Lil' Jim is an 18 year old, 6'5", guy. He has grown up with Cajun and Zydeco music through his father, Beeds, formerly R. Cajuns harmonica player and vocalist for more than 20 years. Jim first learnt to play the harmonica at 3 years old and would jam to his favourite Cajun songs. Along the way, he also taught himself Cajun accordion, guitar, bass and drums and Jim is now learning cajun fiddle. He has always loved Cajun and Zydeco music and like youngsters growing up with the music all around them in Louisiana it seems natural that Lil Jim should now be playing himself.

 

Seven years ago Chris Hall of RCajun lent 11 year old Jim an accordion in the key of C. He practised every spare minute, and that is exactly what he has been doing until this present day. Jim taught himself by listening to records then played along until he had the basic tune then added the 'cajun flavour'. While going to numerous Cajun and Zydeco gigs, Jim picked up on little licks and tricks performed by accordionists. He also had the privilege of meeting and having a one-to-one lesson with his accordion hero, Steve Riley a few years ago when he was playing in Derby

 

Jim has stood in with well known bands such as: R. Cajun and the Zydeco Brothers, The Bearcats, Zydecomotion, Fur and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. The big test for Jim came on January 26th 2002 , where he played a cameo spot on the main stage at Gloucester International Cajun & Zydeco Festival. He took the audience by surprise, and after the first number they exploded in applause. Jim was immediately booked for the following year as an hour show on January 25th 2003 . Again, he went down extremely well with the crowd. And he returned in 2005 as Lil Jim and Deepzone Zydeco.

 

Among all his musical achievements, Jim is most proud of his article in Cajun Life and Times magazine (issue 28, april-june 2002, page 12) Lil' Jim plans soon to form a Zydeco band with people more his own age, in the hope they can influence younger people to start new, fresh bands to help keep the Cajun and Zydeco flame alive here in Britain. Meanwhile he is playing with some of the most experienced musicians in the country as Lil Jim Deepzone Zydeco with Chris Hall on bass, Mitch Proctor on guitar, Sam Murray on rubboard and Andy McAllister on drums

 

For awhile, Jim got caught in the black hole of heavy metal and thrash. Cajun and Zydeco got sidelined for Marilyn Manson, Ozzy Osbourne and System of a Down. Jim put down the accordion and picked up the electric guitar, turning up the distortion and volume to full blast. This 'gothic' phase lasted for a couple of years until Jim cleaned off the make-up and went back to his roots. The very music he had grown up with and loved, Cajun and Zydeco.

 

Jim's biggest Cajun influence and hero is Steve Riley. He had always wanted to meet him after receiving his first Steve Riley album, La Toussaint. But, this dream came true for Jim with the aforementioned accordion lesson. That day meant the world to Jim because, there he was face-to-face with STEVE RILEY!! If it wasn't enough just to meet his hero, he got the chance to play with the very band he had listened to on CD's, The Mamou Playboys. Anyone who attended Gloucester Cajun and Zydeco Festival 2003 will remember the storming show they put on that night, and Lil' Jim was a part of that. Jim remembers the words he said after getting off stage in shock to Hazel Scott ,
"Did I just play with the Mamou Playboys?" The one dream that Jim had wished to come true really did and left him with a beaming smile from ear to ear for the rest of the festival. Jim now believes in the saying 'Dreams come true'

 

Jim has yet to meet his zydeco heroes. People like Keith Frank and Geno Delafose are still just pictures on cd sleeves to Jim but it won't be long before he gets to meet them as festivals all over Europe are already picking up on Lil Jim. In 2006 he has so far played Gloucester Festival in the UK, Ameland Cajun and Zydeco festival In Holland and the Saulieu Cajun and Zydeco Festival in France plus many other uk festivals and clubs.

 

Here's what people in the know are saying about Lil Jim

 

"His choice of music is very danceable, his singing of superior quality and the way he handles his accordion with triplets, runs, and a certain soft caring sweetness at times that I haven't heard often makes his group prime for more work and acclaim. He is only 17 now but on his way up" Gary Hayman

 

" Lil' Jim looks set to be the biggest Cajun/artist the UK has produced for some time. At 12 years old he made his first studio recording with R. Cajun and the Zydeco Brothers. Then he disappeared into the world of metal mayhem and thrash for two years and emerged at 14 to play a cameo spot at Gloucester Cajun and Zydeco Festival. By popular demand he was immediately told he had no option but to prepare for his own main stage slot in 2003 where he caused a sensation with unbelievably authentic renditions of songs by artists like Keith Frank and Steve Riley. Another period of self imposed exile ensued and everyone assumed Lil' Jim had been lost to the darkside world of his overdriven guitar gurus. However he now emerges phoenix like at 17 years old; a 6'5" colossus ready to take hold of the music of the Louisiana Bayous and drag it kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The Future of Cajun and Zydeco music in the UK has arrived and behold his name is Lil' Jim " Chris Hall

 

Lil Jim and Deepzone Zydeco

 

Lil Jim and Deepzone Zydeco are fronted by Lil Jim the 18 year old UK accordion maestro who is backed up by members of Rcajun And The Zydeco Brothers and Zydecomotion. They play hardcore Zydeco and driving cajun. A powerful musical style from the black French speaking world of Louisiana . Jim's Zydeco heroes are musicians like Keith Frank and Geno Delafose. When Jim plays its not hard to imagine being in a downhome dancehall on the bayou on a Saturday night with the smell of crawfish hanging in the air and a cold bud at your side. This is Zydeco music as good as it gets from a young guy who knows how to rock!