On his previous release, Nothin’ But the Best, Corey Ledet vowed to stop succumbing to popular demand and be comfortable in his own skin. Think of Destiny as an extension of that. He’s rooted in tradition (“Tip Top Two-Step,” “All Night Long”) but comfortable enough to innovate tastefully. Several tracks find him jammin’ on keys in addition to his arsenal of accordions for an effect like pouring gasoline on an already raging fire. He can slow it down and emote such as on the Sam and Dave classic ballad “When Something Is Wrong with My Baby” that shows remarkable growth as a vocalist. Along with “Something…” and a perky rendition of Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel,” Ledet plans on surprising listeners more by zydeco-ising otherwise unlikely selections from beyond the fiefdom.

Still, his ability to burn a hot one at the drop of a hat remains intact. On the high flyin’ “Corey’s Breakdown,” he kicks off with the small diatonic, then switches to the piano note as the group, which includes bassist Morris Ledet and the legendary Paul “Lil Buck” Senegal, hits its funky groove. Right before the song blasts down, Ledet delivers a brief-but-bold rap: “… all the imitators will never get it right!” in a proclamation totally contrary to his otherwise modest demeanor. On the comparably torrid “I Can’t Believe,” he marvels at his own success, not being a byproduct of any Louisiana family band legacy but a Texas Creole transplant with enough talent and perseverance to make it stick. Now that’s destiny.