Les Léopards

Some lovey kadans from the Antilles with delightful saxphone. 

Arrete Mal Parlé

Amazing kadans music from the French Caribbean...some of this beats the original Haitian compas music of the 1970s.

Vincent

Just listen to that saxophone tear it up!

Jou Ouvè

One of my favorite Malavoi songs, "Jou Ouvè" celebrates the beautiful daybreak in Martinique. The strings here add an element to the music that is reminiscent of Cuban danzón, but clearly rooted in Martinique's Creole language, music, and heritage. Brenda F. Berrian's detailed overview of the song alludes to the song's abundant language about gardens, flowers, tilling the soil, providing an intimate portrait of Martinique. 

Kadans Soukous

An interesting fusion of two similar genres, kadans and soukous. To be honest, I don't detect too much of a 'soukous' influence except in the guitar styles, but otherwise it sounds like it could fit in quite well with the 1970s kadans scene in the Antilles. Nevertheless, it's an interesting listen. Enjoy!

Nayide

One of my favorites from Les Frères Déjean, "Nayide" might be influenced by "Tumbele Wai Se Éma" by Les Rapaces, a French Antillean kadans band. It could just be a coincidence that the chorus melodies are so remarkably similar, or, more likely, Les Rapaces influenced Les Frères Déjean. I would not be so surprised given the long musical exchange between various bands in the Creole-speaking Caribbean and the popularity of kompa/kadans in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica and beyond. 

Cuisse La

Simon Jurad

Some excellent kompa for Saturday, featuring Les Freres Dejean! Perfect for a breezy, relaxed weekend day. From what I've read, Simon Jurad was a legend in Martinique from La Perfecta days, but I suspect Les Freres with their talented instrumental talents are what make this song great. Just listen to their "Marina" and you will know what I mean...

Les Vikings

I am quite fond of this group. I must say, I am beginning to favor Dominican, Guadeloupean, and Martinican bands playing Haitian kompa and kadans some days...Check out the same band's great cover of Nemours. They're jazzier and willing to go places where Nemours never went with his saxophone solos.

Zagalakatelema

I am loving this song right now. It's danceable, jazzy, and reminds me that there is a whole world of French Caribbean music beyond Haiti. Listen to that saxophone or the percussion! Les Rapaces knew how to make great music. 

Exile One

Kadans jam of the day that exemplifies the appeal of Haitian music in the broader Caribbean, especially in Kreyol-speaking islands, such as Dominica. 

Webert Sicot's Minouche

Sicot's "Minouche" is one of my favorite kadans or kompa songs of that decade. Based on the rhythm and focus on a lush melody, "Minouche" owes more to the Haitian mereng tradition of the slow, stately meringue lente. Indeed, the song is reminiscent of similar luscious meringues from Haitian big bands, such as "Sagesse" by Super Jazz des Jeunes. Fans of these two songs might enjoy other meringues and boleros, such as "La Femme des mes reves" and "Mignone." 

Deux Guidons and Mazora

"Deux Guidons," a critique of Nemours Jean-Baptiste, is quite catchy! "Mazora" is also quite catchy, proof that I need to hear more Sicot, the 'main rival' of Jean-Baptiste in the early years of kompa. Reading Gage Averill's short text, A Day for the Hunter, A Day for the Prey has been quite useful for finding additional early kompa musical suggestions, as well as a useful book for placing Haitian music in the social and political context of the rise of Duvalier and ideological currents. In addition to these two jams, check out "Machan'n Fresko," "Yolita," and this. Like Averill, I would say Sicot was a better saxophonist, but perhaps Jean-Baptiste was the better bandleader? Nevertheless, "Yolita" sounds like a copy of another kompa or kadans song, perhaps by Orchestre Tropicana? Can't remember which one, but they sound too similar to be a coincidence.