Markus Schwartz & Lakou Brooklyn will be having their Equinox CD Release Party with a performance on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at midnight at Iridium Jazz Club, 1650 Broadway (and 51st), New York City 10019. The band includes Markus Schwartz (Haitian drums/percussion), Monvelyno Alexis (guitar), Paul Beaudry (bass) & Jean Caze (trumpet/flugelhorn) plus invited musical guests: Buyu Ambroise, Pauline Jean, Yosvany & Yunior Terry.
“Recorded in a beautiful auditorium built in 1908, the music was captured in stereo, at 24/192 (high resolution) and the dynamics of the performance were left fully intact,” says Barry Diament of Soundkeeper Recordings. “The goal was to capture the sound of the band as they would be heard by a listener present at the performance. Like the “old days”, the players came in, played the songs (making musical magic in the process) and at the end of four hours, we’d recorded an album.”
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Markus Schwartz grew up in an American household surrounded by jazz and has devoted the last twenty years to learning the wealth and complexity of traditional Haitian religious music. Moving in and out of Haiti since the early 1990’s, Markus followed the lead of Haitian percussionists on pilgrimages into the countryside to lean the intricate and powerful drumming styles of the various lakou (historic religious compounds).
Now a first call percussionist in the Haitian jazz community, Markus has performed and recorded with Haitian artists such as Mozayik (Afro-Haitian jazz quintet), Emeline Michel, Beethova Obas, Azor, Foula, Dadi Beaubrun, Eddy Francois and Wyclef Jean, among many others. Markus lives in the heart of Lakou Brooklyn.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
