Various Artists - Disques Debs International Vol. 1 (2LP) [Strut]

Tracklist:

A1 DANIEL FORESTAL ET SA GUITARE – CES P’TITS JE T’AIME
A2 CASIMIR LÉTANG – TRAVAIL Z’ENFANTS! CHANTEZ APRÈS!
A3 CYRIL DIAZ ET SON ORCHESTRE – FEELING HAPPY
A4 GEORGES TINEDOR ET MANUELA PIOCHE – COLLIÉ ET ZANNO
A5 HENRI DEBS QUINTET – DOUCE KOMBASS
A6 JOSEPH LACIDES – MR. MORIN

B1 GENO EXILIE – LAN MISÈ
B2 DOLOR ET LES DIABLES DU RYTHME – SALVANA
B3 SYDNEY LÉRÉMON ET SES AMIS DU CALVAIRE BAIE- MAHAULT – YOU YOU MATAYANGO
B4 RAYMOND CICAULT ET SON ORCHESTRE VOLCAN – À MON AMI LUCIEN JOLIBOIS
B5 ORCHESTRE ESPERANZA ET JEAN LEROY – OU PAS BEL
B6 HENRI DEBS SEXTET ET PAUL BLAMAR – MOIN ÇÉ ON MALÉRÉ

C1 LE RY-CO JAZZ – SI I BON DI I BON
C2 REMY MONDEY – MERINGUE MONDEY
C3 HENRI GUEDON ET LES CONTESTA – VAN VAN
C4 LES SHUPA SHUPA D’HAITI – BATTERIE SHUPA

D1 PAUL BLAMAR ET VÉLO – LOVENCY
D2 ERIC VIRGAL – STANISLAS
D3 LES AIGLONS – LES AIGLONS KA SATISFAIT
D4 TUTUS DE LA GUYANE – NANAO NANAO
D5 GUY CONQUETTE – ASSEZ FAIT CANCAN

Strut presents the first in a series of compilations delving into the archives of one of the most important labels from the French Caribbean: Disques Debs, originally from Guadeloupe. Founded in the late 1950s by the late Henri Debs, the label and its studio have operated for over 50 years, boasting a catalog of over 300 7-inch singles and 200 LPs, spanning genres from biguine and bolero to zouk and reggae. Debs played a fundamental role in the international dissemination of Creole music from Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Volume 1 of this series covers the label's first decade, featuring big bands, local stars, touring groups, and a new generation of musicians who emerged in the late 1960s. The first recordings were made in the back of Henri's shop in Pointe-à-Pitre, with his own sextet playing percussive biguines, alongside young saxophonist Edouard Benoit, leader of Les Maxels and a regular arranger for Debs' bands. Other notable artists include big orchestras like Orchestre Esperanza and Orchestre Caribbean Jazz, poet and radio host Casimir "Caso" Létang, and folkloric gwo ka artist Sydney Leremon. Additionally, Debs capitalized on the visit of foreign musicians to Guadeloupe in the 1960s, recording artists such as Haitian trumpeter Raymond Cicault and Trinidadian bandleader Cyril Diaz.

Compiled by Hugo Mendez (Sofrito) and Emile Omar (Radio Nova), ‘Disques Debs International’ is released in collaboration with Henri Debs Et Fils and Air Caraïbes. The release includes a selection of rare and previously unseen photos from the Debs archive, with detailed liner notes and interviews with Philippe Debs and Max “Maxo” Severin of Les Vikings in both formats. Volumes 2 and 3 will follow in 2019.