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'Kanaval' Chronicles The History Of Haiti And Its Influence On New Orleans

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World Cafe

'Kanaval' Chronicles The History Of Haiti And Its Influence On New Orleans

XPN

Hear the first two hours of the documentary that chronicles the history of Haiti and explores that nation's influence on the music, culture and identity of the Crescent City: New Orleans.

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans: Intro

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Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 1

A sketch map of Saint-Domingue, a French colony in the Caribbean from 1659-1890. Following a revolution by enslaved Africans, the territory was declared the Republic of Haiti. Archive Photos/Getty Images hide caption

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Archive Photos/Getty Images

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 1

XPN

In order to understand the deep connections and musical relationship between Haiti and New Orleans, we must go back to before Haiti was Haiti.

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans: Episode 1

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Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 2

Circa 1795: Lithograph of Haitian general Francois Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture, whose heroic stand against French rule thwarted Napoleon's ambition for a North American empire. MPI/Getty Images hide caption

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MPI/Getty Images

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 2

XPN

What we often call French is actually Haitian. We see this imprint on New Orleans in countless ways — in its food, architecture, art, but most notably, in the music.

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans: Episode 2

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Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 3

Dancers take part in the 2020 Krewe du Kanaval parade in New Orleans. Courtesy of Erika Goldring hide caption

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Courtesy of Erika Goldring

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 3

XPN

Kanaval is a profoundly significant event that brings together music, politics, and the dreams and demands of the Haitian people.

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans: Episode 3

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Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 4

The 2020 Krewe du Kanaval celebration in New Orleans: Paul Beaubrun (left), Preservation Hall Jazz Band (top right), members of the Haitian collective Lakou Mizik. Courtesy of Erika Goldring hide caption

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Courtesy of Erika Goldring

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms And The Music Of New Orleans: Episode 4

XPN

Musicians, artists and organizers in Haiti and New Orleans discuss how they have navigated this year, the lessons and wisdom they've drawn from history, and the future they're trying to create.

Kanaval: Haitian Rhythms & the Music of New Orleans: Episode 4

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With A Long-Awaited Shot At Freedom, Mac Phipps Has His Eyes On The Future

Mac Phipps, the rapper formerly signed to No Limit Records, has been granted clemency after 21 years in prison. Dale Edwin Murray for NPR hide caption

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Dale Edwin Murray for NPR

Louder Than A Riot

With A Long-Awaited Shot At Freedom, Mac Phipps Has His Eyes On The Future

Last month, the rapper was recommended for clemency after serving 21 years in prison for a crime he says he did not commit. Now he tells NPR about his time behind bars and his hope for life outside.

Play It Forward: Devonté Hynes' Grammys Surprise And Biggest Inspirations

Devonté Hynes' new album, Fields, is nominated for two classical Grammy awards this year. Nick Harwood/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Nick Harwood/Courtesy of the artist

Play It Forward

Play It Forward: Devonté Hynes' Grammys Surprise And Biggest Inspirations

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with artist Devonté Hynes about how his Grammy-nominated classical album Fields came together and the artist he is most grateful for – Angel Bat Dawid.

Play It Forward: Devonté Hynes' Grammys Surprise And Biggest Inspirations

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21 Years and 1 Day: Mac Phipps (Exclusive)

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Dale Edwin Murray for NPR

Louder Than A Riot

21 Years and 1 Day: Mac Phipps (Exclusive)

After 21 years in prison, Mac Phipps has been recommended for clemency, which could mean early release. As we reported in our first season, Mac was convicted in 2001 of manslaughter, for a crime he has always said he did not commit. Now, we follow the former No Limit rapper as he navigates the clemency process — and for the first time, we get to talk with Mac himself. What does justice mean after he's spent half his life in prison? And does he plan to ever return to the stage?

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Considering Chick Corea's Grammys Success And The Kitchen Sink Of Genre

Chick Corea, holding a freshly won Grammy in the award ceremony's press room in LA on Feb. 8, 2015. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Review

Editors' Picks

Considering Chick Corea's Grammys Success And The Kitchen Sink Of Genre

WBGO

Corea, who died in February, remains the most-awarded jazz musician in Grammys history. But Corea, who always identified as a jazz player, wasn't landlocked by any genre conventions. He wasn't alone.

