Honoré Coppet and Anatole « Barel » Coppet were clarinet-playing brothers from Martinique, the former born in 1910 and the latter ten years later. They moved to mainland France in 1947 and over the next few years they formed bands together and separately, playing Caribbean music in outfits that would contain several horns and rhythm sections augmented with percussions. At the very end of 1955, the merengue, a lively style from the Dominican Republic, rapidly gained in popularity in France. Early the next year, the brothers recorded the first eight titles on this collection in this “new” style (though including two biguines) for Philips – these performances have a vitality and enthusiasm to them that avoids many of the “tropical” stereotypes of the time. The remaining sixteen titles were recorded at several sessions for Odéon, and include the traditional sounds of biguines and waltz as well as the merengue, with lyrics generally in French creole (try Barel’s “Moin Planté Bananes” for a fine example). The final four titles include renowned trombonist Al Lirvat in the line-up, and he adds a more modern jazzy style. Anyone with an interest in vintage Caribbean music should find plenty to enjoy here and those who have followed Frémeaux’s reissue programme of French-Caribbean music so far should certainly acquire this as soon as possible. Hopefully there will be more…
Par Norman DARWEN – BLUES & RHYTHM
Par Norman DARWEN – BLUES & RHYTHM
