I am excited to release My Little Snap Bean, Zydeco for Children today!
A rockin’ boogie on the bayou, My Little Snap Bean is a joyous celebration of childhood with a down home zydeco beat.
New Orleans culture bearer, children’s musician and author Johnette Downing and Lafayette zydeco legend and Grammy nominees Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas are veterans of Louisiana roots music, made by and for their respective communities and shared with the world at large. Their album My Little Snap Bean, Zydeco for Children embodies a true collaboration of authentic zydeco music made specifically for children. This multilingual album includes lyrics in English, Southwest Louisiana Creole (also known as “Kouri-Vini”), and Cajun French.
The idea for the project grew from the 40-year friendship of Nathan and co-producer, multi-Grammy winner, Scott Billington. Scott produced Nathan’s 1989 debut album, Steady Rock, for Rounder Records, followed by six more albums that established Nathan as among the leading Louisiana zydeco artists. Scott has occasionally toured as a member of the band.
Johnette, Nathan, and Scott had collaborated once before, when Nathan was a guest artist on Johnette’s Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween album for children. The synergy was natural and so exciting that the inspiration for a zydeco album for children was born.
The songs on the album are almost all originals, including three that are adaptions of Johnette’s books My Parrain is the Loup Garou, The Fifolet, and My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane, along with several that reach back to the earliest days of zydeco and the a cappella style known as juré. There is also the nod to Louisiana’s rich Creole traditions both in New Orleans and in Southwest Louisiana. The term Creole for this purpose is simplified to connote a mixture of cultures which gives Louisiana its unique and vibrant heritage. A free teacher talking points flyer for the album and the three books are available at johnettedowning.com.
Tracks
1) My Parrain is the Loup Garou
2) Going to the La La
3) Juré
4) My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane
5) The Fifolet
6) Hitch Up My Pony
7) Ready or Not
8) Pass It On
9) Eh La Bas
10) Loop de Loop
11) Give Me That Zydeco
12) My Little Snap Bean
The Musicians
Johnette Downing – Lead and harmony vocals, and ukulele
Nathan Williams – Accordion, lead vocal, and ensemble vocals
Dennis Paul Williams – Electric guitar and ensemble vocals
Allen Williams – Electric bass and ensemble vocals
D’Juan Francis – Rubboard, ensemble vocals, and body percussion
Keith Sonnier – Drums, ensemble vocals, and body percussion
Scott Billington – Harmonica, chromatic harmonica, harmony and ensemble vocals
Production Team
Produced by Scott Billington and Johnette Downing
Recorded by Justin Tocket at Dockside Studios, Maurice, Louisiana, December 2024-January 2025
Mixed by Steve Reynolds, Creede, Colorado
Mastered by Jeff Albert, Mandeville, Louisiana
Rights
Wiggle Worm Records, ASCAP, administered by Concord Music
Johnette Downing, Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Chas
Wiggle Worm Records, ASCAP, Administered by Concord Music Group
JD-13, (P) © 2026 Johnette Downing, www.johnettedowning.com
All Rights Reserved. Duplication is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from Johnette Downing, Wiggle Worm Records, PO Box 13367, New Orleans, LA 70185, USA
Music licensing through Concord Music Group.
Liner notes and lyrics available on this site under Listen and Lyrics.
This album was partially and generously funded by a grant from Threadhead Cultural Foundation.
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REVIEWS
“Always good to see one of our grants coming to fruition. Johnette Downing is a wonderfully talented musician, author, poet and ambassador of the culture of Louisiana! Through, in part, a grant in a past selection, Johnette is recording with Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas. This record is sure to capture the essence of Zydeco. Look forward to its completion.” – Dan Ring, founding member, Threadhead Cultural Foundation
”Multi award-winning New Orleans children's musician Johnette Downing and Grammy nominees Nathan Williams & The Zydeco Cha Chas present My Little Snap Bean: Zydeco for Children, an upbeat album that introduces the zydeco music genre to young listeners. Zydeco was originally created in rural Southwest Louisiana by French-speaking African-Americans of Creole heritage; the zydeco genre is known for its blend of rhythm & blues with types of Creole music such as la la and jure. Zydeco is especially known for its use of the accordion and the rubberboard (as a percussion instrument). My Little Snap Bean: Zydeco for Children features twelve lively songs; three are adaptations of Johnette Downing's "singable books"; others include adaptations of traditional Creole motifs and children's songs. Several songs feature lyrics in Cajun French and Southwest Louisiana Creole, in this delightful cultural celebration. Highly recommended! The tracks are My Parrain is the Loup Garou; Going to the La La; Jure; My Aunt Came Back from Louisiane; The Fifolet; Hitch Up My Pony; Ready or Not; Pass It On; Eh La Bas; Loop de Loop; Give Me That Zydeco; and My Little Snap Bean. 39 min.” —Midwest Book Review Bookwatch March 2026, The Music CD Shelf
”We can all use a little joyful music to pick us up, no matter our age. And what is more joyful than zydeco? Johnette Downing, Nathan Williams & The Zydeco Cha Chas present My Little Snap Bean: Zydeco For Children. Yes, it's a children's album. But also yes, you can absolutely enjoy this music regardless of how many times you've been around the sun. The album features original material, written or co-written by Johnette Downing, along with some traditional numbers adapted by Johnette Downing. The group is made up of Johnette Downing on vocals and ukulele, Nathan Williams on vocals and accordion, Dennis Paul Williams on electric guitar and backing vocals, Allen Williams on bass and backing vocals, D'Juan Francis on rubboard and backing vocals, Keith Sonnier on drums and backing vocals, Scott Billington on harmonica and backing vocals.
