Bô Kannal – Victor Treffre, 2004

🎶🕊️🇲🇶🥋📀 Master of the bèlè, Victor Treffre has just passed away and Martinique loses one of the great voices of its tradition. He was 83 years old. He was born in the Bô Kannal district of Fort-de-France and quickly became interested in danmyé, a traditional Martinican martial art similar to Brazilian capoeira. Victor Treffre devoted his life to bèlè, and was seen with Ti-Emile, Ti-Raoul and Dédé Saint-Prix, among many others. In 2004, Jeff Baillard produced Victor Treffre’s only album under his own name. The album delves into the bèlè tradition, with drumming by Eric Gernet and Micky Télèphe, also on tibwa. Some tracks feature Roro Kaliko on accordion, and of course Jeff Baillard on guitar and bass, backing vocals and production. Victor Treffre’s characteristic guttural voice bursts forth and takes everything in its path. Jeff Baillard made no mistake, choosing him the previous year for his Xtrem Jam project, a blend of electro, bèlè and Indian influences. The spirit of this project can be heard on Akilé – which also features a remix at the end of the album – and on Man Pa Té La Man Rivé, set to the rhythm of danmyé. More recently, Dominique Bougrainville invited him on Ki Nov? released in 2022. May the earth be light to him.