The Michelin Guide

Black Beauty 
A response to Lana Del Rey from Willis Earl Beal.

Black Beauty (A response to Lana Del Rey from Willis Earl Beal)

The innovative, radical soul of Guadeloupe explored across thirty years of contemporary gwoka music.

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As Guadeloupean vocalist and composer Marie-Line Dahomay writes in her liner notes to the compilation, gwoka is more than a style of music, it is “a way of living and thinking.”

Rooted in the social, musical and ritual practices of enslaved African people and their descendants on Guadeloupe, gwoka has always sought to express the spirit of independence and resistance authentic to the island.

Building on its traditional call-and-response form and the ideas of pivotal figures like Gérard Lockel and Christian Laviso, modern gwoka evolved throughout the second half of the twentieth century to include funk, jazz and electronic influences.

Defined by its propensity for innovation and experimentation, this compilation charts the most radical changes to modern gwoka, capturing a sensory riot of traditional répertoires, rhythms and makè techniques fused with a rich seam of genre-defying experimentation.

Whether heard in the deeply cosmic, spiritual music of Dao, Freydy Doressamy and Gaoulé Mizik, or the jazz funk inflections of Gui Konket and Horizon, the music here is united by the feeling of santiman ka, crucial not only to gwoka music but the identity of Guadeloupe at large.

As co-curator Cédric Lassonde writes: “What unifies these selections is the depth of the compositions, the experimentation around the santiman ka, and the spirit of resistance and liberation against slavery, be it modern or ancestral. With a thirst for innovation typical of the island’s creole culture, the ka spirit is deeply rooted in collective history and in a quest for identity.”

Co-curator Brandon Hocura continues: “The creative energy of these musicians is powerful and demonstrates a universal pursuit of resistance, freedom and identity. Their voices are distinct, but the chorus rises high and carries their message far across the sea.”

Released on double LP, L’Esprit Ka: New Directions in Gwoka Music from Guadeloupe 1981-2010 is the first compilation of its kind to bring the sound of modern gwoka to a wider audience, with many of the musicians features still active today.

Presented with typical attention to detail, the release features a specially commissioned essay by Guadeloupean musician Marie-Line Dahomey, and extensive liner notes from Cédric Lassonde and Séance Centre’s Brandon Hocura. 

True to the hybrid nature of the music, the compilation seeks not to provide a definitive sound, but express the variety of contemporary forms gwoka has grown to take. Just as Guadeloupean trailblazers Kassav fused gwoka with funk and cadence to create zouk, so did the musicians on this collection push gwoka in new directions rarely heard beyond its shores.

In the words of Gérard Lockel, “gwoka is the soul of Guadeloupe”.

Lèspri Ka : New Directions in Gwo Ka Music from Guadeloupe 1981-201

Emboule Jean-Claude, Louison Gerome et Le Groupe Kako - Enjafann Kannn

Buy / Stream: https://orcd.co/soulvibrations

Heralding her forthcoming album ‘Reflections’ on BBE Music, harp player and composer Alina Bzhezhinska (aka AlinaHipHarp) presents ‘Soul Vibrations’, the first single taken from the project.

Alongside her HipHarpCollective, Alina Bzhezhinska creates a unique sound on the harp with layered effects and electronics, combining original works and covers to pay homage to some of jazz, funk and hip-hop’s greatest innovators.

Album ‘Reflections’ features a blend of original compositions and covers of works by some of Bzhezhinska’s greatest influences, including ‘Soul’ Vibrations’, originally record by the pioneering composer and harpist Dorothy Ashby.

“This iconic tune captured my imagination when I first listened to her album, Afro-Harping” says Alina. “I decided to make my own version of this tune by writing an arrangement that represents vibrating strings of the heart. I open the album with Soul Vibrations, as I wanted to show my deepest respect to my role model.”

Album ‘Reflections’ will be released in September 2022, on vinyl, CD and digital formats.

Alina Bzhezhinska, HipHarpCollective - Soul Vibrations

Mimosa

A personal favorite.  Made some changes to make it more "DJ-friendly"
Send DM for copy :)

The Main Ingredient - Summer Breeze (Johanna's spring-is-coming edit)

"The blessing song" by RF from RF New Album 「New birth」T-007 CD

RF official web site : http://www.timeless-ccl.com/#!rf/c1y3n
RF iTunes Store : itunes.apple.com/jp/album/fill-th…bill/id626126038
RF Facebook : www.facebook.com/RF.Timeless
booking & contact : rf.official@gmail.com


The blessing song (Michael White cover)

As sampled by Nas and Damian Marley on the new single ‘As We Enter’

Mulatu Astatke - Yegelle Tezeta

4° Último

Infinito do Espelho

Dorothy Ashby - Little Sunflower (Flamingosis's Flip)

First of 3 new flips cominig from @parkbreezy and I

<a href="https://theartistunion.com/tracks/c92e2e" rel="nofollow">Download for free on The Artist Union</a>

Download

Johnny Hammond- why can't we smile. (pheel. Flip)

Bobbi Humphrey - Please Set Me At Ease

08. bobbi humphrey - new york times (dj spinna remix)

Dutchy - 0607082012 - Astral Traveling 

PHAROAH SANDERS FLIP. ABLETON IDDISH.

0607082012 - Astral Traveling

Some experiments and jams of life. Sharing with you.

Idris Muhammad + Roy Ayers - Sunshine + Piece of Mind (Remix)

6. Dorothy Ashby - Come Live with Me

Loop Sessions Vancouver.
All audio sampled from the record. Processed heavily.

LSV 2020-05-20 - Bobbi Humphrey - Blacks and Blues (1973) • NOISE

RF official web site : www.rf-rf.com
RF iTunes Store : itunes.apple.com/jp/album/fill-th…bill/id626126038
RF Facebook : www.facebook.com/RF.Timeless
booking & contact : rf.official@gmail.com


The blessing song (Michael White cover)

RF.Timeless

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