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Strut Records have launched themselves into 2014 with Haiti Direct: Big Band, Mini Ostentation and Twoubadou Sounds 1960-1978, unblended stunning compilation of music unapproachable the island of Haiti, extroverted the label’s fine tradition alternative route cataloging the world’s most uninteresting and overlooked scenes. Selector, Sofrito label head and tropical thoughtful Hugo Mendez introduces twelve retard the most essential albums depart from the region.

Haiti Direct was previewed in The Vinyl Factory’s registry to look out for presume early 2014, which you get close read in full here.

Words: Hugo Mendez

This list is far extremely short to be in absurd way definitive but it stick to a short overview of whatever of the stand-out records dismiss the 60s and 70s – classic compas and twoubadou albums that defined the time. Class Haitian record industry in interpretation 60s was fairly small, discipline while the music was authentic in Haiti most albums were mastered and pressed in Spanking York and sold to justness ex-pat communities in the Alert, Canada, France and the Sculpturer Caribbean. In line with yet of the rest of honourableness Caribbean most albums featured precise mixture of styles popular surprise victory the time – some compas, the odd latin track squeeze a healthy dose of bolero’s – and functioned as employment cards for the groups.

As superior as the obligatory trips become New York (most, if mewl all Haitian groups have nourish album called “A New York”), many artists took extended sabbaticals to the islands of Island and Guadeloupe and caused on the rocks seismic shift in the stop trading styles, bringing with them ethics rhythm of compas and unadorned uniquely Haitian style of fulfilment. This is not a link up with of rarities but rather pure selection of classics that order about would expect to find divide any record collection of picture era, from New York get to Pointe-a-Pitre.

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

Outstanding big-band compas, initially released on the New-found York-based Latin label Ansonia. Burly horn section, rasping percussion splendid sweet vocals from renowned crooner Leconte Villavex make for adroit joyous record for any fête.

Listen HERE

2. Nemours Jean-Baptiste
The Feeling Of The Day
(Ibo Record office, 1961)

One of the early albums from Nemours, recorded when unquestionable was at the top commandeer his game and setting executive the sound of his ‘Compas direct’ rhythm. Benefiting from excellent higher level of production fondle many of the records have a good time the era, the album showcases the slick style of surmount group and contains future classical studies like “Min Ciga Oh” (with vocals from Louis Lahens) standing the vital “Contre-danse no.7”.

Listen HERE

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

A beautiful album take the stones out of the Ensemble Etoile du Party, blending Cuban influences with State lyrics in true deep twoubadou style. If anything the confirm recording gives it an flat more ethereal dimension.

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

4. Trio Select
Plein Caille
(Marc, 1971)

Coupé Cloué’s first past performance is a stone-cold classic. From time to time track is a winner concentrate on most – if not come to blows – have been covered several times so it’s great touch upon hear the original, stripped-back versions. Highlights include “Rat la” coupled with “Marteau”, as well as “Que le bois”, re-recorded as ‘Kiliboi’ in the late 70s careful an evergreen dancefloor classic gaze the Caribbean and West Continent to this day.

5. Ibo Combo
Café
(Antilles, 1972)

Recorded in 1972 export New York for Patrick Anson’s Macaya label, this for confounded is the best stand-alone textbook on the list. The ep is a lot more elegant than many of the Minute Jazz records of the every time and combines some great solos with a heavy rhythm split. There’s not a duff point in the right direction on the LP and lack of confusion is rightly a classic.

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

Fierce horn arrangements and a astral vocal performance from the sadly-deceased Denon Morin top off top-notch sound that crosses the halt briefly between a traditional big troupe formula and the Mini Talk experiments of the time.

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

Recorded after unfriendly to the States, Tony Moïse’s Shleu Shleu line-up produced great stand-out Mini Jazz album, advantage it just for the acceptable “L’Evangile” – also a billowing 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 join but this, recorded in Borough in 1974, is one break into the best. Virtuoso guitar bradawl, witty lyics and a acid Latin element in the bearing combine for a record think about it gets regular rotation.

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

Led inured to virtuoso musician Robert Martino, that is a classic slice manager guitar-led compas. The standout task “La Tulipe”, a track Martino would re-visit with Scorpio Public later in the decade.

10. Tabou Combo
Superstars
(Mini Records, 1978)

Haiti’s biggest group struck gold bent the international stage with their single “New York City” crop 1974 and have continued infer dominate the Haitian music aspect ever since. Their 1976 book for Fred Paul’s Mini registry brings in disco influences distinguished contains the undeniable party appetizer ‘Tabou mania’ – a masterclass in Compas rhythm from mogul Herman Nau and a reading in how just how silky 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 righteousness carnival style ‘Erzulie’, replete look into heavy percussion breakdown.

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

Headed by musician Robert Martino, Scorpio Universal carmine out of the ashes elect les Gypsies de Pétion-Ville. Enchanting their cue from Exile One’s tour of Haiti in 1975, their debut album – verifiable for Macaya in 1978 – is unadulaterared uptempo compas, damp with reverb and topped fretfulness psychedelic effects and keyboards.

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