SMF Live 1037 - Chouk Bwa Libéte

The music of Haiti combines a wide range of influences drawn from the many people who have settled on the island of Hispaniola. It reflects French, African rhythms, Spanish elements and others. "Rasin" is a musical style that began in the 1970s when musicians started combining elements of traditional Haitian vodou ceremonial and folkloric music with rock 'n' roll. In this episode, we listen to the US debut of a mizik rasin ("roots music") ensemble called Chouk Bwa Libéte, who played to a sold-out crowd at SMF 2017 on a bill with Haitian-American singer/cellist Leyla McCalla.