Legba nan Baye-a

from Water Prayers for Bass Clarinet by Paul Austerlitz

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about

“Legba nan baye-a” is based on a traditional Haitian Vodou song I learned from the great master drummer Frisner Augustin, with whom I was planning a recording prior to his untimely passing. Papa Legba is the Haiti lwa (or spirit) who opens doorways. We salute him when starting new projects. The song proclaims that “Legba is at the gate; he holds the ceremonial flag to protect us from the hot sun!” My version combines Haitian with Dominican influences in merengue-inspired bass clarinet riffs, to which pianist Benito González’s responded exuberantly. Benito is simply one of the most exciting jazz soloists on the scene today. Singer Rozna Zila is remarkable for her ability to bring traditional Vodou style to modern music. Royal Hartigan brings a wealth of world music wisdom to the drum set, and bassist Santi DeBriano is always spot-on. I go way back with Royal and Santi: we met while studying ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University many years ago.

lyrics

“Legba is at the gate; he holds the ceremonial flag to protect us from the hot sun!”

credits

from Water Prayers for Bass Clarinet, released November 30, 2018
Paul Austerlitz: bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, and tenor saxophone
Benito González: piano
Santi DeBriano: bass
Royal Hartigan: drum set
Isaiah Richardson: clarinet
Rozna Zila: vocals

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about

Paul Austerlitz Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Paul Austerlitz is Coordinator of Jazz and Professor of Music and Africana Studies at the Sunderman Conservatory of Music, Gettysburg College. He combines his creative work as a musician with ethnomusicological research on Afro-Caribbean music. Austerlitz is especially active in blending the music of the Dominican Republic and Haiti with jazz. ... more