Canada's One and Only Zydeco Band

The driving force behind MOJO ZYDECO, Randy has, in his words, been 'Zydefied'. Initiated to the stage through a series of Rock bands and Folk music projects, he has found his calling in Zydeco music. Co-founder of the successful blues band The Caboose, he has honed his song writing and performance skills since that bands inception in 1997. Driven by forces unclear to Randy himself, this bandleader has propelled MOJO ZYDECO very far in a very short time span. Resolved to establish a Canadian Zydeco band after a trip to New Orleans in 2001, Randy has carefully assembled the most eclectic group of performers to share in the realization of his dream. Only eight months after the bands' inception, Randy had secured bookings both in Vancouver and two of the most established Zydeco rooms in Louisiana- the Rock'n Bowl and Le Bon Temps Roule. Housing what must surely be Vancouver's definitive Zydeco CD collection, Randy's home is the birthplace and rehearsal space for MOJO ZYDECO. The application of his song writing skills to the Zydeco format has given, to date, over 12 original songs from this unique band. There is no limit to the vision Randy has for his band, and he hopes one day the band will represent an important contribution to the spirit and recognition of Zydeco.

Jack Velker

Accordion, Organ and Backing Vocals

Extensive live performances on four continents in venues ranging from intimate piano lounges, cabarets, five-star hotels, international festivals to special events, premier pianist and entertainer extraordinaire Jack Velker has performed with a wide array of celebrated artists including Boz Scaggs, Colin James, Charlie Musslewhite etc. He has opened for Ray Charles, Paul Revere, Vanilla Fudge and the Great Dizzie Gillespie. He has been involved in the production of over 40 albums and his compositions have been broadcast from coast to coast on CBC and independent radio stations. Choreographers throughout Canada as well as Mainland China have featured his works. He has arranged for jazz, classical and experimental ensembles concert and rock bands. He has worked as musical director and composer for numerous large live performances including Ethno-Fusion, his 20-piece professional and international orchestra, and has appeared on a regular basis at The Commodore with his 10-piece all-star band, The Ambassadors. He has toured Europe's main festivals with Amos Garrett, and recently worked on a CD in Prague. He has toured with the Elvis Review, and performs extensively throughout Western Canada. Jack has found in Zydeco music an honest expression of his vibrant and indomitable spirit.

Dave Clairmont

Bass and Backing Vocals

Bassist with Group Therapy- a jazz-rock fusion band that performed extensively at all the principal venues in the Greater Vancouver area from the mid '80's to the mid '90's including the Commodore Ballroom, The Railway Club, '86 Street, as well as receiving wide radio and television exposure. Dave was privileged to study with bassist Bob Magnusson (jazz recording artist who performed with Buddy Rich) and Gary Willis, who performed with The Allan Holdsworth Band and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. In 1978-79 Dave first performed with an American band called A Touch of Class and later on with Phoenix. He was awarded a Canada Council grant to further his studies in Hollywood at The Bass Institute. He has been recorded on Cascadia, produced by Bill Buckingham for Kathryn Wahamaa , as well as Anna Mae and the May Knots and The Caboose of which he has been a member since the bands' inception. In collaboration with Luthier Paul Iverson, he designed a unique 6-string fretless bass so as to explore the possibility of extending the range of the instrument. Of Acadian decent, Dave feels the pull of Zydeco deep within him, and provides MOJO ZYDECO a solid bottom-end foundation on which to build.

Jane Carnahan-Schultz

Rubboard and Backing Vocals

A charismatic and magnetic personality who radiates a passion for life, Jane was introduced to the high-energy Creole rhythms while traveling to New Orleans for vacation. A born dancer, Jane took to Zydeco as naturally as a moth to the flame. Having no experience with an instrument unique to Vancouver, Jane was free to express herself through the instrument. While playing at in New Orleans in March of 2002, Jane was honored to be invited on stage by the Great Rock'n Dopsie, the number one rubboard player in the area. So affected was Mr. Dopsie, that he vowed to send her his own custom-made bottle openers used to play the rubboard. On a recent tour of the Pacific Northwest at Vancouver's Yale Hotel, Rosie Ledet and her band also invited Jane to stand in; resulting in a powerful exchange of Zydeco between this great Louisiana band and MOJO ZYDECO. Jane has also played in Seattle as part of this area's vibrant Zydeco scene.

