Kotabra - Kaseko Revisited

by Fra Fra Sound

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1.	Kotomisi 03:51	buy track
2.	Mama 04:30	buy track
3.	Waiyodi 04:41	buy track
4.	Pikin De Kos Den Mama 03:58	buy track
5.	Graweh 03:30	buy track
6.	Libitori 05:10	buy track
7.	Luku Fa Me Dansi 06:12	buy track
8.	Aisa 03:58	buy track
9.	Worship Mother Earth 05:48	buy track
10.	No More 03:49	buy track
11.	Kong Na Wan 04:55	buy track

about

Kaseko Revisited
The album offers an exclusive interpretation of Surinam music in general and kaseko in particular. The lyrics in Sranantongo reflect a new approach in the Surinam art of songwriting. The compositions have been given catchy arrangements. This project features Surinam and Caribbean top musicians and vocalists who, in this extraordinary and unique way,express their gratitude, recognition and faith in kaseko, Surinam’s most sensational music genre. Once you’ve listened to this CD, you will fully understand the meaning of ‘Kotabra’.
Vincent Henar

Kaseko is the best known music from the Republic of Surinam. Its previous history started around 1900 in the capital Paramaribo with small groups of Creole street musicians. Later on, between the 1920’s and 1940’s, influences from New Orleans jazz led to simultaneous instrumental improvisation on brass instruments while performing Surinam folk songs. The typical rolling patterns of the snare drum were contrasted with varying beats on a bass drum. This music, at times called ‘bigi poku’, was also played by members of the military band when off duty at people’s dance parties. After the Second World War strong influences from latin music and calypso set in, resulting in a new vocal-instrumental style of Creole Surinam dance music, for which the name kaseko was soon in vogue. The word, a corruption of ‘casser le corps’, literally ‘break the body’ came from neighboring French Guyana. The call and response structure of the usually cheerful songs was also clearly affected by the older African-Surinam kawina and occasionally winti music. Both are musical styles from which many kaseko tunes originated. Western rock and pop music sped up the use of electric guitar, bass and electric organ. In the seventies maroons (descendants of fugitive slaves) performed the popular kaseko as well, singing in their Creole languages instead of Sranantongo, the country’s lingua franca. During the seventies many people emigrated to The Netherlands. Where, consequently, numerous records with kaseko music were released. The bass drum, or skratyi, was again introduced. In the eighties kawina, which became very popular then, was sometimes fused with kaseko, producing the also very danceable style kaskawi. But the slower, old-fashioned instrumental bigi poku (now called kopro tu) was still being played, and it’s many people’s favourite. Another special genre is ‘grootbazuin’, a mix of Christian songs and kaseko. Surinam jazz musicians have transformed kaseko and bigi poku via jazz and mainly African-Caribbean world music into new musical styles such as paramaribob and kaseko jazz. Kaseko music is ready for the world!
Ronald Snijders

credits

released November 1, 1997

Musicians:
Errol Bakboord, Andro Biswane, Robin van Geerke, Kenrick Gunther, Russel ‘Konky’ Halmeyer, Vincent Henar, Carlo Hoop, Guno Kramer, Mark Milan, Juan Pablo Nahar, Michael Simon, Roël Simson, Ronald Snijders, Efraïm Trujillo, Eddy Veldman

Vocal guests:
Carlo ‘Cee Gee’ Goedhart, Oscar Harris, Gerda Havertong, Ingrid Simons, Robert Sordam, Steve Teunis.

Arrangements:
Glen Gaddum: Kotomidi, Waiyodi, Pikin de kos den mama, Graweh, Luku fa me dansi, Aisa, No more
Steve Galloway: Mama, Libitori
Efraïm Trujillo: Worship Mother Earth

Acknowledgements:
Tangi fu - Thanks to Gregory Kranenburg, Doreen Reckerts, Glenn Gaddum, Marius Tjon, Steve Galloway, Arthuro Castillion, Djinti, Hartley Linger, Humphrey Vyent, Eward Krolis, Franklin ‘Copi’ Ardin, Akrema, Annick Boyd, Elizabeth Peroti, Lavaune Henry, Michael and Studio Le Roy; to Leo James, Steve & Basjoe for their help and support.

Grantangi - Special thanks to all the artists who have participated in this recording for their time, effort, encouragement, inspiration and involvement. Theproject proves above all that there are ways to work with one another.
Wi sori taki wi sranan pokuman mang wroko makandra! Soso lobi gi wi sisa, brada, famiri, mati, nanga kondre sma.

Kotabra is dedicated to the late king of Kaseko Lieve Hugo and to John Zebeda, Big Jones, George Schermacher, Kid Dynamite Orchestra Washboard, TRIS & Kalamas.

Steve Teunis appears courtesy of Van Record Company, Guno Kramer plays exclusively on Sabian Cymbals.

Produced by Vincent Henar in association with Samponé Music Productions and Fra Fra Sound.
Recorded, mixed, mastered and edited at Studio Le Roy, Amsterdam.
Engineerd by Chris Weeda.
Mixed by Efraïm Trujillo, Chris Weeda, Vincent Henar.
Cover design by Leugenachtig Lekker.

PRA CD: 97001
© 1997 ℗
Samponé / Pramisi Records