A record that by now has gathered following in jazz and world music circuits due to the drummers involved. "Ti-Joe", "Ti-Marcel" and especially "Ti-Roro" is claimed to have had significant influence on parts of the US jazz scene because of this and a couple of other issues. Be that as it may, but for me it also provides an insight to Haitian society in the fifties. At the time ruled by Papa Doc Duvalier by means of secret police Tonton Macoutes, voodoo, bokor-zombie subjugation and the president himself posing as "houngan" (voodoo priest). That time and place is the origin of many later horror stories - from Dennis Wheatley to a large number of Hollywood movies - and with this vinyl you're there. Recordngs made at location in Port-au-Prince by radio personality Herbie Widmaier with technical consultation from Atlantic producer Tom Dowd in New York. He caught live performances from cult gatherings and street music and then they kept it as it was, just transferring from master tapes to master laquers (using the classic Ampex 300) without further tampering. Music reminds a lot of African tribal, maybe with slight influence from French 17th century culture due to early colonization. All drumbased, but now and then embellished by flute, accordeon, rythm sticks, chimes, mbira and diggeridoo. Most tracks have female vocals performed solo or as quires. The lyrics are in Haitian Creole and the subjects chants or prayers connected to voodoo or eveyday life. I wouldn't call it primitive (a word too frequently used by conceited westerners to put down other cultures) - "pristine" is a lot better description. So if you're fed up with the modern adjusted picture of voodoo and zombies and want the real deal this is it - part dark and enthralling, part bright and affirming. Recommended to lovers of folk, jazz, world music and some of the cuts may even do it for die-hard fans of modern dubstep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlaaz0y-lyU . As far as I know this US is still the only issue. It came with label as shown here and thick fully laminated cover. (FÄV*) (YZÄ*) (ÖXCÅ*) (GZÅ*)
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