Andre Thierry & His Accordion Soul Music

About the Event

Andre Thierry, a name highly regarded amongst industry figures and fans throughout the music scene. True to his culture and love of music, he has crafted a career well beyond his years as an artist. Andre’s French Creole heritage is deeply rooted in Louisiana although he was born and raised in Northern California. At a very young age, he embarked on a path with distinct knowledge and extraordinary talents.

Andre grew up experiencing the French Creole (La-La) dances his grandparents held at their church parish, St. Mark’s Catholic Church. The best Zydeco musicians Louisiana had to offer traveled to California to play at these dances. The exposure allowed him to develop his love for traditional French Creole music. By age twelve, Andre formed his own band, “Zydeco Magic”. Self taught, Andre’s repertoire grew by leaps and bounds as he was regularly invited to play with visiting bands, such as the late John Delafose and many local Zydeco and Cajun bands, including the late Danny Poullard (California Cajun Orchestra).

Now, in his 30’s, he has already been deemed a legend. There is widespread agreement that he is an exceptional, multi-dimensional musician who has a finely honed ability to merge his accordions with musical mastery.

The Washington Post called Andre “A master at pumping out fast, funky rhythms on an instrument not usually associated with earthy syncopation. A versatile student of the music, Thierry can’t be lumped into Zydeco’s old-school R&B-influenced camp or its nouveau, rap-inspired one: He and his band, lay down both soulful, traditional slow-dances and bottom-end-booming kinetic groovers.”

Michael Tisserand, author of The Kingdom of Zydeco, considered the definitive book on the history of Zydeco music, wrote, “In America, great migrations produce great music. Just as Delta musicians took Highway 61 to Chicago and electrified their blues, so did the Creoles and Cajuns migrate to California and establish vital dance communities. Now the California scenes rival anything back home in Louisiana, and that’s due to players like Andre Thierry, a standard bearer for the new generation. Thierry is among the best of both the West Coast and the Gulf Coast, and he combines youthful vigor with a mature appreciation for his inherited tradition.”

Some of Andre’s most groundbreaking artistic works have resulted when awareness and experience from distant genres and unrelated forms collaborated through an evolution of French Creole, Zydeco and Accordion Soul. Undoubtedly, Andre’s style isn’t conventional, he and his accordions provide a signature sound by creating magnetic sonic landscapes. The rhythmic songs played drive an atmospheric blend, giving his band a powerful edge, naturally building a dedicated following through constant shows, touring and a string of recordings like “It’s About Time,” “A Whole Lotta Somthin” and “Are You Ready To Learn”.

Singing, song-writing and producing with a collective of artists, while their individual contributions are discernible, Thierry creates the transformative effects, leaving his musical imprints on records like “Live! At the Woodshop”, “Creole United, Non Jamais Fait” and “Creole United, Tu Kekchause A’ Korrek”.

In “Bouncin With The Blues” Thierry performs songs written or popularized by music legends that have inspired the acclaimed accordionist, featuring songs from Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Albert King and Clifton Chenier. Unforgettable performances with musicians Sammy Hagar (gritty hard Rocker) and David Hildago (influential Latin singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist) showcased fabulous fusion with Andre in his musical zone, pumpin genre bending sounds, breaking all accordion stereotypes.

The accordion defies all national and continental borders. Andre Thierry was the first American artist to perform in the Akkordeonale, International Festival (Program 2016). Representing the USA — Impelling Blues with Creole Roots, the accordion virtuoso celebrated with audiences touring Germany, delivering awe inspiring performances, coming together with musicians in a vivid interchange. Different as the cultural backgrounds were, so were the musical approaches and styles. The only real common language was music, creating a thrilling coexistence on stage.

​Forthcoming about his journey, Andre Thierry’s music creations are intoxicating and timeless. Enjoy the unfolding of this charismatic, rising artist as he vibrates Accordion Soul with stimulating beats, attracting any music lover to the dance floor!

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