Zepiss - Natibel (2023) [Hi-Res]

Born in Guadeloupe during the painful period of slavery, Gwo Ka was banned and forbidden until the 1960s. Denigrated and considered a minor cultural phenomenon, this set of dances and music was only practiced by a small number of people. Even in its name, Gwo Ka bears witness to the clash of cultures that generated it: in Creole, it refers to the large cask, the salted fish barrel of the slave ships.

Edmony Krater, on the other hand, grew up on the side of Morne Rouge, in Sainte-Rose, in the north of the island. His mother sang in church, but he was drawn to the sound of the ka drum, which was frowned upon but very present in ceremonies or funeral vigils.

As both a fashion designer for the theater world and a musician (percussion, trumpet, vocals) in the group Gwakasonné, with Robert Oumaou and Georges Troupé, Edmony left Guadeloupe in 1983 to settle in mainland France just after recording their first album.
Upon his arrival in Paris, with the desire to give his own version of Gwo Ka, he founded the group Zepiss with Eddy Lebouin, Freddy Tisseur, Philippe Augusty, and Rico Toto, and immediately recorded a first album, Natibel.

In a singular way, Natibel perpetuates Gwo Ka Modèn, a movement initiated by the iconic jazz guitarist Gérard Lockel, who was the first to theorize and politicize this music previously transmitted only orally.
In just 6 tracks, Natibel combines the sophistication and roughness of this root music, where Gwo Ka is married to an intense rhythmic section and catchy melodies.

The eponymous title that opens the album is clearly an ode to the beauty and nature of the island.

"Refleksyon 2" strikes with its festive side, where the original drum is amplified by a primitive drum machine, and Rico Toto's funky bass opens the way for a brilliant tenor sax solo by Filip Augusty.

On "Pa Dekouraje," Edmony praises his ancestors who fought to preserve Ka and sings about his commitment to this culture on a jazz-folk theme where the power of the drum sound clashes with a groovy instrumenta- tion.

"Chimin Spirit," which appears on his second album "Tijan Pou Vélo," is a hypnotic and danceable refrain that invites the listener to find their spiritual path by reconnecting with nature.

Composed by his childhood friend and guitarist Freddy Tisseur, "Pou Mizik La," built on a kaladja rhythm (one of the seven rhythms of Gwo Ka), subtly merges jazz and Ka in an unstoppable cosmic ballad.

In the tradition of Gwo Ka musicians who have evolved this music like singer Guy Conquet, groups Ka Levé, Fabriano Fusion, and Gwakasonné, José Manclière, Erick Cosaque, and above all the legendary drummer Marcel Lollia aka Vélo, Edmony Krater and his group Zepiss have contributed to the preservation of this heritage by bringing an obvious touch of modernity.

Tracklist:
1 01. Zepiss - Natibel (02:50)
1 02. Zepiss - Refleksyon 2 (03:20)
1 03. Zepiss - Pa Dekouraje (10:23)
1 04. Zepiss - Refleksyon 1 (03:22)
1 05. Zepiss - Chimin Spirit (03:37)
1 06. Zepiss - Pou Mizik La (02:55)