Biguine: The Anthology of Traditional Antillean Music (1930-1954)

This fourth volume of Franco-Caribbean roots and jazz music from excellent archivists Frémeaux excavates a wealth of biguine music, produced mostly in Paris in a 20-plus year period. Much of the first two CDs focuses on the earlier ensemble works, while the third presents the mature sound of the 1950s, featuring the assured Robert Mavounzy and Felix Valvert orchestras.

While the orchestral material is better produced, has more finesse, and features a wider range of virtuoso players, it is the earlier work that shines like the proverbial pearl of the Caribbean. The clarinet players – including Alexandre Kindou, Eugene Delouche and Maurice Noiran – astound with their quivering, songbird phrasings and melodic range, while operatic vocalists make cameo entrances, such as Cremas Orphelien on the haunting chant, ‘Bamboula’. Among the many riches on offer here, perhaps the top accolade should go to Orchestre Typique du Bal Blomet's ‘Dans Trou Crab’la’, with its rap-chant, swooping clarinet melody, shuffling percussion and ragtime piano.

Biguine transports you to a luscious, old-time world of formal dress codes, colonial heat, giddy perfumes and Martini cocktails. It is not really of this modern age but is quite timeless, a repository for enduring musical magic.