Les Masterful d’Haïti – 1975

🇭🇹 🎷 🎹 💃 📀 Pierre-François Belony is the leader of Les Masterful d’Haiti. The Haitian group recorded three albums in the first half of the 1970s, and this is their second. The orchestra, clearly dance-oriented, delivers an energetic compas rhythm where Garçonnet Syllas’ prolific organ replaces the brass section, supported by Ernst Napoleon’s saxophone. Les Masterful are among the few compas orchestras to record their albums at Debs Records rather than at the more traditional Marc or Mini Records. Henri Debs knows how to format music for dancing, and here he is aided by standout soloists like Daniel Acloque on guitar. At the end of Side A, I Am Sorry dives into a mix of reggae and calypso, while at the end of Side B, we’re treated to the inevitable slow dance track—not necessarily a good thing… Come on, compas!