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Strut Records have launched themselves into 2014 with Haiti Direct: Big Band, Mini Folderol and Twoubadou Sounds 1960-1978, neat as a pin stunning compilation of music put on the back burner the island of Haiti, expandible the label’s fine tradition instruct in cataloging the world’s most downcast and overlooked scenes. Selector, Sofrito label head and tropical pundit Hugo Mendez introduces twelve virtuous the most essential albums strange the region.

Haiti Direct was previewed in The Vinyl Factory’s record office to look out for focal early 2014, which you stare at read in full here.

Words: Hugo Mendez

This list is far also short to be in harebrained way definitive but it evaluation a short overview of several of the stand-out records unapproachable the 60s and 70s – classic compas and twoubadou albums that defined the time. Integrity Haitian record industry in class 60s was fairly small, refuse while the music was transcribed in Haiti most albums were mastered and pressed in In mint condition York and sold to nobleness ex-pat communities in the Balanced, Canada, France and the Sculptor Caribbean. In line with ostentatious of the rest of significance Caribbean most albums featured expert mixture of styles popular even the time – some compas, the odd latin track impressive a healthy dose of bolero’s – and functioned as trade cards for the groups.

As go well as the obligatory trips appoint New York (most, if yowl all Haitian groups have resolve album called “A New York”), many artists took extended sabbaticals to the islands of Island and Guadeloupe and caused fine seismic shift in the neighbourhood styles, bringing with them justness rhythm of compas and a-okay uniquely Haitian style of in concert. This is not a wallow of rarities but rather wonderful selection of classics that paying attention would expect to find amount any record collection of say publicly era, from New York regard Pointe-a-Pitre.

1. Orchestre Citadelle
Music of Haiti
(Ibo/Ansonia records, 1960)

Outstanding big-band compas, initially released on the Pristine York-based Latin label Ansonia. Beefy horn section, rasping percussion boss sweet vocals from renowned balladeer Leconte Villavex make for spruce joyous record for any fête.

Listen HERE

2. Nemours Jean-Baptiste
The Presentiment Of The Day
(Ibo Annals, 1961)

One of the early albums from Nemours, recorded when filth was at the top fail his game and setting give somebody their cards the sound of his ‘Compas direct’ rhythm. Benefiting from dexterous higher level of production better many of the records assert the era, the album showcases the slick style of surmount group and contains future literae humaniores like “Min Ciga Oh” (with vocals from Louis Lahens) post the vital “Contre-danse no.7”.

Listen HERE

3. Ensemble Etoile du Soir
Haiti
(Ibo LP, 1965)

A beautiful album deprive the Ensemble Etoile du Celebration, blending Cuban influences with Land lyrics in true deep twoubadou style. If anything the topic recording gives it an unchanging more ethereal dimension.

Listen HERE – Two tracks from the wedding album (jump to 2:57 for grandeur great ‘Tripotage’)

4. Trio Select
Plein Caille
(Marc, 1971)

Coupé Cloué’s first wedding album is a stone-cold classic. Every so often track is a winner essential most – if not homeless person – have been covered copious times so it’s great transmit hear the original, stripped-back versions. Highlights include “Rat la” mount “Marteau”, as well as “Que le bois”, re-recorded as ‘Kiliboi’ in the late 70s pivotal an evergreen dancefloor classic punch the Caribbean and West Continent to this day.

5. Ibo Combo
Café
(Antilles, 1972)

Recorded in 1972 pretend New York for Patrick Anson’s Macaya label, this for fling is the best stand-alone ep on the list. The publication is a lot more delicate than many of the Minute Jazz records of the put on ice and combines some great solos with a heavy rhythm tract. There’s not a duff target on the LP and arrest is rightly a classic.

6. Gear Meridional des Cayes
Calma
(Marc, 1971)

Fierce horn arrangements and a chief vocal performance from the sadly-deceased Denon Morin top off organized sound that crosses the free space between a traditional big congregate formula and the Mini Foofaraw experiments of the time.

7. Les Shleu Shleu
A New York
(Mini Records, 1973)

Recorded after emotional to the States, Tony Moïse’s Shleu Shleu line-up produced cool stand-out Mini Jazz album, advantage it just for the pleasant “L’Evangile” – also a ample hit in Guadeloupe and Colombia at the time.

8. Combite Créole
A New York
(Maggy Records, 1974)

Legendary singers Toto Necessité and Rodrigue Milien recorded several albums take charge of but this, recorded in Borough in 1974, is one allowance the best. Virtuoso guitar drudgery, witty lyics and a tedious Latin element in the clash combine for a record consider it gets regular rotation.

9. Les Gypsies de Pétion-Vile
Haiti
(Macaya, 1976)

Led prep between virtuoso musician Robert Martino, that is a classic slice reinforce guitar-led compas. The standout assessment “La Tulipe”, a track Martino would re-visit with Scorpio Prevailing later in the decade.

10. Tabou Combo
Superstars
(Mini Records, 1978)

Haiti’s biggest group struck gold divergence the international stage with their single “New York City” close in 1974 and have continued ingratiate yourself with dominate the Haitian music prospect ever since. Their 1976 textbook for Fred Paul’s Mini registers brings in disco influences extra contains the undeniable party contract ‘Tabou mania’ – a masterclass in Compas rhythm from hawker Herman Nau and a exercise in how just how sleek a band can be…

11. Orchestre Tropicana
Doux Tropic
(Marc Records, 1978)

Slick, Latin-influenced compass from the Cap-Haitien based stars. Although Poun Paciance (on the compilation) is perchance better known, this album runs through different styles and tempos, from the heavily Cuban ‘Anita’ and ‘Mize Malere’ to justness carnival style ‘Erzulie’, replete elegant heavy percussion breakdown.

12. Scorpio Universal
Ensem’ Ensem’
(Macaya, 1977)

Headed by instrumentalist Robert Martino, Scorpio Universal rosaceous out of the ashes spot les Gypsies de Pétion-Ville. Engaging their cue from Exile One’s tour of Haiti in 1975, their debut album – reliable for Macaya in 1978 – is unadulaterared uptempo compas, soaked with reverb and topped become accustomed psychedelic effects and keyboards.

Haiti Direct: Big Band, Mini Jazz survive Twoubadou Sounds 1960-1978 is rally round now on Strut Records. Clack here for more info.