A little five-year-old voice jumps out at the beginning of cut number five of Keith Frank’s new CD, Going To See Keith Frank, on Soulwood Records. The tiny voice belongs to Zion, the bright-eyed, curly haired son of Jennifer Frank, Keith’s sister and bass player in the Soileau Zydeco Band.

Fans at fairs and festivals have seen Zion dance and ham it up on stage with the band. The song on Frank’s new CD, “Julie and Zion,” is named after him and fellow dancer, eight-year-old Julie Caesar, Jennifer’s godchild.

Zion’s energy on record and stage gives no indication of the troubles he’s seen. Zion was diagnosed at six months with Hyper IgM Syndrome, a rare blood disease that weakens his immune system. He was diagnosed at six months during a battle with pneumonia and other infections.

A special IV he receives every two weeks at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans boosts his immunity, but a serious illness could end his life at any time. His best hope is a stem cell transplant. The band has been selling calendars at its dances to raise money for Zion’s medical costs. For more information, see the Zion’s Fund page at www.keithfrank.com.

Zion’s CD debut is just one of the highlights of Frank’s new disc, which is already my candidate for zydeco CD of the year. I know seven months remain in 2005, but we’ll be hard pressed to find a zydeco CD with more variety and one that is more entertaining from start to finish.

I’ve been constantly humming to “Keep on Trucking,” a dance number that is really a sad song about the troubles and eventual triumph after a nasty break-up. Imagine that, a zydeco song with real lyrics that actually tell a story and you can still dance to it. Though rare, such tunes do exist and Frank’s new CD is full of them.

I get most of the new zydeco CDs that come out. There are some exceptions, but most are filled with one-liners disguised as lyrics, repetitive notes, yells and screams and covers of Boozoo Chavis and Clifton Chenier classics.

Song 1 sounds like song 5, which is the same as song 11. (Don’t point fingers, Cajun music fans. If I had a dollar for every cover of “Jolie Blonde,” “Lacassine Special,” “Back Door” and other standards that have been recorded to death, I could retire).

So when something really fresh comes along, I get excited. Frank’s 20-song CD has 15 originals with fresh arrangements that include real lyrics, background vocals, even a couple of selections with saxophone (Ricky Julien, Sr.), trombone (Lawmax Williams) and keyboards.

The five covers include John Delafose’s “Lake Charles Two Step,” “Work That Coochie” by Rockin’ Sidney, the Meters-inspired “Shake It Down (Survivor Remix),” “Nine Pound Steel” from R&B great Joe Simon and Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up.”

These are familiar songs that are still fun since they haven’t died from repetition. Plus, when’s the last time you heard a zydeco band cover Curtis Mayfield? Probably never, but the song indicates the chances Frank takes on this CD. Frank even does a medley featuring flamenco, the guitar music and dance from southern Spain, which also has roots in Indian, Arabic and Spanish cultures.

So Frank takes plenty of chances and remarkably, they work well. So if you’re tired of the same old same old in zydeco, check out the new Keith Frank. Perhaps Frank’s CD is the sign of a zydeco renaissance, a move sparked last year by Curley Taylor and continuing with forthcoming CDs from Chris Ardoin, J. Paul and others. Get those dancing shoes ready.

CYCLE ZYDECO

Like to mix your zydeco with cycling and sightseeing? Then the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission has a treat for your eyes and feet. LCVC holds its first-ever fall Cycle Zydeco tour, set for October 7-14.

The ride features numerous stops of live music, dancing, dinner and more at attractions throughout south Louisiana. The fall trip is a response to overwhelming participation in the spring Cycle Zydeco, which kicked off its fourth-straight year March 31 in Lafayette. A record 350 riders from 39 states and two countries participated in the four-day, 200-mile tour of southwest Louisiana’s Cajun-Creole belt known as Acadiana.

Cyclists experienced the region’s music, food and culture through stops for jalapeno bread and boudin at Bourque’s Supermarket in Port Barre, antiques shopping in Washington, Cajun music dancing in Mamou, a crawfish boil in Eunice and more. Each night ended with dancing and live music with artists like the Creole Cowboys, Junior Melancon and the Come Down Playboys and Matthew Courvilleand family.

LCVC director Gerald Breaux said a fall tour is an answer to event’s high demand and numerous return visitors.

“We’ve maxed out,” said Breaux. “We can’t have more than 350 riders, so we’re going to add a second ride in October. “We’re so pleased to be offering this. It’s an opportunity to bring some people into Lafayette and Acadiana that might not be coming here.”

For more information on Cycle Zydeco, call (800) 346-1958 or visit www.cyclezydeco.com.

CRAWFISH FESTIVAL

If you ever had to chose between attending the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, you won’t have that worry this year. Jazz Fest and the Breaux Bridge bash usually conflict on the first weekend in May.

But this year’s early Jazz Fest dates offer a chance to come to Breaux Bridge May 6-8 for the Crawfish Festival. This event attracts thousands for three days of Cajun music, zydeco and swamp pop on three stages, along with dance contests and offerings of all things crawfish—eating contests, races, an etoufee cook-off and more.

Festival admission is $5 on May 6 or 8, $10 on May 7 or $15 for a three-day pass.

The live music schedule includes:

May 6: Breaux Bridge Tent: 8-11 p.m.: Lafayette Rhythm Devils. Crawfish Stage: 5:30-7:30 p.m. T-Salé; 7:45-9:45 p.m. Roddie Romero; 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Rosie Ledet. Festival Stage: 5:15-7 p.m. Basin Brothers; 7:15-9:15 p.m. Travis Matte; 9:30 -11:30 p.m. Steve Riley.

May 7: Breaux Bridge Tent: 11:30-12:30 p.m. Preston Frank and Sons; 4:15-5:15 p.m. Lucky Playboys; 7-10 p.m. Step Rideau. Crawfish Stage: 10:-11:30 a.m. Zydeco Joe; 11:45-1:15 p.m. Cedric Watson and Jeffery Broussard; 1:30-3 p.m. Kevin Naquin; 3:30-5:15 p.m. Feu Follet; 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jamie Bergeron; 7:45-9:45 p.m. Jr. Melancon; 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas. Festival Stage: 10:15-11:45 a.m. Jambalaya; 12-1:30 p.m. Huval Family Band; 1:45-3:15 p.m. Hunter Hayes; 3:30-5 p.m. Keith Frank; 5:15-7 p.m. Curley Taylor; 7:15-9:15 p.m. Horace Trahan; 9:30-11:30 p.m. Lil Band O’ Gold.

May 8: Breaux Bridge Tent: 12:30-3:30 p.m. Helen Boudreaux avec Cajun Aces; 9-10:30 a.m. Danny Collet; 10:45-12:15 p.m. Lil’ Nathan; 12:30-2 p.m. D.L. Menard; 2:15- 4 p.m. Dexter Ardoin. Festival Stage: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Walter Mouton; 12:15-1:45 p.m. Racine; 2-4 p.m. Bluerunners.

For more information, call (337) 332-6655 or visit www.bbcrawfest.com.