Tradisyon

This is a collection of traditional Haitian songs modernised with skill and sensitivity by Montréal-based singer and multi-intrumentalist, Wesli. It’s all pretty good, while the delightful mini-set comprised by the first four tracks is quite exquisite. The opener is a near-60-second blast of a Nago conch-bugle wake-up call, followed by a rivetingly heavy Congo rhythm combination of choral chant. There’s some fabulous drumming, edited down for intensity but wonderfully complex and full for only two players – at least according to the credits.

Sidling in mellifluously, track three is an enthralling contrast, a lilting twoubadou ditty, rendered well by Wesli’s pleasing tremolo-edged voice and set to the sinuous swing of soft double bass, shaker, accordion, banjo and – the master touch – discreetly beautiful passages of violin and cello. To cap it all, the fourth track, also twoubadou style but merging into a faster kompa, adds to Wesli’s extremely appropriate electric guitar – one is reminded of Marc Ribot in terms of sound – while the melody and rhythm match-up brings to mind a Cape Verdean coladeira, which means it’s near the top of the list of the most toe-tapping rhythms on the planet. A handful of the 19 tracks are a touch nondescript for this reviewer’s taste, but overall, this sounds like the work of a master craftsman.