KariJazz: I have noticed 2 or 3 titles on the album that bears people's name: folks whom you know and who might have an influence on yourself. Is it something that you will be doing systematically in the future?

Thurgot Théodat: I would like that because composition is not only about sounds. It is also about images, colors and concepts that pop up in you mind while you are being inspired. There are people with whom you interact who help you grow whether they are well known, famous or not known at all. They bring something into your growth process... I am a very open minded person and I interact with folks from whom I gain everyday. Hervé Denis was one of them. He was a very open person and a great music lover opened to all kind of music. Therefore, I felt like compelled to write the piece for him, a kind of posthumous tribute. It is the same for TIGA (Jean Claude Garoute) who is a tremendous visual artist and a musician.

KariJazz: TIGA is also a musician? I did not know that.

Thurgot Théodat: He plays the guitar and sings. When you have the chance to interact with such great people, you gain something anyway and it is a way of saying thanks to write music for them. When I listen to RV I see Hervé in front of me. He was a great music lover from jazz, avant-garde, to the traditional music of our country. It is like holding a brush and sketching the image of this friend who now is gone.

KariJazz: This is where the eclectic component aforementioned earlier comes back. You are talking of Hervé who like Jazz, avant-garde and traditional Haitian music. It takes a great mind (openness) to do that. You have to really have an open mind to like avant-garde and traditional Haitian music.

Thurgot Théodat: Hervé was the kind of guy who likes music, poetry, literature, theatre etc.. I think any individual in our modern time should embrace this type of attitude.

KariJazz: Absolutely. There is another foreign musician on this CD. He plays the drums. I believe he is Senegalese, isn't he? There is a piece on this CD called "letènèl" Here again the guitarist is amazing. And to come back on the drummer, he made a solo on this piece which is called…

Thurgot Théodat: Effectively he is from Senegal, Africa. He is a specialist of rhythms. Giving him the opportunity to interact with the voodoo drums is something that I was looking forward to. He brought new colors in my music . In Letènèl his solo is based on a traditional rhythm of Senegal called "Sabbar" I found this very interesting because it illustrates brilliantly that in the swing music style you can bring different colors; they will feet perfectly. Last but not least, Sega Sek is an excellent drummer and a very easy going person. So it was my pleasure to have him for this project.

KariJazz: I have notice that the more knowledgeable they are, the more sympathetic and easy going they are. The last piece on the CD is dedicated to him, can we talk about that?

Thurgot Théodat: The piece is called Sega Shega. Shega is a Portuguese word that means "arrive". You know I invite the musician in Haiti in July 2006. The news at that time was not the best you could hear. I was at the airport to pick them up and I could imagine their anxiety in the plane. I also was anxious myself while waiting at the airport. When we glance at each other at the airport I felt there was something like a relief in Sega's smile. Moreover, his prowess on this last piece is so dynamic and makes me think of a fireball. So I decided to call the piece Sega Shega which means Sega arrives.

KariJazz: Sega Shega is a piece based really on our traditional "rara". It reminds me of a "rara" band based in Les Cayes called "Chanbelann". A lot of folks from les Cayes will probably retrieve a part of their childhood in this piece. This rhythmic complexity made my day when I (ALPI) heard the piece the first time. As a Jazz lover I just want to thank you for this beautiful piece of art. I got the CD 2 days ago and I have been listening to it since then. I have listened to it probably 12 times already. (everybody laughs). You brought me so much joy!

Thurgot Théodat: Thank You

KariJazz: Are you satisfied of the outcome of the project?

Thurgot Théodat: Yes, I am. It does not mean that it could not be better. But you know, perfection does not really exist. But if you take in consideration all I have been through since 15 years, I think the job is well done. I had the chance to gather some very good musicians and find financial resources to put everything together. As you know guys, things are not easy in Haiti.

KariJazz: Why did you choose to record the CD in Haiti?

Thurgot Théodat: This music is so rooted in Haitian culture that it would be odd to record it somewhere else. It was a challenge that something of quality could be done in our beloved country. There are good technicians and sound engineers over there.

KariJazz: Indeed, the sound is great, and the work was well done.

Thurgot Théodat: Thank you. I had the best record studio Audioteck and then I had Claude Piteau who really knows his job that was helping the sound engineer. I wanted the sound to be something very specific and I wanted to have a Haitian product.

