Album Review/ Blues : Johnette Downing’s ‘My Little Snap Bean, Zydeco for Children’

Johnette Downing is a prolific artist with rolling style and a fluid spirit. Which makes her the ideal blues and soul artist. She wanders that spectrum, creating such fresh and fun paths for anyone who needs it. Her latest release is ‘My Little Snap Bean, Zydeco for Children’, a blues album that has a little bit of that swing, and a whole lot of groove to last you for days on end. It’s the kind of album that you cannot turn away from.

You keep going with it, because it’s happy to keep you company. And it’s not possible to get sick of it because of the classic atmosphere and the many layers and features it has. Each time you listen, you find something that takes you down on a new path. 

‘My Parrain is the Loup Garou’ opens the collection. It sets such a savvy and smooth mood. So many rhythms unifying in harmony, growing into each other and leading away. It’s such a free space. And Johnette’s vocals dance through it, bobbing with its own meaning and rhythm. We see a similar roll and groove in tracks like ‘My Aunt Came Back From Louisiane’ and ‘Pass it On’. That harmonious chaos is all over, growing and flowering. Like a spontaneous painting that is informed by momentous tides. It makes for an immersive listening experience, one that is alive and forming around you. 

In tracks like ‘Going to the La La’ and ‘Hitch up My Pony’, you’ll sense a distinct Orleans feeling in the blues. It lifts up the track, floats around and folds around you, and exists just all over. And with asymmetric rhythms, you can really experience the freedom and liberties of these instrumental moments. ‘Eh La Bas’ and ‘My Little Snap Bean’ are accordion heavy with a slight, yet noticeable European feel. With swaying tangents and melodic notes, it gets to Euro American almost. 

Like this, the artist explores so many moods of blues. The ethos is not limited. All the artists have such a strong command over their craft that they’re able to let it be what it wants to be. And you can feel it as you’re listening. That’s what sets this listening experience apart. It takes you back to the legends. That ability to just enjoy and play. It’s special. Listen Now! 

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The album is available for streaming on popular sites like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music! 

You can listen to ‘My Little Snap Bean, Zydeco for Children’ by Johnette Downing here -