Félix Blume: Death in Haiti: Funeral Brass Bands & Sounds from Port Au Prince

Discrepant CREP51 (Download)
‘thriving tradition, a counterpart or updated version of those famous Dirge Jazz records’

‘15 dead, 15 funerals, 16 funeral processions, 1 procession with no dead, 5 churches, 1 cemetery, 1 wake. 15 hours of recorded sounds are condensed into a vivid sound portrait depicting the way funerals and burials are lived in the Caribbean island of Haiti.

Recorded in Port au Prince by sound artist Félix Blume in early December 2016, Death in Haiti plunges the listener into a world of pain, loss and solemn celebration as each funeral comprises of its own live jazz band as well as a plethora of characters like the joker (le blaguer) who cracks jokes and tales about the recently deceased.

A beautiful document of a thriving tradition, a counterpart or updated version of those famous Dirge Jazz records such as the New Orleans’ Eureka Brass Band on Folkways.’

Tracklisting:

Félix Blume & Maestro Walter's Brass Band: Pran Kwa Mwen

Wake

Piano and Screaming

Funeral Procession: Ami fidèle et tendre

Last Prayer

Prayers, Singings and Maestro Midouin's Saxophone Solo

Félix Blume & Maestro Walter's Brass Band: Mouri Jodi

Last Words

Félix Blume & Maestro Turenne's Brass Band: Lot Bo Rivye A

Marijuana, Rhum and Music Around the Grave

Félix Blume & Maestro Ronald's Brass Band: Jesus sauveur

Cries

Félix Blume & Maestro Turenne's Brass Band: Pitye

Blagueur Ti Batau, Last Joke