Special Screening of Award Winning Documentary: “Zydeco Breakfast”, a Film by Tom UHL

Documentary Feature Division Prize Winner at the Capital City Black Film Festival!

See the showing of the documentary “Zydeco Breakfast” a documentary that highlights local artist and dancers who help explain what is so compelling about the culture and music! The event takes place on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 6:30 PM – 9 PM CST at Rock ‘n’ Bowl de Lafayette, 905 Jefferson St.LA.

Excerpts from the website on the movie: The story of one man’s inspiring journey into a world of rich musical culture in Southwestern Louisiana. It begins in a small cafe on the banks of the Bayou Teche and dives deep into the world of Zydeco music; telling the stories of some of this cultures most influential musicians, dancers and innovators.  From its roots to the young emerging local talent of today, “Zydeco Breakfast” brings you the complex story of Louisiana Americana – a community of people, part of a long tradition, working to preserve the heritage of Southwestern Louisiana.

In the Land of Zydeco there radiates soul-rocking accordions and that memorable and uplifting rub board percussion that makes the heart of zydeco explode.  The music roars across the dance floor at the local house Zydeco in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Here, in the Bayou Teche, is where Santa Fe-based documentary filmmaker Tom Uhl rediscovered his affection for the blend of rhythm and blues and felt the joy and sensuality of the inspired dancing. He spent 10 years traveling to the southwestern parts of the state to learn about the culture of the sounds and movements for his 2015 film debut, “Zydeco Breakfast,” The 93-minute film is a homage to the history and rulers of zydeco.

Though an outsider to the scene, Uhl displays an ability to immerse himself into the culture and gains access to heavyweight performers Donna Angelle, Geno Delafose, Corey Ledet, and Cedric Watson. In the film’s teaser, two-time Grammy nominee Watson opens up about his personal take on the history of zydeco. “The music is Creole music that is mixed between African influences and French and Spanish and Native Americans. When the music started being sold and advertised, that is when it was separated between what’s Creole, what’s Cajun, and what’s zydeco? The way I see it, it’s all Louisiana French music.”

Uhl shines as a producer and director in offering a mix of historical context with up-close footage of live bands and enjoyable locals and tourists characters who line up outside venues as early as 7:30 a.m. to tear up the dance floors with leg-swinging, hip shimming action. To his credit, Uhl cleverly gives the performers the space to tell their own stories of deep familial ties to the craft and meaning of zydeco.

“This is a truly important film in these trying times, where our social fabric needs the healing and mending harmony and love that zydeco brings to the hearts of those with eyes to see, ears to hear and a desire to bring the message that we are all family in the Land of Zydeco.” – Eric K

Doors open at 6:30 $10.00 Cover