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

Groupe Béloka - Menm Chimen - La

M. C. 18-02-2022

Peak time set @ Beauty & the Beat, January 2022

Live from Echobox Radio providing the Thursday morning soundtrack. Monthly residency, 24th episode, March '22. Music by, among others, Mystic Harmony, David Jahson and Linton Kwesi Johnson.

Circus Underwater #24 w/ Jouko [Echobox Radio]

https://www.nts.live/shows/ifmusic/episodes/if-music-presents-you-need-this-w-jean-claude-17th-april-2022

If Music Presents You Need This w/ Jean-Claude 170422

This week, our mix comes from La Presidenta. Originally from Puerto Rico but a Manchester local for the last decade, La Presidenta has been a regular on the UK radio circuit, hosting monthly shows on Reform Radio and Rainy City Radio. 

La Presidenta's show 'De Rumba' is a monthly global exploration through the sunny diaspora of Latin and West African rhythms.

'This mix is meant to be a journey.  It takes you from traditional/classic Latin and African sounds through to many modern incarnations of Latin music.  It represents how I select at a party with the sole intention of making people dance and smile.'

Full tracklist here:

https://www.musicamacondo.com/2022/05/macondo-mix-012-la-presidenta/

Macondo Mix 012: La Presidenta

Martin, aka DJ Wrongspeed swung by the store with bits and pieces from his record collection, picked with intention of a sunny summer day in mind. The mix ranges from jazz to ambient, beats and some downtempo electronic music. Enjoy this beautiful journey!

@ex_interp For IDs

Nitty Gritty Store Hours - DJ Wrongspeed

The two funkfreaks Filip and Zorken were welcomed to the store last Friday to play their top tier Funk records for 3 hours. It was a blessing to have them. Unfortunately the recording program got shut down after 2 hours and 18 minutes.. Hence the length of the recording.

Enjoy!

@mikael-zorken-feltzin for IDs

Nitty Gritty Store Hours - Funkfreaks

Ella Knight ran through a selection of jazzy cuts, followed by a bonus hour of soulful, funky house!

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Madame Jazz w/ Ella Knight & Ni Maxine- September 2022

1) Jazzbois - Blunted Again
2) Butcher Brown - 777
3) Waldo's Gift - Flowerbed
4) Spirit Of Sundaze Ensemble & Wayne Snow - Mine To Give (Extended Version)
5) Sunbear - Mood 1 "L.O.V.E. Love"
6) Nate Mercereau - Flying Together
7) Oscar Jerome - Berlin 1
8) Daedelus - Special Re: Quest
9) The Alchemist - Bone Thugs N' Haifa
10) Kenny Beats - Parenthesis
11) Yoni Mayraz - Ram Don
12) Brandee Younger - Reclamation
13) Amon Tobin - Nova
14) Dwight Trible & The Life Force Trio - Otherworldly
15) Moses Yoofee Trio - throwback
16) DOMi & JD BECK - WHATUP
17) SW2 feat. Yoni Mayraz - Twin Carbon
18) Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange - Prayer For Peace
19) Vels Trio - May as Well Be
20) STR4TA - When You Call Me
21) Chic - Good Times

RADIO.D59B / ROUGH CUTS #15 w/ Yoni Mayraz

As part of the celebrations to launch Miche's 'With Love Volume 1' compilation; four of us (post-club night)crammed into the back of a Mini Cooper for a road trip from East London to Manchester for a 5-hour listening-bar session. A relaxed and carefree set, saw us selecting recent finds and old favourites across the soul, disco, gospel, AOR, Brazilian, and jazz-funk genres. 

NAM, is a wonderful Vietnamese restaurant set in the heart of Manchester. It boasts some of the best food we've had in a while and features an awesome Hi-Fi system with an Isonoe mixer situated in a cosy basement. 

Big thanks to Nam, Christos, and the team for letting us loose to share our music with their customers.

https://www.nammcr.com

NAM - Listening Bar Session with Miche & Mr Bongo

The space between the beats defines our time

Groupe Béloka - Menm Chimen - La

Time Capsule