Henri Guédon
Encyclopedia
Henri GuédonHenri Guédon (born May 22, 1944 in Fort de France in Martinique
- died on February 12, 2006 in Paris
, France
after heart surgery) was a Martiniquan percussionist. His first band was called La Contesta and he organised it when he was 20. He was awarded a Maracas d'or the first year the awards ran. In 1983, Philippe Langlais invited him to compose a mix of classical and jazz with his orchestra, the rsulting composition called Opéra Triangulaire. He was a judo
champion 1963-65. Multiple albums fused Antillean rhythms with other music from around the world. Guedon was instrumental in exporting the new sound of 60s and 70s Latin -guaguanco
, boogaloo
, salsa
, descarga - to France and the rest of Europe. When Guedon began placing his percussion instruments at the front of the stage in the style of his great influence Ray Barretto
, French audience members found themselves shocked and intrigued. Soon enough, greats like El Conde and Pacheco were touring France
. Were it not for Henri Guedon, Europe could have conceivably taken years to move forward from mambo and cha-cha-cha
.
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
- died on February 12, 2006 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
after heart surgery) was a Martiniquan percussionist. His first band was called La Contesta and he organised it when he was 20. He was awarded a Maracas d'or the first year the awards ran. In 1983, Philippe Langlais invited him to compose a mix of classical and jazz with his orchestra, the rsulting composition called Opéra Triangulaire. He was a judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
champion 1963-65. Multiple albums fused Antillean rhythms with other music from around the world. Guedon was instrumental in exporting the new sound of 60s and 70s Latin -guaguanco
Guaguancó
Guaguancó is a sub-genre of Cuban rumba, a complex rhythmic music and dance style. The traditional line-up consists of:* three drums, similar to conga drums: the tumba , llamador , and quinto...
, boogaloo
Boogaloo
Boogaloo or bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans, Puerto Ricans and other groups. The style was a fusion of popular African American R&B and soul with mambo and son montuno...
, salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
, descarga - to France and the rest of Europe. When Guedon began placing his percussion instruments at the front of the stage in the style of his great influence Ray Barretto
Ray Barretto
Ray Barretto was a Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican jazz musician.-Early years:Barretto was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent...
, French audience members found themselves shocked and intrigued. Soon enough, greats like El Conde and Pacheco were touring France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Were it not for Henri Guedon, Europe could have conceivably taken years to move forward from mambo and cha-cha-cha
Cha-cha-cha (dance)
The Cha-cha-cha is the name of a dance of Cuban origin.It is danced to the music of the same name introduced by Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in 1953...
.
Discography
(incomplete)- Cosmos zouk (1972)
- Zouk Expérience (1975)
- Salsa Dans Le Bronx (1980)
- Retour (1981)
- Afro-Blue (1982)
- 10 Ans De Musique Caraibe (1983)
- Afro-Temple (1984)
- Karma
- Noel Creole
- Olympia 80
- Et Les Contesta
- La Contesta
- L'opera Triangulaire
Most Played Songs
- Vulcano
- Bilongo
- Ritmo Moderno (guaguanco)
- Carnaval Nou (Mozambique
- Marcel Song (Guaguanco - Jazz)
- Los Antillanos De Paris
- Brujeria (Soul Sonero)
- Vulcano (Descarga)
- Negro Lucumi (guaguanco)
- Concierto De Mi Bongo
- Sainte Marie (orisha Soul)
- Machapia (bon Die Couli)
- Faut Pas Pousser (salsa)
- An Ti Fi (bomba)
- Shiga Swing (boogaloo)
- Guajira Contestacion
- Negro Lucumi (Guaguaco)
- Brujeria (Soul Senero)
- Shinga Swing (Boogaloo)
- Merenguedon