Voodoo: Rare Ritual Sounds and Jazz Interpretations (1955-60)

All the musical Voodoo you need - original music of sacred rituals from Haiti and beyond, adapted Jazz-concept albums and the imagined mysteries of Exotica Forget the cliches about Voodoo and throw everything you know about it from films, books, and Pop-songs overboard before listening to the drums from Haiti, which form the most important ritual foundation for the Voodoo religion and its ceremonies.

Voodoo was a syncretistic religion originating in West Africa originally, spreading via the slave trade across the Caribbean and Haiti to Louisiana in the Southern USA and South America. Merging with the European musical heritage, its rhythms formed the basis for many North American popmusical forms of the 20th century, such as jazz, blues, rhythm & blues, rock, funk and hip hop. In Haiti and some African states, Voodoo is a recognized state religion and is said to have 60 million followers today.

The original albums of master drummers like Ti Roro, Ti Marcel and Issa El Saieh demonstrate how this music developed in the 50s. In the United States, an Exotica-boom began in the mid-1950s, triggering a wide spectrum of recordings under the voodoo concept from jazz to easy listening. The last three CDs of this box set present the kings of Easy Listening, whose exotic soundtrack journeys into the world of Voodoo, comfortably enjoyed from the sofa of the futuristically furnished American middle-class apartment, a wellgroomed cocktail in hand, created a wonderful sound-wallpaper.

CD 1: Katherine Dunham And Ensemble - Ibo / Yon Valu / Mahi / Petrokita / Samba Da Favela /Nanigo / Santo / Yemenja / Maracatu / Coco / Ba-Tu-Ca-Da (Samba) / Sol Oh! (Invocation To The Sun) /Callate / Congo Mondong / Choucounne / Toitica La Negra / Aferincomon (Nanigo) / Nago

CD 2: Emy de Pradines, Haiti Danse Chorus And Orchestra - Drums (Banda - Voodoo) / I Man Man Man (Dahomey - Voodoo) / Choucoune (Meringue Romantic) / Negess Quartier Morin (Congo Voodoo) / Erzulie (Invocation Voodoo-Zepaul) / Dodo Titit Maman (Lullaby Popular) / Rasbodail Rhythm (Indian Infuence) / Azaou (Invocation Voodoo) / Panamam Tombe (Congo Popular) / Mreli, Mreli, Mandi (Mascaron Voodoo) / Contradanse : Avant Simple With Flute / Ti-Roro Drum Solo 1 / Ti-Joe Carabien (Ti-Marcel) / Merengue With Flute / Nan Point La Vie Encore Oh! / Laissez Yo Di / Rara Riffs / Contradanse : Avant Simple With Accordion / Annonce Oh Zange Nan Dlo / Contradanse : Avant Simple & Merengue With Flute / La Misere Pa Douce! / Ti-Roro Drum Solo 2

CD 3: Issa El Saieh With Ti Roro, Ti Marcel, Ti Ren - Voodoo Drum Solo / Christiana (Rah Rah Rhythm) / Damballah (Petro Rhythm) / T l (A Hougan Voodoo Doctor) (Petro Rhythm) / Artibonite Oh (Mais Rhythm) / Moin Tende Youn Canon Qui Tire (To Agw Taroyo) / Main Diable La (Here Comes The Devil (Rah Rah Rhythm) / Nous Rive (Yanvalou Rhythm) / Voyez Zin / Nou Bre (Petro Rhythm) / Gran Chemin M Te Ye (Congo Rhythm) / Lao Zao (To God Zao)

CD 4: Chaino - Jungle Mating Call / Voodoo Love / Voodoo Trinidad / Lost Canyon / Love Chant Of The Mau Mau / Seduction Of The Virgin / Watussi / Rico Tico De Dongo / Mad Bongos / Voodoo Chant / Ora Ora A / Jungle Crazy Maze Bongo / The Jungle Chase / Torture Of The Mau Mau / Co-Gona Voodoo / The Feast Dance / The Limbo / Jungle Drum Variations / Cum-Ba-See / The Spear Dance / Safari Jungle Maze

CD 5: Perez Prado, Shorty Rogers - Voodoo Suite / St. James Infirmary / In The Mood / I Can’t Get Started / Jumping At The Woodside / Stomping At The Savoy / Music Makers

CD 6: Tito Puente - Dance Of The Headhunters / Call Of The Jungle Birds / Rumba-Timbales / The Ceremony Of Tamb / Velorio / Cuero Pelao / Jungle Holiday / Guaguanco / Ritual Drum Dance / Witch Doctor’s Nightmare / Son Montuno / Voodoo Dance At Midnight

CD 7: Don Ralke And Buddy Collette - Bembe Negro / Pasion Caliente / Ritmo Marteo / Afro-Mambo Alegre / Belleza Y Diablo / Calypso Cubano / Sesion Grande / Noche In Havana / Afro-Bop / Mgombo / Don Ralke Orchestra - Head Hunter / Saoco / Ju-Ju Man / The Mystery Of Yambuya / Voodoo Priestess / Face Beside The Fire / Poison Dart / Black Panther / Zulu Magic / Moon Goddess / Ritual Of The Cobra / Sacrifice Of The Maidens / Safradesia / Mombasa

CD 8: Johnny Richards - Omo Ado / Johnny Richards - Kele Kele / La Pecadora / Ochun / Oluo Anu / Ofo / Richard Hayman And His Orchestra - Danse Calinda / Conjuration / Spell Of Deatra / Incantation / Afro / Zombi / Voodoo / Mamba / Haiti / Midnight Ritual / Gris-Gris / Invocation

CD 9: Jos Betancourt And His Orchestra, Richard Campbel- Inspiracion / La Cumparsa / Cactus Polka / Cha-Cha-Cha Flamenco / Jungle Flute / Savage Drum Fantasy: Watusi A.P.B. / Arthur Lyman - Taboo / Kalua / Ringo Oiwake / Sea Breeze / Misirlou / China Clipper / Sim Sim / Katsumi Love Theme / Caravan / Akaka Falls / Dahil Sayo / Hilo March

CD 10: Les Baxter And His Orchestra - Brazilia / Rain Forest / Papagayo / Amazon Falls / Coco / Carnival Merengue / Isle Of Cuba / Blue Jungle / Voodoo Dreams / One Thousand Cockatoos / Go Chango / Jungla Brava / Les Baxter, His Chorus And Orchestra - Simba / Oasis Of Dakhla / Maracaibo / Tehran / Pantan / Havana / Mozambique / Wotuka / Cuchibamba / Batumba / Rio / Zambezi