Any folk music in the Caribbean

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Abby Sale
Date: 05 Aug 00 - 06:03 PM

 
I may have made some good contacts there.  At the last moment, as usual, so sadly I didn't get to tape anything but I think I did find some interesting chantey singing.  Used for building construction (!) as sort-of implied in Abrahams' Deep the Water.

Seems the clippers & fast packets never did land at St. Thomas since it was a primary pirate stronghold.  No fools, they.  Thus local people didn't get to sail much on the ships that produced the chantey-singing.  However, there was significant contact among all the islands by local rowboat and there was a certain amount of whale catching by multi-manned rowboats.  (See "FINE TIME O' DAY" in DigiTrad)  This was variously confirmed to me.

I heard literally a scant 2 minutes of singing.  A fine voice and three song frags clearly in chantey style.  There are also considerable oral histories & songs made but never made public.  These are locally available.

Anyone heading for St. Thomas & seriously interested in collecting should contact me.  I told my contacts to expect you.
 

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Gentleman Jim
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 07:18 AM

If anyone else is planning a trip, there are some very good compilations available these days on reissues, thanks to the work being done on Alan Lomax's collection and the Nonesuch label.

May I recommend "Brown Girl In The Ring" (children's songs from various islands) and others from the Alan Lomax Series, and "The Real Bahamas", "Caribbean Island Music" and "West Indies - An Island Carnival" on Nonesuch, all recorded in the 50s-70s and painting a fascinating and colourful picture of a wide range of cultures.

Rounder also have a good range of calypso collections to choose from, with Lord Invader, The Growler, King Radio and the fabulous Roaring Lion regularly featuring. By the way, the latter wrote a lot more than he was credited for, including Belafonte's "He Come From The Glory" which was the cause of a long-running legal dispute between the two that Roaring Lion eventually (and rightly) won.

Why not take your minidiscs/porta-DATs and carry on the great tradition?

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 11:01 PM

Hi Barry, I just noticed the date on the original post! Anyway, if anyone is interested in blues clubs in Nassau...(Sorry, couldn't find any caribbean folk)
1. The Pink Pearl resturant. It has a resident jazz trio that play on Friday nights. Other musicians come over and jam with them so some nights it's real good fun and the food is excelent.
2. The Last Quarter bar. This is a late night spot but they have a good resident blues band and again other musicians come and jam. open tues to sat.

The club I mentioned above has closed down.

Mary

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 06:41 PM

I spent a summer in Antigua visiting my brother when I was just 16 years old. I got hooked on a group called the merymen. I also like the full blooded calypso music like Lord Invader's music. There is nothing like steel drums and a tall rum and coke... Neil

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: GUEST,girly girl
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 10:18 AM

The folk music of the Carribbean has got to be some of the sexiest folk music on the planet. The rhythm, the combination of instruments, the sultry, sun soaked venues, the soft salt breezes...I could live on cajun accordian and the two step and an occasional trip to the Bahamas for steel drum and syncopated guitar...

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 09:38 AM

Hi Barry, I have a friend in Nassau who took us to a blues club there. It seems that a lot of the cruise ship musicians drop in for a jam when they're in town. I'll email my friend today and see if I can get an address.

Mary

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Abby Sale
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 09:04 AM

I seem to locate something called "scratch band" music. Pre-calypso & sometimes political. Found a small folio with some songs published recently by local deceased legit composer, Bill LaMotta. A couple of the songs show strong possibility of decent from chanteys ("Roll Isabella, Roll" - but she a girl, not a ship.) They may still exist & play at local do's. Should know more tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 11:08 PM

Hi Ya Abby, my son recovered & we went that Feb. didn't get to hear much music to much water to play in & the kids weren't even thinking that folk music comes close to snorkeling with the long tailed winged beasties of the underwater world. I didn't have a clue as to where to find any of island folk music then & sorry to say I still don't but no matter enjoy the surf & the sand. Maybe I can be some help if & when you head to the our Pacific Ocean state. LOL, Barry

