Destra
Unchained (Krazi Music)
Destra Garcia has been described as the “queen of queens”, and justly so. Approaching a milestone 25-year soca career, this bona fide star has moved beyond “Bacchanal” for her deserved titles. This album — her 16th, which she says may be her last full-length album (one remains unconvinced) — captures the singer at her most varied. It features 15 original tracks and one remix that cover the usual soca lyrical tropes: risqué fantasy and carnal desires, love and relationships, Carnival and bacchanal. The post-pandemic return to playing mas, meanwhile, makes “Never Gonna Let You Go” a pop-flavoured soca favourite that works well here. Groovy tempos dominate the first half of the album, with sonic references from wider Caribbean and Latin American genres, increasing in intensity with each tune. Unchained climaxes with a Spanish-speaking Destra declaring nada mas del fuego. Nothing but fire, indeed. Caliente and limitless, Destra — like this album — does not disappoint.
élan parle
47 On Strand Cape Town (Parlemusik)
The album title references an address in Cape Town, South Africa, and a point of reflection and unique perspective for a Trinidadian wanderer there. In this instance, that explorer is the architect of 21st century kaisojazz (calypso jazz): Michael Low Chew Tung, élan parlē, himself. From his vantage point, literally in a hotel across the street, he mined the influences gained from seeing, hearing, and being there. The energy of the street, the vista of Table Mountain in the distance, the percussion and sounds of a distant Africa move his compositions towards a new centre for musical innovation. Continuing the exercise of expanding the vocabulary of kaisojazz — begun in his 2013 album, I Am Élan Parlē — the music here occupies a contemporary jazz profile. Tunes like “Load Shedding” and the title track don’t burden the listener with complex solos, but marry the sonic aesthetic of island elegance with a modern African presence for expanded possibilities.
Yann Cléry
YANN SOLO (WHY Compagnie)
Yann Cléry is a flautist and singer from French Guiana whose music explores Antillean Créole culture while fusing modern break beats, drum and bass, and electronica to create on this, his second album, “12 tracks for an Electropical journey”. Beyond portmanteau word descriptives, YANN SOLO is a revelation for listeners of world music, jazz, and modern dance music. The compositions here excite in their ability to weave these genres into a new blend without being generic or monotonous. Beyond the technical proficiency of his playing, excellently showcased on a triplet of brilliant solos — “XX Feu XX”, “XX Eau XX”, and “XX Vent et lune XX” — the messages in the songs, many sung in English, showcase a committed commentator aware of his place in a world as a Black man first, a French citizen second. On “French Accent”, Cléry takes no prisoners telling his English antagonist — who doesn’t like his accent — Excuse my French, but … You know the rest.
Sabrina Francis
Woman (self-released) • Single
On her new single, Grenadian singer and songwriter Sabrina Francis sings a celebratory yet supportive anthem to women everywhere. What’s your name, what you do, where you from, what’s your complaint? / Queen of the era, Mother of the year. A lilting zouk-flavoured accompaniment sways with Caribbean flair, and moves along this song of hope in search of answers without being insipid. The refrain, sung in Yoruba — Oju aye lo kan mi — translates to I am touched by the world. The recording has an intimacy that connects the singer directly to her subject. High production value with harmonised voices adds atmosphere, and signals the ease of joining in singing the verses proudly. It also makes this song an example of the potential to connect female singers across the Caribbean in a regional chorus celebrating a common theme. One line — Hey gorgeous, you know they look up to you / So be yourself and love them endlessly — resolves that idea beautifully.
