Jacques Schwarz-Bart ‘The Harlem Suite’

‘The Harlem Suite’ is a childhood dream, that of coming to New York from Guadeloupe, the small island of Jacques Schwartz-Bart, and becoming a jazz musician. The tunes and arrangements were written to celebrate each step of this perilous but rewarding journey. Unlike most of his previous work, this opus is not anchored in Afro-Caribbean grooves. It nevertheless bears the hallmark of polyrhythms dialoguing with lyrical melodies, while embracing the aesthetics of modern American jazz, including its more recent blend of hip hop grooves and improvisation. Through this record, he wanted to paint a modern fresco rich in colors, while remaining faithful to the African tradition of music as a source of healing and spiritual elevation.