The Alan Lomax Collection: Caribbean Voyage - Caribbean Sampler

This is the first entry in a multi-volume set exploring the Caribbean side of recordings made by Alan Lomax on his explorations for songs the world over, this batch emanating from 1962. When Lomax went song collecting in the Lesser Antilles — the chain of small islands that form the southeastern edge of the Caribbean Sea — these islands were all just gaining their independence. Lomax's job was to find a commonality to the songs and dances of these intertwined islands. These recordings went into University of the West Indies for social study work, but it has taken until now for the general public to be able to hear them as Lomax originally intended. In this initial volume sampler, we're treated to pass-play and work songs, children's nursery rhymes, calypso, East Indian chaupai, and steel band music. Selections from the islands of Dominicia, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Carriacou, St. Lucia, St. Barthelemy, Anguilla, Nevis, and Trinidad complete the collection. It's a marvelous blend, reflecting the Central and West African, English, Celtic, French, East Indian and Spanish contributions to Caribbean culture and, as such, a marvelous introduction.