Jephté Guillaume

Jephté Guillaume
Origin Haiti, Brooklyn
Genres
Occupation(s) Music producer, DJ, bassist, multi-instrumentalist, actor, vocalist
Years active 1994–present
Associated acts Joe Claussell, François Kevorkian, Danny Krivit, Erol Josué, Zap Mama

Jephté Guillaume is a Haitian-born DJ, bassist, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist[1] from Brooklyn whose signature Haitian folk song infused house music was signed and promoted by the New York-based Spiritual Life Music brand. His Tèt Kale sound combines acoustic grooves with electronica.[2][3]

Career

From 1994 to present, Guillaume has released two albums and about two dozen singles.[4][3]

Joe Claussell's Spiritual Life records released his debut album Voyage of Dreams in 1999 in the US but the album had already been released in France and Japan since 1998.[4][1] The release was noted by Billboard Magazine.[1] Critics such as the Washington Post noted the boldness of a double disc debut album sung entirely in Haitian Creole, mixing house and rich orchestra instrumentation.[5]

In the summer of 1999, Guillaume and his Tèt Kale orchestra appeared in a Body & Soul house party and performance co-sponsored by HMV records at Central Park Summerstage. The event had been put together by resident Body & Soul DJ's Claussell, François Kevorkian and Danny Krivit.[6] Its goal was to showcase the budding multicultural New York house scene, integrating DJ/Club culture with world music from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa. 12,000 people attended and Guillaume's picture singing onstage wearing loose all-white clothing reminiscent of a vodou priest and a Haitian peasant hat, arms open wide, guitar hanging across his body, appeared in Billboard magazine's piece on the event.[6] An announcement for the event had appeared in the New York Times' Pop and Jazz guide, calling it a "brave experiment".[7]

Guillaume's music inspired Claussell's own album and Guillaume was part of a team associated with Claussell who worked together on many productions.[1]

In October 1999, Guillaume opened at Irving Plaza for a Zap Mama concert reviewed by the New York Times.[8] The performance exhibited Haitian Vodou dance, drumming and chanting and showcased songs from his album Voyage of Dreams. The Times noted the African, Haitian Vodou and house influences.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Inc, Nielsen Business Media (April 24, 1999). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  2. ↑ "Haiti Cultural Exchange: An Evening of Conversation, Dance, and Music – Brokelyn". Brokelyn. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  3. 1 2 "Jephté Guillaume | Sacred Rhythm Music". www.sacredrhythmmusic.net. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  4. 1 2 "Jephté Guillaume". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  5. ↑ Seymour, Craig (August 22, 1999). "Disco-Bobulation". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  6. 1 2 Inc, Nielsen Business Media (August 28, 1999). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 34.
  7. ↑ "Pop and Jazz Guide". The New York Times. August 6, 1999. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  8. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (October 19, 1999). "MUSIC REVIEW; Thank You on 4 Notes: The Mobile Zap Mama". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
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