Members of Balfa Toujours
Christine Balfa is the youngest of Dewey Balfa's four daughters. She grew up surrounded by the music of the Balfa Brothers. While still a teenager, she began playing triangle with her father and accompanied him across the country and to Europe. She plays guitar and is the primary vocalist in Balfa Toujours. Her guitar style is very close to that of her uncle, Rodney Balfa, who was famous for his driving rhythm. Her singing style is full of the raw emotion that enables the best Cajun singers to communicate powerful feelings directly to their listeners whether or not they can understand the French lyrics. She also collaborates on many of the heartfelt original songs that the group has written.
Dirk Powell, Christine's husband, plays accordion in Balfa Toujours. He also plays second fiddle when the group performs the twin fiddle music that is such a large part of the Balfa Brothers musical legacy. Dirk is an expressive, solid accordionist, a fact that was reinforced by his first place title at the Mulates Annual Accordion Contest in July, 1994. He is known internationally for his performance in other styles of music as well. His own release of Appalachian music on Rounder called "If I Go Ten Thousand Miles," resulted his being selected to play the banjo and fiddle parts in Ang Lee's upcoming movie "Ride with the Devil." Dirk and Tim O'Brien recently released an album "Songs From the Mountain," with music from the novel "Cold Mountain." He has played traditional music professionally since his teens.
Kevin Wimmer, who plays lead fiddle in Balfa Toujours, has been playing music since early childhood. When he first heard Dewey Balfa, he fell in love with the Cajun fiddle and very quickly became a master of it. He spent a great deal of time playing with Dewey and learning the music firsthand. Kevin's skill on the fiddle has led him to record with some of the most successful groups in the United States, most recently collaborating with swing guitarist Tom Mitchell on the album "Double Scotch." He has an enormous range of expression on his instrument from the mournful cries of the lovesick waltzes through the joyous two-steps and on into the sassy, smokey blues. He is considered by many to be the finest fiddler playing Cajun music today.
The message and purpose of Balfa Toujours has been strengthened to an incalcuable degree by the addition of 18-year-old Courtney Granger, great-nephew of the Balfa Brothers, to the group. Courtney's expressive fiddling, solid bass playing and emotional singing style have already earned him a solo record contract with Rounder Records. He is literally the next generation in the Cajun tradition and adds musical soulfulness and power that belie his years. With tha addition of Courtney, Balfa Toujours has taken another step in attaining the goal stated by Dewey Balfa years ago.
With these core members, Balfa Toujours delivers the unabashed, soulful spirit of Cajun music. They also expand the group for many performances, adding the traditional percussion of the triangle or the dance-hall rhythm of the drums. Musicians such as Todd Aucoin, Craig Guillory, Nelda Balfa and Burkeman Balfa, the last of the original Balfa Brothers, are part of the extended family that often give Balfa Toujours that big band sound. They are all gifted musicians in their own right, known around the world for their mastery of Cajun music.
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This site created and maintained by Kevin Wimmer (kwimmer@aol.com).
Copyright 1998 Kevin Wimmer and Balfa Toujours. All rights reserved.
Last updated 7/20/00.
