Rasin Music Video > Voodoo Music video > Newsletter

Jazz-Voodoo Fusion a Uniquely Haitian Product

September 12, 2014 9:02 AM

Jacques Schwarz Bart, a jazz-voodoo saxophonist, has created a project he calls "Jazz Racine Haiti". His motivation was to uncover the roots of both jazz and voodoo. It is a little-known fact jazz has its source in Haitian voodoo, and now Bart has fused them and released his latest CD Sub Culture.

Performing live recently, Bart and his band introduced Jazz-Racine fusion. The basis of the Racinej format is to call forth spirits venerated in voodoo music. The group began with calling the spirit Legba, in the number "Ago eh". It segued into "Bade Zile", focused on a traditional theme. Another composition, "Vaudou Zepole" was made up of three parts: dialogue, harmony, and rhythm.

Here is the Video:
Kouzin Jazz Racine Haïti

In "Sept Fe", a calling forth Oku, a violent spirit, caused an escalation in fervor of Bart's playing, as he responded in kind. Another voodoo spirit, Kouzen Zaka, responded to an extended silence during the performance, in what is called "opening the door for the energy to hit . . ." the musicians.

Reply to this article