Alix "Buyu" Amboise and Blues in Red Band plays Brooklyn's hottest music joint, Soloman's Porch.

By Tequila Minsky, Heritagekonpa Magazine

Artist and author, Michele Voltaire Marcelin, helps Buyu celebrate his album relase party.

Fifteen years ago, jazz saxophonist Alix Buyu Amboise heard Anonse (Announcing) also called Priye Ginen (Prayer to Ancestors) on an old Atlantic album recorded by ethnomusicologists interested in documenting Haitian folkloric music. This was his first source to traditional Haitian music since he left Haiti as a young boy. He decided--given the opportunity--to record it some day and so, it is now the lead song on his new CD, Marasa. The CD is named for the Haitian vodou god (lwa) Marasa, which means twins and represents abundance and all those born in special circumstances. 

As Buyu's second CD with the Blues in Red Band, Marasa reflects an abundance of interpretations in the jazz medium. Between the three traditional Haitian melodies including the rara tune Dilere with the textured and authentic rhythms of master Haitian percussionist Tiga (James Jean-Baptiste), four cuts are reinterpretations by other Haitian musicians. 

Plezi Mize (Pleasure in Misery)--a seeming contradictory title--has pulsing rhythms, mellow sax riffs, a vibrating piano solo and is a joy to listen too. It was composed by Beethova Obas and made famous by Haitian diva Emeline Michel when she recorded it in 1986. From a more traditional jazz source, the Wayne Shorter cut Footprints gives space for the bass and percussion to groove together.

Buyu's 6-piece jazz ensemble Blues in Red Band celebrated the release of this album a week ago at music cafe Solomon's Porch, the corner of Halsey and Stuyvesant in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant. This music venue is gaining a greater reputation as a place audiences wants to frequent.

One music lover said of the place, "It provides a transcendent experience; its intimacy allows the spectator to be transported." And it's great for performers who want to interact musically with the audience like the Buyu gig, "We had a great audience that Saturday night."

In addition to the interaction with the audience, the immediate chemistry between the musicians inspired countless musical variations. Ah, the joys of hearing live music!

Bandleader Amboise sees himself as the pilot of a ship or perhaps the baseball catcher sending signals to the pitcher. "It's a gesture, or a nod, maybe a look between us. When I heard the trumpet player going in a really interesting direction I let him go on," which accounts for why the Saturday night gig highlighted trumpet and coronet player Gil Defay who was really hot. "Tiga on Haitian drums indicated to me he wanted to come in at some point but I let him know the time wasn't right," Amboise explained. During another tune, though, drummer Mani Laine and Tiga took center stage riffing and playing off each other.

Later that night, Tiga surprised Buyu and audience when he accompanied his drumming by singing scat, rhythmic jazz vocalizing. Buyu was excited, "It was the first time I ever heard him sing scat and I indicated for him to continue. I told him afterwards I'd like to hear it in other gigs." Tiga sings scat when he plays with his own band on Sunday nights at Solomon's Porch.

During the evening's two sets, jazz pianist Louis Rainone propelled the melodies and the extraordinary virtuosity of Patrick Andy on electric bass completed the ensemble.

Quinn Issac acquired Solomon's Porch a little more than a year ago. With a warm cafe atmosphere--serving tasty food, too, it has become an important Brooklyn music venue showcasing Haitian and other world music, which deviates from more commercial music. "We're looking to get acts that draw people to Bed-Sty," owner Quinn explains. "Artists like playing here and it allow them to be themselves."

The café is located in the historical Stuyvesant Heights section of Bedford-Sty where music can be heard Tuesdays through Sundays and on weekends brunch is served. "I want to offer quality music like years ago when luminaries lived in Bed-Sty," added Quinn.

In addition to jazz Wednesday and Friday nights, on Tuesdays there is neo-soul/urban R&B at 9pm followed by an open mike for musicians or spoken words artists beginning at 10pm. Says Sherley Cooney, "Solomon's Porch attracts a different kind of crowd. They're sophisticated, but not stuck up."

For years previously, lower Manhattan's SOB's has been a singular mainstay for this sort of eclectic blend of music offerings and more recently on occasion similar music listening can be heard at the Upper West Side's Sugar Bar. Now, Brooklyn has a really pleasant venue with consistent programming to highlight jazz and African-American inspired live performance. 

The official release party for Marasa will be at SOB's in February.