Freddie Gibbs Might Blow Up, But He Won't Go Pop

"There was a time in my life when I was that dude 24/7," Freddie Gibbs says of his persona. "Having a family provides a different inspiration. You're doing things for a bigger purpose and not just yourself anymore." Nick Walker/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Nick Walker/Courtesy of the artist

Editors' Picks

Freddie Gibbs Might Blow Up, But He Won't Go Pop

"I always wanted to take my mother to the Grammys and now I will." Alfredo is up for best rap album, but that won't stop Freddie Gibbs from making the music he wants to make.

On 'Plugs I Met 2,' Benny The Butcher Is Saying The Quiet Part Out Loud, Up Front

Jeremie Pennick, better known as Benny The Butcher, in a portrait from 2021. His new album, Plugs I Met 2, will be released March 19. Cam Kirk/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Cam Kirk/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

On 'Plugs I Met 2,' Benny The Butcher Is Saying The Quiet Part Out Loud, Up Front

Butcher came to prominence through the close-knit and much-respected crew Griselda, but is now stepping to the front with a label, sports agency and new album, Plugs I Met 2.

Pianist Helen Sung: From Classical Outsider To The Jazz Inner Circle

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Ayano Hisa/Jazz at Lincoln Center

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

Pianist Helen Sung: From Classical Outsider To The Jazz Inner Circle

WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

Sung reflects on how, as a young classical pianist, she stuck to her jazz dreams. More recently, she's translated her emotions on social justice into a thematic composition for her quartet.

Pianist Helen Sung: From Classical Outsider To The Jazz Inner Circle

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Now We Sob, Forever He Sings: Chick Corea Remembered

Chick Corea, prolific musician and composer, is remembered and celebrated. Chick Corea Productions/Courtesy of Chart Room Media hide caption

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Chick Corea Productions/Courtesy of Chart Room Media

Alt.Latino

Now We Sob, Forever He Sings: Chick Corea Remembered

Chick Corea's music has been such a big part of our lives. Arturo O'Farrill, Sofía Rei, Haydée Milanés, Rubén Blades and many others share what his music meant to them.

Now We Sob, Forever He Sings: Chick Corea Remembered

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The Black Roots Of Rock And Roll: Part 3

Dionne Farris performs onstage during BET Presents the American Black Film Festival Honors on February 17, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images hide caption

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

The Black Roots Of Rock And Roll: Part 3

XPN

This week, we move on from the 1970s, touching on the early punk sounds of the band Death, and into the '80s and '90s - and the British proto-shoegaze band A.R. Kane.

The Black Roots Of Rock And Roll: Part 3

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With All Eyes On Country Music, Will Black Nashville Get The Reckoning It Deserves?

Country artists like Miko Marks, Rissi Palmer, Mickey Guyton and Willie Jones are making standout music despite the confines of an industry that privileges whiteness. Beto Lopez, Samantha Everette, Rick Diamond/Getty Images, Duane Prokop/Getty Images hide caption

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Beto Lopez, Samantha Everette, Rick Diamond/Getty Images, Duane Prokop/Getty Images

With All Eyes On Country Music, Will Black Nashville Get The Reckoning It Deserves?

Country music's race problem became a hot topic in early February, but the roots of racial injustice in the industry go much deeper. Two Nashville writers unpack the history and recent responses.

Music From The Mind's Eye: The Swan Song Of Pauline Anna Strom

Pauline Anna Strom, who expanded synth music's color palette in the 1980s, died in December at 74. The posthumous album Angel Tears in Sunlight, out Feb. 19, is her first in over 30 years. Aubrey Trinnaman/Courtesy of RVNG Intl. hide caption

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Aubrey Trinnaman/Courtesy of RVNG Intl.

Editors' Picks

Music From The Mind's Eye: The Swan Song Of Pauline Anna Strom

The reclusive Bay Area artist awakened new possibilities for synth music in the 1980s. Angel Tears in Sunlight, Pauline Anna Strom's first album in 30 years, was intended to be a creative rebirth.

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