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 11:02 AM

I can only speak on the basis of a single holiday in St Lucia but there was a wide variety of music around from jazz, cocktail lounge piano, reggae, Belafonte-style (English language) folk and the local strict tempo dance bands called "Kwadrill" (from Quadrille). There's one that played in our hotel called "Shac Shac," which is the local name for the rhythm shaker. The St Lucia CD in the Smithsonian Folkways Music of the Caribbean series (available from Camsco etc) has some examples of Kwadrill bands with the same lineup as the one I heard (fiddle, four string guitar as bass, tenor banjo, drums and shaker). There is a lot of creole French dialect vocal tradition as well (also featured on the CD) but I didn't get to hear any of that.
In the more urbanised areas I suspect reggae is the main music to be heard, except among the older people.
RtS

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Morticia
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 10:34 AM

I think it depends on what you mean by folk music. I was in Jamaica last year and was blown away by the amount of music which is on all the time everywhere and if it isn't, people sing, loudly and with no inhibitions. Folk music is what pertains to the 'folk' i.e. the people of that culture, I feel, and if I can extrapolate from Jamaica, you won't be able to move for the stuff. Let us know and I hope you have a wonderful time.

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Abby Sale
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 09:46 AM

Barry,

Sad you didn't get to go that time. I trust your son went with youall soon after.

So we're off on the 17th for a couple of weeks in the islands.  Seemed like a good idea.  Now I'm concerned I won't find any folksong there and I won't have anything to do with my time.

I'm bringing the Sony Walkman Pro (WM D3), of course but seriously doubt I'll get to use it.

Abrahams was kind enough to reply to my querry but had no suggestions.

The single reference I find in my own stuff to St Thomas is obscure.. On the Unfortunate Rake record "Bright Summer Morning" was collected by "Van Dam and T. Combs" there in 1953.  But I find no reference or any publication for a Van Dam or a Van Dam Combs at OCLC.

Any suggestions re printed matter?
Better (but forlornly) any suggestions re contact points?

Thank you.
 

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Barry Finn
Date: 19 Dec 98 - 09:47 AM

Thanks for the responses, especially you DWDitty, we would've hit Nassau & finding Joe Spence or anyone else would've been a highlight. We were suppose to be on the way at this moment but my son came down with a ruptured appendix (sp), so we're switching turns being at the hospital with him, it turns out he doing fine now so it's still, all & all a happy holiday for this household. Happy Holidays everyone. Barry

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: J. Hindsill
Date: 07 Dec 98 - 08:33 PM

For those looking for MATILDA by Harry Belafonte--- Song can be found on RCA LPM-1150, BELAFONTE, from 1956. Also, may be on LOC/LSO-6006, BELAFONTE AT CARNEGIE HALL, which is an audience participation number if I remember correctly. Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: DWDitty
Date: 07 Dec 98 - 03:03 PM

Barry, while on a trip to Nassau once, I hit the tourist bureau to find out more about the place than I could find in the straw market. They had a program where someone would pick you up and take you around the island pointing out points of interest (which also included their house and their church). I mentioned that I would love to hear Joseph Spence - the Great Bahamian Guitartist. The woman who was escorting us flipped out that American tourists would even know of such a person. We tried to find him with our guide's help, but we were unable to do so. (Although we did hear some terrific musicians that I am sure rarely got to play for anyone but the locals.) The point is, if you take the time to seek out the music, you will find some really great stuff - none of which has been dressed and polished up for the tourist trade.

Of course, have a great time!

DW

Subject: RE: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Peter T.
Date: 07 Dec 98 - 11:08 AM

Dear Lopaka, You can find "Matilda" at:

www.geocities.com/Nashville/8855/matilda.gif

It is a picture file. If you can't handle that, report back and I'll transcribe it for you.

Yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Need lyrics
From: Lopaka
Date: 07 Dec 98 - 03:42 AM

I've been searching sites for the song sung by Harry Belafontes "MATILDA" I don't know if this is the place to be asking but I'm desperate.

Subject: Any folk music in the Caribbean
From: Barry Finn
Date: 06 Dec 98 - 10:26 PM

I know this is a long shot but I'm going to try anyway. Over the holidays we're (the family) going to some of the Caribbean Islands & I'm hoping that if there's any folk music to be had I'll be able to find out about it here before I go (12/19). The places well be hitting are Puerto Rico (where there's an Irish pub in San Juan called Shannon's, Irish music?), St Thomas, St Martin & the Bahamas. I'll be keeping my ears opened for any local music & I'll let you know about it if I find some. Thanks, Barry