Tumbélé! Biguine Afro and Latin Sounds from the French Caribbean

The vinyl enthusiast is a unique breed, his lust for grooved black discs leading him ever deeper into the forgotten recesses of our musical landscape. The small independent label Soundway Records has harnessed this affliction for our greater good, sending plastic diviners to Africa, Latin America and beyond in search of lost classics and undiscovered gems. ‘Tumbélé’, their latest assignment, brings us to the shores of the Francophone Caribbean, presenting a snapshot of the multi-faceted recording industries of Martinique and Guadeloupe between the years of 1963 and 1974.

Massive cross-cultural pollination between all Caribbean islands' indigenous inhabitants, forced migrants, colonisers and successive waves of immigrants has resulted in one of the most culturally vibrant corners of our earth. This is more than evident in the music of the French Antilles which suckles inspiration from sources as wide as the Polish Mazurka, Haitian Kompa, Congolese Rumba, French Chanson, Cuban Guaguanco and American Jazz, fusing them with traditional Gwo-Ka (Guadeloupe) and Bélé (Martinique) polyrhythms.

The urgent drums and hot clarinet of Barel Coppet’s firing ‘Jeunesse Vauclin’, the heavy Gwo-Ka piece ‘Ti Fi La Ou Té Madam’ by Anzala, Dolor and Vélo, and the Congo-Cuban influenced Tumbélé of Les Léopards’ ‘D’Leau Coco’ are highlights of this collection which it’s fairly safe to say the majority of us would never have heard otherwise. While the early 80s saw Zouk go global, the islands’ Biguine and Tumbélé styles and their traditional roots were far less well publicised internationally, leaving a treasure trove of buried nuggets to be unearthed years later. It’s only natural to want to offer credit to Soundway for preserving a piece of history which might otherwise have been lost in the sands of time. Ever the humble digger, the album’s compiler, Hugo Mendez has a different take on things. “I really don’t want to put forward the idea that we’re trying to represent the Islands’ cultures or preserve forgotten history. The truth is, we’ve only got one traditional piece on there and most of the other selections weren’t necessarily the big hits of the era, they’re just tracks that I personally like and when I’ve played them out, people dance.”

And dance they must, for if you’ve had the pleasure of witnessing a Bélé or Gwo-Ka gathering for yourself, you’ll know that it’s nigh on impossible to resist the pulse laid down by the Tambou de Bas/Boula drums (large bass drums which can be played with a combination of the hands and feet). Part of understanding any music is witnessing its dance, so here’s a clip of Guadeloupian master drummer Cyrille Daumont (centre) in a drum vs. dance duel with a hyper-agile opponent:

Le duel

Having found their way into much of the French Antilles’ musical output, it follows that traditional beats continue to be fused with modern styles in efforts to expand the reach of their roots. Guadeloupian Jacques Schwarz-Bart is a prime example, his ‘Soné Ka La’ offering featuring all seven Gwo-Ka rhythms, juxtaposing them with Jazz instrumentation and edgy arrangements. Managing to pack in performances from Guadeloupian Bashment phenomenon Admiral T, Kassav' founder Jacob Desvarieux and soul songstress Stephanie Mckay, Jacques’ offering is a definitive progression in the ‘Gwo Ka Moderne’ genre. Here’s the video for his ‘Pe La’ featuring Admiral T.

Jacques Schwarz-Bart - Pe La

Not to be overshadowed by their son’s success, Jacques’ parents Andre and Simone Schwarz-Bart are highly respected authors in their own right. ‘Un Plat de Porc aux Bananes Vertes’ (Pork and Green Bananas) and ‘La Mulâtresse Solitude’ (A Woman Named Solitude) are excellent historical novels co-written by the couple, while ‘Homage à la Femme Noire’ (In Praise of Women of Color), testifies to Simone’s lifelong commitment to unearthing the history and culture of women of the African diaspora.

Adapted from Joseph Zobel’s novel ‘La Rue Cases Nègres’ , the 1983 classic ‘Rue Cases Nègres’ (Sugar Cane Alley) makes a fine entry point for newcomers to Francophone Caribbean cinema. Directed by Euzhan Palcy and set in Martinique, this well formed picture follows the (mis)adventures of Jose, a young boy determined to make the best of his existence despite the oppressive colonial presence on his island.

So there you have it. The French Caribbean. An oft-overlooked collection of islands teeming with talent, tradition and experimentation. Get involved. You’ll be glad you did.

Tumbélé!
Biguine Afro & Latin Sounds from the French Caribbean 1963-74
is out now on Soundway Records

31 October Tumbélé! album launch party:
Sofrito Presents Night of the Dead Tropical Warehouse Bash!
at the NEW Empowering Church, 1a Westgate St, London E8 3RL
www.sofrito.co.uk

 Etienne Joseph – Heads High Music

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