Wednesday 1 January 2020

Der Alte ja vergangen ist


‘Festival in Haiti’ 

Déclaration Paysanne (Meringue)
Pétro-Quita (Drum Rhythms)
Shango (Invocation)
Pennywhistle Fantasie
Solé Oh!
(Invocation-Yanvalou)
 Méringue
Macaya Gimbo (Work Song)
Dié, Dié, Dié
(Invocation-Zépaules)
 Mascaron-Pignitte (Carnival Rhythms)
 Ayanman Ibo (Ibo Rhythm)

Jean Léon Destiné (vocals), Alphone Cimber (drums),
Ti-Roro (drums), Herblee (pennywhistle), ensemble
recorded c.1954, New York?
Elektra EKL-30, p.1955

Drat – I didn’t mean to let 2019 pass without a single post. Well, there you have it – yet more proof of terminal decline etc., blah, blah… Worse, I started this post in April 2018 (same transfer but a completely different subject, which I don’t have the energy or time to write up now, sadly). That ground to a halt, as did pretty much all my ‘projects’ last year.

Now, though, I have a good excuse: I’m employed! My first full-time office job in 21½ years started in late October 2019. It’s only for a year but it comes with full benefits, including a pension. My boss is adorable, my colleagues are kind and helpful, the work is fascinating and right up my street, and our office is calm and civilized. It’s strange to be commuting again, squished up against a lot of young things, some probably yet unborn when I last rode the Tube like this… and no one was glued to a phone, either! (Still don’t own a smart phone.) (Do own other digital gizmos, though.) And this year I get my OAP’s free pass!

Anyway, to show I’m still alive and sentient (just), here’s a quick and dirty post to usher out 2019, in which the old me was suddenly and unexpectedly rejuvenated, and to usher in 2020, when I resolve to do all sorts of things to stave off the big D… like start dancing! Highly apposite to this post, as it happens: this lovely 10” LP isn’t your humble grump’s usual cerebral, sedentary fare, but celebrates the work of a famous Haitian dance artist. I confess I’d never heard of Jean-Léon Destiné (1918-2013) when I found this disc amongst my late father’s LPs a couple of years ago and gave it a spin. I was instantly impressed by the music, economical to the point of austerity in places but curiously gripping; the performances, full of authority, verve and conviction; the intimate, involving recording (which has come up nicely in this transfer, though I say so meself); and the proper grown-up presentation.


Don’t worry if you can’t read that sleeve note – there’s a bigger version of the scan in both Zip archives below, plus a PDF of the 12-page illustrated insert I found inside the sleeve. Of course, it’s now more than 60 years out of date but, again, worry not: there are several articles about and tributes to Destiné on the Web, such as this one, which looks very interesting.

So, take your pick: there are 10 lossless audio files, in FLAC or ALAC (Mac) formats, plus scans, in each Zip, which you can download from here (FLAC) or here (ALAC).

Happy New Year and enjoy!

(P.S. Not sure when I’ll get round to writing another post this year… but I’ll try my best!)

16 comments:

  1. Welcome back - Elektra label produced some really interesting stuff - much of it I know less than nothing about, so many thanks for giving this record a turn.

    I too have been worse than useless in the Blog world and will make amends....

    Very best for the 2020s

    Jols

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    1. Dear Jols, Thank you so much for your very kind comment! I know nothing about these either, and wish I had more time to explore - oh well... I do hope you'll post again, as your transfers and posts are just the best :) Happy New Decade! G

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  2. Back about a decade ago, one of my readers asked me if I had any of these Elektra 10-inch LPs. I didn't then and don't know, but happy to find one here.

    Very nice to have a post from you, Nick!

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    1. Dear Buster, nice to hear from you, you're so kind, thanks! I know nothing of the label's history, except its late relegation to a dank corner of the Warner stable, so it was a fascinating and highly rewarding find! All the best and Happy New Year! G

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  3. Well Nick (and Buster) would you know it but there is a whole book on the label pub in 1998! 'Follow the Music: The Life And High Times Of Elektra Records In The Great Years Of American Pop Culture' Jac Holzman.

    Best Jols

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    1. Oh great, thanks Jols - I didn't know about that book. Holzman was the label's founder and producer. A must for the record business reading list! All the best, Nick

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  4. Really nice to have you back. Thank you very much for this cool post.
    Gary

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    1. Dear Gary, Thank you - I'm just sorry I've made you wait so long for it! And that I've got too lazy and distracted to transfer more. Maybe one day I'll get back onto this jag properly - though I'm drowning in (wonderful) media more than ever... All the best, G

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  5. I'm glad to see you back and in good spirits. Best wishes on the new job, too!

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    1. Dear CD, you're very kind! The spirits go up and down but lovely messages like yours do them a world of good :) Yes, it was good to get back to work on Thursday - at some point I hope to blog about the job here or elsewhere. Watch this space! All the best, G

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  6. Welcome back and Happy New Year!.

    And thanks for presenting this lovely record.

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    1. Thank you so much, and my very best wishes to you too! G

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  7. thank you very much, and nice to share your tastes again. -regards, a.v.

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    1. Dear Alfred, Thank you for your kind comment! A new taste for me, as until I found this old LP of my father's I didn't know this music. Very fittingly: he helped me fall in love with classical music, my life-long love ever since! :) Very best wishes, G

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  8. Hi Nick, I think the system swallowed my last comment, but I'll try one last time. Found you via your NM Discography wiki. Trying to figure out what to do about 40 or 50 National Gramophonic Society discs threatened with landfill in mid-Hampshire this Thursday/Friday - didn't have time to take details, but standard chamber repertoire Cortot/Thibaud/Casals etc. Any ideas welcome at https://elorganillero.com/contacto/

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  9. Hola amigo, buscando música diferente me encontré con tu blog, muchas gracias por tu trabajo, saludos.

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