Martin Eade

Drums and Backing Vocals

Born and raised in Vancouver, Martin started drum lessons at the age of seven. Hardly a year passed when he was recruited as snare drummer by the White Spot Junior Pipe Band. For a period of seven years, he toured Canada performing at parades and special events. Among his mentors is Ray Ayotte- founder of Ayotte Drums, who introduced him to a broad array of drumming styles. Throughout the '80's and early '90's, Martin performed with top 40s, funk, and Rock & Roll bands including Getaway, a seven-piece band featured at the Commodore, the Town Pump, '86 Street and other local venues. Getaway was featured in the film entitled Star '80, directed by Bob Fosse (relating the tragic tale of Playboy magazine playmate Dorothy Straton) From 1992-1198 he joined forces with Idiot Savant, a band that strictly featured original work. The bands' debut CD received extensive airplay on college radio stations in Canada and the U.S.A. Martin's extensive drumming experience has given him the ability to understand what is required to lay down the Zydeco groove. A man of good taste and wise investment he continues to play a vintage Sonor drum kit which he purchased new a very long time ago.

ABOUT THE BAND

In March of 2001 some of the soon to be members of Mojo Zydeco took a vacation in New Orleans. At that time none of us really knew much about Zydeco, but thought we'd check into it while we were down in Louisiana. We had the great fortune of staying with a couple who were very in tune with the social scene in New Orleans, including Zydeco. Upon picking us up at the airport and me mentioning that we had an interest in finding out about Zydeco, our friend said: "Oh, well in that case I hope y'all not too tired from the flight, 'cause we're gonna take y'all down to the Rockin' Bowl. "The what?" I said. Our friend explained: "it's one of THE Zydeco clubs in New Orleans." So off we went. Well, we arrived, and I can tell you that it was one of the more profound experiences of my life! The Rockin' Bowl is a bowling alley, a bar and two dance halls, all under one roof. On this particular night Rosie Ledet was playing downstairs and Rockin' Dopsie was upstairs. The stairs at the Rockin Bowl are long and steep, and I was running back and forth, up and down those stairs all night long, trying not to miss anything! It was on the drive back to where we were staying that I knew that I'd be putting a Zydeco band together. I was hooked.

Two months after our return from Louisiana, Mojo Zydeco was born. Using the twenty odd Zydeco CDs we'd bought while down south, I picked twelve tunes by my newly found heroes- Rosie, Dopsie, Beau Jocque, and others. In our basement we first laid the Zydeco groove down. With my wife Jane on the rubboard, Martin Eade on drums, Dave Clairmont on Bass, Jack Velker on accordion and I on guitar and locals, we learned those tunes until we could play them backwards. Our first gig was in August of 2001, just three months after we first started playing Zydeco. A local outdoor festival provided the test ground for Mojo Zydeco. We were booked onto the main stage and at 6:30 PM we let them have it! After 45 minutes we left them cheering and chanting "Zydeco".

A lot has happened to us since that first gig. We cut a demo CD, produced a promotional package and became listed with the better booking agencies in Vancouver. We have expanded our song list to include over 50 Zydeco songs, including ones that we've written ourselves. We've played many local venues, both private and public and seem to pick up new friends everywhere we go. In March of 2002 the band went to New Orleans where we were booked into some of the local Zydeco venues, including the legendary Rockin' Bowl. Our trip was a thrill for us and we were privileged to meet and play with some of the Zydeco greats including Rockin' Dopsie, Rosie Ledet, Chris Ardion, Keith Frank, Paul Senegal, Sunpie and others. All the players were gracious and encouraging, going out of their way to support this crazy little Zydeco band all the way from Western Canada. Our trip to Lafayette ended with me ordering a custom diatonic accordion from Martin Accordions- a Zydeco hot rod with special tuning and electronic pick-up.

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