Christian Laviso - Ti Moun A Lafrik (2008)

GWOKA’S STRINGS !.....
Born in 1962, in Guadeloup, Christian Laviso is a self-educated poly-instrumentalist. Attracted by the traditional drum, he finally chooses the guitar as his predilection instrument.Very young, he perceives the need of controling Gwo-Ka music to exist.This is Gerard Lockel on his “Gwoka modern Treaty ”, who codify the used of new instruments, on gwoka music usually played by a set of drummers and a singer. This popular music from Guadeloup, has been a vehicle of, lived, work ,and revolt of slaves. His very particular style blossoms from, his contact with famous gwoka’s drummer ( Lin Canfrin, Alexandre Cornano,Picord ), his meeting and collaboration with Jazz artists such as Kenny Garrett and David Murray. He also draw his inspiration from his cultural heritage, such as music playing during, plough, traditional deathwatch and the evenings lewoz. In the Eighties, he acquires a solid notoriety, playing during many festivals and events as the Gosier Jazz Festival (Guadeloupe) broadcasted on BET Jazz, Pointe-à-Pitre Jazz Festival “Carrefour des musiques créoles” (Guadeloupe), the Festival of Angoulême (France, 1983).The nineties are the years of musical maturity. With multiple collaborations (Simenn Kontra, Big Band Ka, Akiyo) and two successful albums, in which he reinterprets the Gwoka’s standards in a group of Modern gwoka, Horizon. With his band “Laviso Trio”, he develops a voluble and percussion play ,spouted out the deep Guadeloup ‘s heart !