V.A.

Mirror To The Soul: Music, Culture And Identity In The Carribbean 1920-72

Featured here are Caribbean music styles all of which have a 600-year connection with Africa as their heartbeat, with music - especially the drum - a spiritually significant link to the heritage of much of the West Indies.

Whilst popular music in the Caribbean has produced many new styles such as reggae in Jamaica, calypso in Trinidad, salsa and mambo in Cuba, zouk in Martinique and Guadeloupe, Afro-Caribbean roots music remains a constant throughout. This music retains its power today - a musical concept both forward looking and creative as well as remaining steeped in tradition.

This album includes 21st century recordings of Haitian Voodoo and Rara music, Cuban Santeria and Latin Jazz, Gwo-Ka from Guadeloupe, Paranda and Dugu from Belize and more besides in this fascinating journey through some of the many roots musical styles of the Afro-Caribbean.