Various Artists - Rough Guide to the Music of Haiti

Category: Music

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You couldn't wish for a better musical guide to strife-torn tropical places than Andy Kershaw, and his new compilation The Rough Guide to the Music of Haiti hits the bull's-eye. Indeed, one of the nicest tracks comes not from some other album, but from the recording Kershaw made with his BBC producer Roger Short--a sweetly down-home number recorded at the house of pintsized twoubadou singer Ti Coca. There might not be authentic voodoo music on this disc--for that you need a copy of Angels in the Mirror--and the late, great Haitian diva Toto Bissainthe is sadly absent, but what you do find here is marvelous. Compas is the name of Haiti's most characteristic sound, and it's represented on this album by a variety of different combos, including the shadowy DP Express. Also featured is the convivial warmth of Coupé Cloué, the high-pressure rap of Masters of Haiti, and the Cuban-influenced Haitiando and Orchestre Tropicana. Most interesting are the plunges into the past with Nemours Jean-Baptiste and Lebanese bandleader Issa el Saieh. The whole point about this politically blighted but musically blessed island is that its music comes at you from many angles, not only from Cuba but from the Congo, Dominica, Brooklyn, and punk U.K., and that it all gets whipped up into the most exhilarating brew. --Michael Church

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Customer Reviews

Review by DW_218, 2002-09-18

Its very sad that Haiti gets such a bad name. Unfortunately, it is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. But, there is so much more to this country. It has gorgeous weather all year round, is rich in beautiful music, art, and delicious food!! Delicoso!! This cd is a great overview of what so many people are missing out on. I live in NY, where there is a huge Haitian immigrant population. So, I know very well the beauty of this culture. This cd features Konpa(Haitian Dance Music, compas direct- which is a combination of Konpa and merengue from the neighboring country of the Domincan Republic, cuban son, jazz, troubadors, racine( roots music connected to the voodoo religion, and even rap!! Boukman Eksperyans is a popular racine group, which can be considered like the Bob Marley of Haiti. They speak of politics, and fighting all the problems of the country, and the world. Tabou Combo is a band that's been around over 30 years, still producing great Konpa music! Le Roi Coupe Cloue is featured as well. He is considered the king of Konpa and had been producing music for over 30 years as well. The unofficial National Anthem is featured, "Ayiti Cherie." If you know any Haitan or French-Speaking people, you know that, "cherie," is a very common word used in their culture. It means, "darling."
My only gripe with this cd is that Emeline Michel is not featured.:( She is the Haitian Queen of Creole song.
But, this is a necessity for world music lovers!! If you like this, I suggest you also pick up The Rough Guide To Congolese Soukous. I believe Martinican zouk, Haitan Konpa, and Congolese Soukous have a similar sound. They make you want to dance! Go Haiti!!