeco, Blues, and New Orleans R&B
> Chevy Chase Day - Saturday, September 23, 2023 - 1 to 4 pm
Chevy Chase Community Center, DC - 5601 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015, at McKinley St NW - FREE - FREE - FREE
The wildly popular community celebration, “Chevy Chase Day” is back again on Saturday, Sept. 23, outdoors from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chevy Chase Community Center with a jam-packed schedule. KID-FRIENDLY! You'll love the craft vendors and kids will enjoy a juggler, a magician, balloon art, sidewalk chalk art and the chance to create a paper bag puppet, while everybody gets to rock to the Zydeco band Little Red and the Renegades. Sponsored by the Chevy Chase Citizens Association.
Details here:
Web site updated Sept 18, 2023.
Band leader Little Red (Tom Corradino) moved to DC from New Orleans, where he learned how to make fonky music at the elbow of greats such as Professor Longhair, Dr. John, BooZoo Chavis, and Clifton Chenier.
Little Red and the Renegades is Washington’s ultimate party band! Little Red put the DC into ZyDeCo . . . Have Mercy!!!!!
Little Red is available for clubs, lounges, restaurants, wine bars, vineyards, breweries, receptions, fundraisers, festivals, picnics, weddings, anniversaries, dinners, parties, private events, and company events. Go to Contact page.
LITTLE RED & THE RENEGADES
Little Red & the Renegades
Azalea City Recordings
“Little Red” (née Tom Corradino) is and has been the Zydeco music force in the Nation’s capital since maybe 1986. In fact, he – with impresario Marc Gretschel (of Twist & Shout Club fame, celebrated in Mary Chapin Carpenter’s hit song) – is responsible for creating the scene. Don’t believe me? Check George Pelicanos’ novel, Nick’s Trip where the detective protagonist goes to see Little Red’s “hot D.C. Zydeco band.” That was published around 1993. This disc, their first in 25 years, pronounces them still hot.
Preponderantly populated with original songs, the subject matter for some is, shall we agree, unique. How about “Haywire,” an alluring slot machine? With its mesmerizing, Soca rhythm instrumental middle, steel drums/pans propel listeners and of course dancers ever onward. Its clever bass figures are the work of Little Red founding member Dave Peterson. Carol Arthur is the wizard of the pans. Hubby Jon Danforth’s drumming makes things hum throughout, especially on the jazzy, bluesy driving instrumental, “East Side Drive.” Harry Rado’s been Red’s guitarist since its college days at Syracuse; now his son, Allen, also mans the guitar.
How many songs have been written about the prescription drug Prednisone? There’s one here. Turns out it’s autobiographical: “I can’t drink, I can’t get stoned/the only thing I’m living on is Prednisone” Red wails. As if these topics aren’t curious enough, how about “Brand New Pope”? Yes, that would be Francis. “He’s got no rules, no written text / You never know what he’ll say next.” Don’t know if it’ll chart on Radio Vatican (if there is one), but if souls can be moved, so will the soles of your dance boots. There’s also a rapping homage to the cultural richness of New York City that name checks many of Red’s favorite spots. If you appreciate Zydeco and are enchanted with the ways in which it can be used to interpret just about anything, get yourself a copy of Little Red & the Renegades. Play it often and aggressively and dance yourself silly.
– M.E. Travaglini
"Justified" by Little Red (Bill Withers) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JqJGbl62no&list=PLlNPerghcCKIFq078IDT32b6d7-IWpwS6&index=11
"Goin' to New York" by Little Red - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx8pl2Udqyo
"Haywire" by Little Red - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zr2NPiF-ps
"Haydee's Restaurant" by Little Red - https://www.flickr.com/photos/haberuvi/7577895938/in/set-72157630592271264
Professor Longhair's "Big Chief" by Little Red - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_l72ta3Wm4
"Let's Boogie" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGpvZeOzZ-w
“Funky Pope” by Little Red - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mONBcYNMUBc
At True Respite Brewing for Mardi Gras 2023:
At The Hamilton, Washington, DC with Buckwheat Zydeco: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfGEOr7eYOE
Little Red, New Orleans Piano Professor