The album opens with "My Parrain Is The Loup Garou," which is also the title of a book that Johnette Downing wrote, a Cajun tale that was published in 2023. This song is a fun number, as you might have guessed from its title. Hey, we all have interesting characters in our families, I suppose. But if your godfather is a werewolf, I would be careful at family gatherings, although, as happens here, you'll probably have some grand adventures. The energy on this track is popping. I love that last section, when there is a cool change. This track ends with a howl. Why not? The loup garou should have his say, right That's followed by "Going To The La La." "Yeah, we're going to the la la, going to have some fun/Put on your dancing shoes, and lace 'em up real tight." Oh yes, it's another fun number. Well, most zydeco is fun, so what do you expect? This one was written by Johnette Downing, Scott Billington and Nathan Williams. It features some great stuff on accordion, plus some delicious work on harmonica. "We're going to the la la, it's a happy place." Well, then that's where we all need to go. Enough of this misery, let's enjoy ourselves.
"Juré" begins with a beat, including some clapping, and you immediately want to join. So go right ahead. This song features some seriously good drumming throughout. I'm also digging that harmonica. Clearly we are in that happy place, because everything sounds cheerful, everything sounds good. Apparently, this is an older song, here presented with some different lyrics. There is also a very cool lead on guitar in the second half. This one ends as it began. It's followed by "My Aunt Came Back From Louisiane." It is a delightful number, though I have to say it still rubs me the wrong way when people pronounce "aunt" like "ant." I mean, do they pronounce "haunt" like "hant" and "gaunt" like "gant" and "flaunt" like "flant"? No! So cut that "ant" nonsense out! By the way, this song is also a title to a children's book written by Johnette Downing. This song is one to get everyone dancing.
"The Fifolet" is also the title of a children's book by Johnette Downing. Kids are going to learn a few new words listening to this album (unless, of course, they've already read the books). A fifolet is a sort of will-o'-the-wisp type thing found in the swamps of Louisiana. This track has an appropriately haunted type of vibe, and features a wonderful vocal performance. "It will tease and coax you and draw you near/But all the Cajuns know that you'd better beware." This is one of my personal favorites. There is a seriously cool sound and atmosphere to this song, and the accordion seems to want to dance with that light. Why not? Then "Hitch Up My Pony" is so ridiculously cheerful that I find myself laughing almost immediately, a surprised kind of joy taking me over as soon as the vocals come in. This song has a beat that might have you dancing, and it also contains some really nice work on accordion. "Kick up the music, gonna start up the dancing/And everything's gonna be just fine." I don't doubt it. That bass line makes it certain.
"Ready Or Not" is a song about a game of hide and seek. Having heard this song, now I think whenever the game is played, instead of calling out "Ready or not, here I come," you should sing that line as is done here. Come on, you know the game will be all the more fun if you do it. I love the way Johnette Downing delivers the line here. And if you can coerce some accordion player to accompany your game, all the better. That's followed by "Pass It On," one of those songs that kids love singing. It's easy to slip in a new lyric whenever one is needed. You can keep these songs going forever if you want. But here I don't care all that much about the lyrics. It's the music that makes me happy, that good, prominent work on accordion and that great guitar work underneath it. In fact, it's the guitar work that I love most about this particular track. "It makes you warm and fuzzy, pass it on."
"Eh La Bas" is a traditional New Orleans number, here with a new adaptation by Johnette Downing. And, yes, everything is delicious about this track. I am particularly fond of the beat. And the vocal performances are delightful. Plus, the lead on accordion has a great energy. And to top it off, there is a cha cha cha ending. That's followed by "Loop De Loop," a variation on the "Hokey Pokey" theme, but, of course, much cooler because it has that zydeco feel and includes a good lead on accordion. Okay, I know you are all shaking a little while listening. You can't help it, it's okay. I can't help but love the section that is just vocals and percussion. I was probably programmed in my youth to love that because it was in so, so many songs at that time.
The pace increases on "Give Me That Zydeco." Just try to stay still while this song is playing. If you need a song to tire out the kids (or yourself), here it is. It contains some fantastic stuff on harmonica, calling us all to celebrate. This track is so much fun, and is another of the disc's highlights. The band then wraps up the album with its title track, "My Little Snap Bean." This is another traditional number, with some additional lyrics by Johnette Downing. It's all about the beat. So, yes, be prepared to dance, to shake. "If you'll do me the honor/I'd like to dance with you." — Michael Doherty’s Music Log
