Jazz Racine Haïti
(Motéma - 2013)

Jacques Schwarz-Bart has created a one of a kind project that synergizes modern jazz and Haitian ritual music. While remaining a jazz project, Jazz Racine Haiti is lifted by the powerful spirituality of the voodoo songs. The artists and audience seem to be sailing together on a sea of light.

Jazz Racine Haiti was originally performed by two voodoo priests, namely singer Erol Josué and percussionist Gaston Bonga, and five jazz musicians: Jacques Schwarz- Bart, Etienne Charles, Obed Calvaire, Luques Curtis, and Milan Milanovic. It was the headliner at the opening night of the prestigious Banlieues Bleues Festival – 2011, in Paris, and since then Jacques has toured with this project to Morocco, Guadeloupe, France, Martinique, St. Lucia, Larochelle, Haiti, Rouen and New York, always receiving great audience response.

Jazz Racine Haiti has been recorded by the end of 2012 and has been released in 2013. This project is also the subject of ‘Jazz Racine’ a documentary film about a musical journey from New York, Africa and Haiti, which premiered in St. Malo, France at the Etonnants Voyageurs Book and Film International Festival on May 27, 2012.

Technical details

Produced by Jacques Schwarz-Bart, co-produced by Anthony Beauzile
Exec-produced by Boris Jourdain for Sound Surveyor
Recorded at Studio de Meudon on November 16 2012 by Julien Bassères,
and MSR studios in NY on November 20 &21st 2012 by David Darlington.
Mixed at Bass Hit Studio, NY, by David Darlington
Mastered at Battery Studio, by Mark Wilder

Musicians

Lead vocals: Erol Josué (1,2,9), Rozna Zila (4,8,10), Stephanie McKay (6)
Tenor sax: Jacques Schwarz-Bart
Trumpet: Etienne Charles
Flugelhorn: Alex Tassel (5,6).
Piano: Milan Milanović, Gregory Privat (5,6).
Upright Bass: Ben Williams
Electric Bass: Reggie Washington (5,6).
Drums: Obed Calvaire, Arnaud Dolmen (5,6)
Percussion: Gaston Jean-Baptiste Aka Bonga, Claude Saturne (5,6)

Tracks

1- Kouzin – 6:38 (Trad. Arr. J. Schwarz-Bart) / 2- Banda – 6:58 (Trad. Arr. J. Schwarz-Bart) / 3- Blues Jonjon – 7:21 (J. Schwarz-Bart) / 4- Badé Zilé – 4:27 (Trad. Arr. J. Schwarz-Bart) / 5- Night – 4:52 (J. Schwarz-Bart) / 6- Kontredans – 4:50 (J. Schwarz-Bart) / 7- Sept Fé – 7:24 (J. Schwarz-Bart) / 8- Vaudou Zepole – 7:30 (Trad. Arr. J. Schwarz-Bart) / 9- Je Vous Aime Kongo – 7:04 (Trad. Arr. J. Schwarz-Bart) / 10- Legba Nan Baye – 2:33 (Trad. Arr. J. Schwarz-Bart)

Video

Press

Jazz Magazine - Stéphane Olivier -
"On the tenor saxophone, Brother Jacques has reached a sovereign maturity, where intensity and relaxation mix, half way between Coltrane and Dexter Gordon. "