The Creole Choir of Cuba - Desandann

'Desandann means Descendents. The choir tell stories of their Haitian ancestors who were brought to Cuba to work in near slave conditions in the sugar and coffee plantations. Their mesmerising sound, jubilant dancing and deep spirit made them a big hit at the Edinburgh Festival, then the London Jazz Festival, appeared on Jools Holland, now a sell out tour.
Irrestistible melodies are driven by richly textured harmonies and shifting Caribbean rhythms. This is impassioned singing by a group celebrating roots, resistance and the rhythms of life.'From the RNCM brochure.

Miranda and I went to see them at the RNCM last night.
We were bowled over. Miranda had just come back from New York early that morning and was beginning to feel jet lagged. She did not fall asleep. She was energised.
It was uplifting, enlightening, encompassing, energising, embracing...spiritual. We felt blessed. If there is a heaven, these people will be the angels singing. They were filled with generositiy and joy that spilled into the auditorium and had everyone on their feet.
We laughed when two female singers squashed the smaller male singer with their voluptuous bottoms, we cried when their harmonies blended into one soulful sound. When they sang the Nat King Cole song 'Unforgettable' standing close to one another as a thank you to us. To us? To US???? Their songs could not be bettered. One took the lead after the other, the rest swaying and dancing as they sang their interweaving melodies.
We were taken to another place, no egos, no holding back; only emotion on the surface going right through past the bones to whatever is inside us and giving us the privelege and the joy of being embraced by it.
The sound was deep, rich and full of range. The movements telling stories, relaxed and rounded, and when they left the auditiorium, singing all the way, shaking hands with whoever they could reach and who wanted to be reached, Miranda and I cried.
We laughed and cried, crying not because we were sad but because we'd been opened up.
Thank you Creole Choir of Cuba - Desandann...
If you see they are appearing near you - do yourself a massive favour, treat yourself, this is something no-one should miss.
Tande-la is out now on Real World CDs.