COMPOSERS: Négoce et Signature
LABELS: Ocora
WORKS: Guadeloupe: La Tradition du quadrille
PERFORMER: Négoce et Signature
CATALOGUE NO: C 560219
Accordions are also big in Guadeloupe, where Négoce et (his band) Signature perpetuate La tradition du quadrille. A courtly dance that arrived from France during the 18th century and became Africanised, the quadrille is now back in vogue.
On these ballroom recordings, ‘Commandeur’ Béatrice Noyer instructs dancers in a slightly hectoring singing/rapping style on several pieces, but it’s the rolling instrumentals that appeal most.
Négoce’s nimble accordion is generally accompanied by rhythm guitar, triangle, drums and siyak, a bamboo scraper that sounds like someone enthusiastically brushing their teeth.