Review from OffBeat Magazine (by Dan Willging):
Despite its perplexing black skillet cover, Black Pot is Chubby Carrier's most unusual and selfless release of his extensive discography. Admittedly, he didn't have enough material to head back into the studio, but Bayou Swamp Band drummer Jayme Romain did, hence an album of all Romain originals. As a result, most of this is radically different from anything Carrier has ever waxed but better positions him in the contemporary zydeco market.
The first two tracks, the infectiously festive "Blackpot" and the slaying funky grooves of "No Time," are absolutely killer. Romain handles the lion's share of vocals with Carrier singing on only four tracks. Romain often exudes charisma with his originals touching various shades of modern zydeco, like the R&B-tinged "The Reason Why" with its R&B background vocals and the Temptations-recalling "Nothing Like My Girl." A few tunes are classic enough to fit Carrier like a glove.
Obviously, Carrier isn't the uptight control freak. On the breezy, soulish "Who You," bassman Randall Jackson plays the smaller, single-row squeezebox, as opposed to Carrier's beefy triple-row variety, for a change-up in sound. "Dancing with a Feeling" is novel when you realize both Carrier's triple and Jackson's single-row accordions are on the same track, which is practically unheard of.
By the time "Offshore Shuffle" rolls around, it all makes sense. It's a tribute to Carrier's late father/accordionist Roy who, for years, hosted Thursday night jams at his Offshore Lounge that helped many budding accordionists, like Beau Jocque, on their way. In a way, this is an extension of that.
https://www.offbeat.com/music/chubby-carrier-black-pot/
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Resena de OffBeat Magazine (por Dan Willging):
A pesar de su desconcertante portada con una sarten negra, Black Pot es el lanzamiento mas inusual y desinteresado de Chubby Carrier en su extensa discografia. Reconocidamente, no tenia suficiente material para volver al estudio, pero el baterista de Bayou Swamp Band, Jayme Romain, si lo tenia, de ahi un album de originales compuestos enteramente por Romain. Como resultado, la mayor parte de esto es radicalmente diferente a cualquier cosa que Carrier haya grabado, pero lo posiciona mejor en el mercado del zydeco contemporaneo.
Los dos primeros temas, el "Blackpot" festivamente infeccioso y los devastadores grooves funky de "No Time," son absolutamente demoledores. Romain lleva la mayor parte de las voces, con Carrier cantando en solo cuatro temas. Romain a menudo irradia carisma con sus originales que tocan varios matices del zydeco moderno, como el "The Reason Why" con tinte R&B con sus coros de fondo y el "Nothing Like My Girl" que recuerda a The Temptations. Algunos temas son suficientemente clasicos para encajarle a Carrier como un guante.
Obviamente, Carrier no es el maniaco del control. En el "Who You" relajado y con alma, el bajista Randall Jackson toca el acordeon mas pequeno de una sola hilera, en contraste con la robusta variedad de triple hilera de Carrier, para un cambio de sonido. "Dancing with a Feeling" es novedoso cuando te das cuenta de que tanto el triple de Carrier como el acordeon de una sola hilera de Jackson estan en el mismo tema, lo que es practicamente inaudito.
Cuando llega "Offshore Shuffle," todo tiene sentido. Es un tributo al fallecido padre/acordeonista Roy de Carrier, quien durante anos organizo los jams de los jueves por la noche en su Offshore Lounge, que ayudo a muchos acordeonistas en ciernes, como Beau Jocque, en su camino. En cierto modo, esto es una extension de aquello.
https://www.offbeat.com/music/chubby-carrier-black-pot/
