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| Destination Guadeloupe Festival 2009 |
| Date | Location | Venue/Info |
| November 18 – 22, 2009 | New York City | Various (see info) |
Gwo-ka drumming. Heat. Zouk. Gwada Jazz!
New York City's diversity and richness comes with one guarantee: There are always vibrant new cultures, rhythms, cuisines and fun-loving people to discover. From November 18 – 22, 2009, a host of taste-making venues focus their attentions on the French Caribbean islands that make up Guadeloupe, the inspiration for the 2nd Annual Destination Guadeloupe Festival. What Guadeloupe has to offer is unique on many levels, from the stunning images that animate the paintings of Joel Nankin to the culinary mastery of visiting chef Georges Césarin. These bastions of the island's creativity will serve as companion pieces to high-powered music ensembles that spotlight several indigenous styles, among them Gwo-ka drumming, Jazz Gwada and lilting Zouk. These styles greatly influenced the earthy, modern sounds of an earlier, pre-millennial Guadeloupe-New York sensation, the once-popular dance style called biguine.
Wednesday, November 18th: An Wonn La (In The Circle), an exhibition of onetime political prisoner Joel Nankin's mixed-media paintings opens the Destination Guadeloupe Festival uptown at Casa Frela Gallery, one of the cultural bastions of Harlem's Mount Morris Historic District. The brownstone exhibition space will house Nankin's work for the length of the festival.
There's a popular French-Creole expression in Guadeloupe: "An nous courré vide!" Loosely translated, it means "to cut loose." The Destination Guadeloupe Festival has assembled a mix of internationally-renowned performers who are equipped to do just that.
Friday, November 20th: The music portion of the festivities kicks off in two hot spots: master Gwo-ka drummer François Ladrezeau (also known for working with tenor sax titan David Murray) gets the party started at Zinc Bar, while soulful veteran Jeff Joseph hits S.O.B.'s, with the backing of Panik, a versatile Caribbean band whose skill at zouk, biguine, compas, reggae, salsa and much more promises to make them festival MVPs.
Saturday, November 21st: The group Kriyolio debuts at Zinc Bar, offering the seamless blend of urban and island flavors that Guadeloupeans call Gwada Jazz.
Sunday, November 22nd: All of the aforementioned stars return to S.O.B.'s for the evening's sprawling MAIN EVENT, and to boost the energy level even higher, Luc Leandry, the King of Zouk, headlines along with the Divas of Zouk, Joëlle Ursull (known for her work with Zouk Machine and French pop provocateur Serge Gainsbourg) and the sultry Jocelyne Labylle, who has also taken France by storm. Panik's versatility will again be on display, as the dynamic ensemble handles the wide-ranging repertoires of each star. In addition, audiences can also enjoy the native haute-cuisine of Chef Georges CĂ©sarin, who will be in the kitchen at S.O.B.'s for one night only, having made the trip all the way from the Casino de Gosier on the Guadeloupe island of Gosier. Also, one lucky audience member will get even more than a taste of Guadeloupe as the winner of the evening's Destination Guadeloupe Raffle, the grand prize of which is a trip for two to the island (plus hotel accommodations for two). It's the perfect cap to a weekend of French-Caribbean sights, sounds and sensations.
SCHEDULE:
Nov 18-22: JOEL NANKIN exhibition at Casa Frela Gallery
Nov 20: FRANCOIS LADREZEAU at ZINC BAR, 9 pm
Nov 20: JEFF JOSEPH with PANIK at S.O.B.'s, 11 pm
Nov 21: KRIYOLIO at ZINC BAR, 8pm
Nov 22: LUC LEANDRY, JOELLE URSULL, JOCELYNE LABYLLE, FRANCOIS LADREZEAU, JEFF JOSEPH hosted by PANIK at S.O.B’s. Special guest: KRIYOLIO , 8 pm
LOCATIONS:
Casa Frela Gallery, 47 W 119th St. New York, NY 10026; 212-722-8577
Zinc Bar, 82 W 3rd St. New York, NY 10012; 212-477-8337
S.O.B.’s, 204 Varick St. New York, NY 10014; 212-243-4940
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