In an era when many Haitian artists have felt forced to flee the troubled island, RAM still plays regular Thursday night shows at the historic Hotel Oloffson in downtown Port-au-Prince.
At the forefront of Haiti’s misik rasin movement, RAM has developed a distinctive blend of rock aesthetics, traditional Haitian sounds, and voudou rhythms and lyrics. Its founder, Richard A. Morse, a Puerto Rican-born, Haitian-American singer and songwriter, went back to the country of his ancestors and fell in love with Haiti’s music and spiritual culture.
The group that bears his initials became part of a vibrant, bold musical protest movement that continues to challenge the authorities and present a powerful alternate vision of Haitian culture. Thanks to director Jonathan Demme, who caught their show at the Oloffson, RAM gained a wider international audience thanks to a track featured in the hit 1993 film, Philadelphia.
Recordings available: The Greatest Hits
Festival line-Up
- Chamber Music: Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal (U.S. debut)
- Creole Choir of Cuba
- Diblo Dibala
- Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole (NYC solo debut)
- La-33
- Novalima
- Orquestra Contemporânea de Olinda
- Pedrito Martinez Group
- RAM
- Red Baraat
- Rhythm of Rajasthan
- Yoro Ndiaye (U.S. debut)
The one-night festival includes three U.S. debuts and one New York debut. Tickets are $35 if purchased by November 30, $40 thereafter, including at the door. ($35 for members of World Music Institute) (www.ticketmaster.com or by phone through World Music Institute box office: 212-545-7536).
globalFEST 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011 at Webster Hall
125 E 11th St., New York, NY
between 3rd and 4th avenues
Links:
- globalFEST 2011
- Webster Hall, venue website (not for tickets)
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
