I recently discovered this gem of old Haitian music from the early 1960s and am loving it! Guignard's orchestra plays old Haitian meringue songs in the kompa style of that period, and they show off their incorporation of Cuban and American jazz influences, especially the pianist, Guignard himself. I love the horns on this album, which play brilliantly on "Promenade" and "Bamboche" and it's nice to hear their take on Ludovic Lamothe's Carnival hit, "Nibo." Quite beautiful. The horns are on point, especially on "Choupette," reminding me of Cuban mambo brassiness, although the accordion is distinct from most Cuban son and mambo I have heard. Guignard's jazz flourishes are a nice touch, too, reminding us of jazz's roots in the most Caribbean of American cities, New Orleans! I don't know, but the horns, infectious rhythms, joyous light-hearted songs (though very simple) and Guignard's jazzy approach to the piano make this a superb listening experience.
As an avid fan of old Caribbean, African-American, and African music, this ranks among my favorite listening experiences. The band's versatility (playing a cha cha here) recalls the musical melting pot of the Caribbean, where influences flowed in and out between the islands. "Ti Joceline" features some nice accordion chops, too, worth checking out, as does "Odette." The only flaw is the repetitiveness of much of the album because some of the songs sound too similar. Listen to it at Grooveshark anyway!
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