Ayizan

Ayizan is one of the more interesting Haitian musical groups I never heard of until quite recently. Led by Alix Pascal and other Haitian musicians in New York during the 1980s, Ayizan fused elements of jazz with Haitian rasin elements from rara and folkloric music. Pascal was also one of the forces that pushed for more jazz influences on Ibo Combo, which suggests he was a force for a stronger jazz influence on Haitian music since the 1960s.

Caravan Rara

Jazz standard "Caravan" receives the rara treatment in this delectable number from Mozayik. The use of rara rhythms is seamless and commendable. Unfortunately, the rara section only persists for a little over a minute, it shows the potential for Haitian rara/jazz fusion music, particularly as an uncommon form of "Latin" jazz. Perhaps the two share similar stylistic origins in the street music of New Orleans and Haiti?

Gade Moun Yo

A rara classic performed here by a Léogâne group. This is the same song that was turned into "Cote Moun Yo" by Jazz des Jeunes, a pattern in Haitian popular music where the 'Vodou-jazz' of Jazz des Jeunes incorporated music from folkloric and popular religious expression. Gage Averill's excellent book on Haitian popular music places this in context, as does McAlister's text on Haitian rara.

Rara

Lovely and jazzy rara recorded in the 1970s. I could get down with this jam, the power of the drums reminds me of other Afro-diasporic processions and ritual music. The use of the horn instrument for melody instead of singing is also perfectly fine with me, since it gives it a jazzy touch. Also check out this one from the same Smithsonian Folkways compilation of rara from Haiti and the Dominican Republic.