KariJazz: I imagine that it was not easy for you because this sound is really new for Haiti. And you know why I am saying that? In my experience in talking to Haitian about Jazz Guitar sound, they always put the rock sound like something that is not part of Jazz music. I have the impression that in Haiti, the perception of Jazz music is something static, essentially swing or Bebop?

Thurgot Théodat: In Haiti, some folks have locked jazz into a kind of immutable stage. Paradoxically, as we know it is a genre that is expanded constantly. In our modern times, various peoples have taken jazz structures and associated them to their own musical culture to produce something new that is an expression of their whole culture. Our main difficulty comes from the fact in Haiti, the social drama is in the perception that we have of the drums. Jazz is something clean. There is a kind of elitism around the genre. My CD arises here as a black sheep in the landscape. The CD opens on an incantation similar to the one we use in voodoo ceremony and closes on a "rara" style. In Haiti, generally, people refused to associate this kind of music to Jazz because of the omnipresence of the drums. All the pieces do not really swing. For most of these folks, jazz is only Louis Armstrong and Count Basie… There are jazz shows which do not play my CD because, to their view, this music is not jazz.

KariJazz: It is so bizarre and absurd what you are saying...

Thurgot Théodat: But it is true. I wanted the drums to be at the same level as the other instruments in the band. Because the drums are central in my music. And it is going to be like this in the future.

KariJazz: Are there future projects. I know you just released this one in June

Thurgot Théodat: No, the album was recorded in June and released at the end of August 2006.

KariJazz: Should we expect more in that vein in the future?

Thurgot Théodat: I think yes and you know why? There are individuals who heard this music and immediately associated it with me. This music has set up a benchmark for me. I cannot go lower now. I have to keep going in the development of my language and style.

KariJazz: Very important! Very important! Do you see, in the upper crust of the Haitian musician world today, some potential guests for your future projects.

Thurgot Théodat: I hope so. You know in Haiti , I have a lot of difficulties to communicate with the musicians in general. I have friends also. But generally I am perceived as someone arrogant because I do not play anything else but jazz. I don't think I am arrogant. I am a proud musician with a lot of personality. I am a straight talker. I speak my mind. I have played with all the greatest Haitian musicians. But you will not see me at any festival, concerts or anything of that sort.

KariJazz: Why? Because you do not want to go?

Thurgot Théodat: Because they would not invite me. But I think with the release of this CD, folks will start seeing things differently.

KariJazz: Indeed, this is a good CD. As listeners, we have been experiencing this music for more than 30 years now; and we can say that you are on the right path in this. We have a pretty good idea where the rightness is in this endeavor. KariJazz is proud of what you've accomplished. You are welcome to this site anytime. Whatever you want to promote in term of your music, just blow the whistle. We like your music and we think this kind of music can carry the name of our country very far.

Thurgot Théodat: I thank you very much guys. I like your dynamism and enthusiasm. I think I need guys like you. Once I compose and play I need some smart ears to listen to what I play to help other appreciate my music and that's what you are doing. I am really glad to meet you guys.

KariJazz: We want to tell you without any flattery that you are really a great musician and believe me, we know what we are talking about.

Thurgot Théodat: Guys, I have noticed that you have "long ears" (everybody laughs). I heard you talking about some musicians that even Haitian musicians have no curiosity to listen to. I am looking at a Tonhino Horta's album on your desk. How many Haitian musicians can talk about this guitarist? Barely a hand full…A musician has to open his ears to other musicians and listen to as many as possible. And I am impressed with your musical culture which is not only about Haiti but about music in general.

KariJazz: As I told you, we have been listening to this music since our early childhood and we will continue to do so and move forward with KariJazz which objective is to inform and educate in term of music. Unfortunately, generally speaking, Haitians are not well educated with regards to contemporary music development. We tend to lock ourselves in boxes. The art of music request flexibility and open mind attitude. Encourage people to listen to the new sound that is emerging is the challenge that KariJazz will have to face.

Thurgot Théodat: I hope you will keep up the good job. What you are doing is very important for us.

KariJazz: Other musicians have told us the same things too. We will do our best to promote this wonderful music that we like and cherish. Thanks for your time. Good luck with your new album.

Thurgot Théodat: Thank you! My pleasure.

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KariJazz
November 6, 2006