Full Song Video Performances from
Bobby’s Bass Bal - live at Mirelles,
Westbury NY, July 12, 2024.
Featuring Bobby Raymond on electric basses, with Frédéric Las Fargeas - keyboards,
Godwin Louis - alto sax, Eddy Bourjolly-electric guitar, and Markus Schwartz - drums/percussion.
Live house engineer and initial mix - Moaly “Loulou” Samson,
Final audio mix and mastering by Barry Diament Audio (BDA)
Videography by Patrick Ulysse at Unimix
EFi is a song written for my wife, built on the chord changes of
Joe Henderson’s Recorda Me. It opens in 5/4 time with a musical conversation between Godwin Louis and Markus Schwartz.
Blending jazz elements with our take on the Haitian Merengue Lente rhythm, the piece features bass, sax, and percussion.
Markus supports Godwin’s melodic phrasing with a 5/4 groove
in the intro and outro, while bass and sax share the lead voice throughout.
“EFI” - A Melody for My Wife
Our rendition of Complainte Paysanne is a heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy of Haitian music. Originally composed by Raoul Guillaume, this piece holds a vital place in the canon of Haitian cultural expression. Our interpretation is designed to contribute to the preservation and remembrance of these timeless songs, serving as a small but meaningful effort to safeguard Haiti’s intangible cultural heritage.
“Complainte Paysanne”
by Raoul Guillaume
“Latibonit” is a traditional Haitian folk song that carries profound emotional weight. Rooted in the Artibonite Valley region, the song weaves themes of mourning, longing, and remembrance into a deeply poignant musical expression. Passed down orally through generations, it reflects the enduring sorrow of personal loss -personified by the death of a locally renowned Oungan (Vodou priest in Haitian Kreyòl) named Solèy (sun)- while evoking a powerful sense of place and cultural memory. Like many Haitian folk songs, Latibonit blends heartfelt lyricism infused with parables, along with melodic simplicity, serving both as a lament and a tribute to the resilience of the Haitian spirit.
Bobby’s debut performance reimagines Latibonit through a sensitive new arrangement—one that remains faithful to the song’s mournful essence while introducing contemporary textures and instrumentation that deepen its emotional resonance in a modern context. At the heart of this interpretation is Bobby’s expressive voice on the piccolo bass, leading a powerful ensemble that includes Godwin Louis (alto saxophone), Eddy Bourjolly (guitar), Frédéric Lasfargeas (piano), and Markus Schwartz (Haitian percussion), each adding their unique artistry to this moving performance.
Latibonit
"Nan Fon Bwa" (Deep in the Woods) by Haitian composer Frantz Casséus evokes the powerful connection between nature, spirit, and identity. Set in the mystical depth of the woods, the piece reflects Haiti’s rich musical heritage—where melodies often carry layers of spiritual symbolism, resilience, and ancestral memory. Casséus masterfully blended classical guitar traditions with Haitian folk roots, creating music that is both intimate and profound. In my debut performance as a bandleader, I presented a new arrangement of Nan Fon Bwa—reimagining the piece for piano, guitar, bass, alto saxophone, percussion, and traditional Haitian drums. While the instrumentation differs from Casséus’s original solo guitar setting, the arrangement stays true to the heart and spirit of the song, celebrating its deep cultural and emotional resonance.