On her latest album entitled NWAYO (pronounced n-wah-yo), Jean collaborated with the award-winning author Edwidge Danticat, by setting music to her poem Their Blood, Bondye. The song is a dedication in the form of a prayer to their ancestors and the people of Haiti, who have endured tremendous suffering and loss, yet have shown great strength, courage and pride. The recording also provides other cultural and historical perspectives through pieces such as Igbo Landing, which offers a soulful tribute to the ancestors of the Middle Passage.
In support of Haitian musicians who have been displaced and negatively impacted by Hurricane Matthew, Jean is raising funds for the music community in Jeremie by donating all proceeds from the sales of Their Blood, Bondye to the Jeremie Disaster Relief Fund. The song is available to download for a donation of $1.29 via the following link: (http://bit.ly/NWAYO). Monies will be channeled through the Haiti Jazz Foundation Inc. USA 501(c)(3); direct contributions to the Foundation can be made by visiting: http://papjazzhaiti.org/site/en/donations/.
Pauline Jean's decision to pay homage to her native land is not an isolated incident. In the past, she has collaborated on various projects that have brought awareness to Haiti, including the "Music Pou Ayiti Benefit Concert" for the Reconstruction of Haiti and the collective music project "Sak Pase Ayiti" tribute to the 2010 earthquake victims. Earlier this year, Jean's performance at the prestigious Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival drew considerable acclaim, and NWAYO has received notable recognition. NWAYO has been included in the preliminary nominees for the Recording Academy's 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
For information regarding the Jeremie Disaster Relief Fund, visit: http://papjazzhaiti.org/site/en/donations/.
For information on Pauline Jean, visit: http://www.paulinejean.com/.
About Pauline Jean: Pauline Jean is a renowned Haitian-American vocalist, composer, and arranger, who has made a name for herself through her inventive integration of modern and traditional jazz tonalities mixed with impassioned music stemming from her Creole roots. She has received considerable press globally from leading media publications including Downbeat, Jazzwise, All About Jazz, Afropop Worldwide, Jazz Magazine, World Music Report and many more, who have praised her captivating performances, soulful melodies, and distinctive contralto voice.
Jean has been featured at numerous prestigious festivals around the globe, including her acclaimed performance at the Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival earlier this year. She has collaborated with esteemed literary artist Edwidge Danticat and distinguished performers Denis Matsuev, the Ivanov Brothers, Emeline Michel, and Wyclef Jean, among others.
About NWAYO: NWAYO (pronounced n-wah-yo) is a Haitian Creole word that refers to the hardest part of the fruit: the nucleus, the center, the core. Therefore, it is fitting that Jean chose it as the title of her latest release. NWAYO is laden with intricate rhythms and rich textures and showcases a diverse repertoire that is not often captured in a single recording. Through her vivid compositions and arrangements, the project passionately reveals Jean's personal narrative and explores the fusion between tradition and modernity by blending jazz inferences with Haitian rhythms and melodies. Her velvety alto is gently woven throughout the recording, creating a powerful sense of emotion and liberation that is palpable and transcends any language barriers. The album showcases a distinguished cast of performers including Axel Tosca Laugart (piano), Jonathan Michel (bass), Obed Calvaire (drums), Jean Caze (trumpet), Godwin Louis (saxophone), Jean Mary Brignol (percussion) and Markus Schwartz (percussion).
About Edwidge Danticat: Celebrated Haitian-American author, Edwidge Danticat has received numerous international awards and gained widespread recognition for her literary works. Most recently, she was a finalist for the 2016 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth. Some of her many distinctions include an American Book Award (1999), a National Book Critics Circle Award (2007), and a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship (2009). Danticat holds honorary degrees from both Smith University and Yale University.
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