Fareed Haque – Casseus! (Wahdude Music, 2023)
Frantz Casseus, the “father of Haitian classical guitar,” developed a unique approach to his instrument by mixing the European classical tradition with Haitian folk elements. His music was characterized by a complex interplay of melodies, harmonies, and driving rhythms. Fareed Haque, a renowned modern guitar virtuoso, was captivated by Casseus’ work and noticed the potential for adapting his solo guitar pieces to an ensemble format.
Haque discovered that Casseus had rearranged and recomposed his pieces numerous times, highlighting the versatility and adaptability of his work. As Haque began adapting Casseus’ music for his quintet, he noticed that both the musicians and the audience were invigorated by it. “We started playing these tunes in my band, and it was such a groove,” Haque explained. “There are such strong ideas in Casseus’ music. It definitely comes out of the melodic tradition of Haitian music, so there’s an inherent connection to the French language, French phrasing, French words, French impressionistic music.”
Haque recognized that Casseus’ music was elegant, possessing a French feeling due to its connection with French impressionistic music, while also exhibiting an African feeling through its rhythm. Haque observed the influence of composers such as Ravel and Debussy in Casseus’ work, but also noted the distinct Haitian folk elements that make it unique. He summed up Casseus’ music as the essence of impressionistic music, distilled down to its purest form and expressed through a single guitar.
The exquisite album, titled “Casseus! Preview,” was released on April 28, 2023, by Wahdude Music. It features Haque’s finely-crafted arrangements of Casseus’ solo guitar pieces adapted for his working quintet. The album features an addicting mix of contemporary jazz, Latin and African rhythms and world music elements. Indeed, it is a tribute to Casseus’ musical genius and the profound effect his work has had on modern jazz guitarist.
Musicians: Fareed Haque on guitars; Kevin Kozol on piano; Alex Austin on bass; José María Piedra on percussion; and Greg Fundis on drums.