Brother Jacques: Bringing Gwoka Back
Saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart, former D'Angelo and Roy Hargrove sideman
D'Angelo fans be advised: former Soultronic Brother Jacques, née Jacques Schwarz-Bart, was recently interviewed on WNYC's Soundcheck in support of his new album, Soné Ka-La. John Schaefer's fill-in, Fred Mogul, sounds uncomfortable from the get go--see his awkward "Good, Thanks"--and seems to tire of biracial saxophonist emphasis on the African diaspora and the suppression of traditional Black musics in his mother's native Guadeloupe when describing the new album. In response to Schwarz-Bart's comments on resistance to his engagement of Gwoka, an African diasporic music born in Guadeloupe, Mogul says:
(Chuckling) What would musical culture be without a little or a lot of snobbery! I suppose its going to find its way in some place. Now, you have been talking a lot about the Guadeloupe side of your musical influence and your upbringing, I wonder if you could tell us about relating to your father's side...First, stereotype and suppression are not funny. What's up with the chuckling! Second, snobbery and stereotype are not one in the same. It's uncanny how often issues are reframed by white commentators uncomfortable with the realities of racism. Mogul understandably wants to cover as much material about Schwarz-Bart's past as possible, including the elder Schwarz-Bart, André, noted Holocaust survivor and novelist, but his manner is dismaying.
Anyway, Schwarz-Bart collaborates with a number of international notables on this new record including Stephanie McKay, Admiral T and the awesome Lionel Loueke.
Check this documentary, The Making of Soné Ka-La, from YouTube below:
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