a995: Haitiando - music review (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Tttnhm@aol.com

Haitiando
Review by By Al Angeloro.

(Source: www.minirecords.com)


About 7 years ago, I invited "Haitiando" vocalist, Boulo Valcourt, to play
guitar with an Afro-Cuban band at a club in Manhattan.  His improvised solo
was so good that after a choral break they invited him to solo again.  It was
then that we spoke of doing someday a project called "Haitiando".  Since it
was to be simultaneously Haitian and Afro-Cuban, it would therefore be very
different from the salsa sound of New York, in whose performance, the band is
little more than background for the singer and the spaces for improvisation
and groove essential to African-Based dance music are taken out.

A few weeks ago I called Fred Paul to review his "Compas 2000" CD featuring
the soft and raspy voice of Boulo on an African-Compas track.  He then told
me about his nearly completed "Haitian-tinged" Cuban album, in Kreyol, with
lots of solos (sometimes two on the same track), by riffing 'charanga'
violins, guitars, tres, piano, trumpets and congas; the sweet 'son' or
Oriente Cuba, and vocals by Boulo Valcourt.  All it needed was a name.

Haiti and Cuba had a long and little known history of musical collaboration.
Two historical periods stand out and make up the essence of "Haitiando" In
the 1790's some French and Haitian musicians running from Haiti's war of
independence left Saint-Domingue to find refuge a few miles west of Cuba in
Oriente.  They brought with them the "Contredanse", and the
"Charanga-Fancese", a classical ensemble of flute, violins and timpani
percussion.  In the about 130 years it took to develop the modern Charnga,
the kettle drums were replaced by the Afro-Cuban rhythm section, and the
'Contredanse' flowed into the 'Danzon'.  Thanks to legendary musicians like
Antonio Romeau and flutist "Arcano y sus Maravillas" a charnga band that
included the Lopez brothers that included the Lopez brothers: Orestes on
Cello, and the living legend "Cachao" on bass, "Haitiando" was born.  They
kept the classical paseo introduction, and the slid into improvised "tail" of
mambo, cha-cha, and son-montuno, Cuba's sensous marriage of Spain and Africa.


In the 1920's Haitian migrant workers went to Oriente to cut sugar cane, and
this time they brought something back: the guitars, maracas, claves, bongos
and the sweet 'son' of artist like: Miguel Matamoros, Los Compadres, Compay
Segundo and Cheo Marguetti.  Haitian musician like "Etolies du Soir" and
"Coupè-Clouè" used it to create their 'son' drenched compas hybrids, and
country 'siwel' music. Throughout the years, and especially with the advent
of radio, Haitian musicians have kept an ear on Cuban music.  From their
'Contredanse", edged of Danzons like "Almendra", by big bands like
septentrionnal and Jazz des Jeunes, to original Afro-Cuban tracks by groups
like Frères Déjean and Los Diplomaticos de Haiti, the music of Cuba is no
stranger to Haiti.

"Haitiando" is the sum of all this and more.  In one CD you get the riffing
violin and flute-Charanga swing, and the sensuous guitar driven 'son' of
Oriente.  You can hear the influences of charangas like "Orq. Aragon" and
"America del 55", and the guitar and trumpet laden "Septeto Nacional" and
"Septeto Habanero", In short, it's a true look at Haiti's long and ongoing
experiences with Cuban music.  "Haitiando" keeps the "tipico-sabor', and
gives us a Haitian flavored taste of the music that enchanted people like
Coupè-Clouè.  This is music for the ear, imagination and soul, built from the
dance floor up.  Aside from Boulo's soul-full and plaintive vocals,
"Haitiando" Features some of the best Latino musicians to be found in Miami:
Guitarist Juanito Marquez, flutist Rene Lorente (Orquesta Aragon), and
Haitian pianist/arranger Eddie Prophete of Montreal.  Across-the board menu
of slick bolero and cha-cha, a riffing charanga 'groove'; and son-montuno, is
the work of producer Fred Paul.  His secret is to start arranging as soon as
he has the right vocalist in mind for the project and then ask him whether he
would want to participate.  Of course Boulo said Yes! As did all the other
talented musicians on this album.



_______________________________________________

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SEE THE HAITI SUPPORT GROUP WEB SITE:  <A
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The Haiti Support Group - solidarity with the Haitian people's struggle for
justice, participatory democracy and equitable development, since 1992.
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