Bahamian Ballads [Original recording remastered]

Andre Toussaint (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0000667RX
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,946 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When you make your living playing music for the island vacation set, your mission is to soothe and seduce. In this way, the mellifluous Haitian-born singer André Toussaint was a master. Toussaint entertained visitors to the Bahamas as a fixture on the Nassau lounge and club scene throughout the '50s and '60s. The 22 tracks on this gloriously gentle disc include a wide variety of settings. Some tracks feature Toussaint alone with only his distinctive acoustic picking to support him. Others find him backed by a delicate piano trio, while still others feature a full Latin-flavored band. There are traditional folk songs and vibrant originals, and Toussaint sings in Spanish, French, Italian, and English. Yet, no matter the style, Toussaint imbues his music with lilting tropical rhythms, his mellow croon, and a distinctly laid-back vibe. You don't have to be a world-music maven to appreciate these warm, charismatic, evocative performances, but a colorful cocktail would help, for sure. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars English, French and Fractured Spanish, October 16, 2002

By 

Judith S. Raman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bahamian Ballads (Audio CD)

If you want to infuse your house with Island Flavor, this CD will certainly do it. Toussaint's lilting voice and appealing accent will have you imagining virtual ocean breezes and humming along to familiar melodies tropically renedered. However, if you speak Spanish, singing along will present a real challenge. Several of the songs; especially Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma, have taken on a Fractured Fairy Tale aspect. The lyrics are all there (sort of) but it is like they have been cut and pasted randomly together. Other songs insert or delete the final "s" on words creating odd verb endings.The last song on the album , Granada, comes to a sudden halt mid-song as if they just plain ran out of room. As long as you care more about the melody than the lyrics, you will enjoy this album...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Distinctive calypso beat, August 10, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bahamian Ballads (Audio CD)

Bahamian Ballads showcases the work and performance skills of Haitian emigre Andre Toussaint whose repertoire of songs in French and Spanish enjoyed considerable acclaim in his adopted island of Nassau. This distinctive calypso beat originated in Trinidad and quickly spread through the popular music culture throughout the Caribbean islands, including the Bahamas. Several of the twenty-two songs comprising Bahamian Ballads are Andre Toussaint's highly recommended original compositions, while others feature his impressive personal arrangements of traditional tunes. Included are Island Woman (2:36); Gondolier (2:40); Est Es Felicidad (2:14); Complaini D'Amour (2:29); Calypso Island (2:07); Little Nassau-Bahama Mama (3:48); School of Cha Cha Cha (1:56); C'est Si Bon (2:48); Perfida (2:37); Bambino (2:26); J'attendrai (1:38); Cu Cu Ru Cu Cu Paloma (3:57); Watermelon Spoilin (2:44); Jusque Bout Du Monde' (3:07); Come Closer To Me (2:43); Hold 'm Joe (1:26); El Reloj (2:19); Mi Yiddishe Mama (2:41); Nadie Me Ama (2:54); Marisa (1:58); Ciao Ciao Bambino (1:49); Granada (2:50). Total Time: 50:37.

4.0 out of 5 stars Bahamians Ballads, January 7, 2010

By 

Enzo P. Bruni "Good reader" (Ypsilanti Michigan) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bahamian Ballads (Audio CD)

It's a very nice CD with a mix of classic music with modern rithm and exotic interpretation in many languages.