This groundbreaking CD managed to change the tide for Haitian music and Caribbean women in particular.
Emeline Michel won awards for producing the album as well as for album of the year, setting a precedent for the too rarely heard voice of women in Caribbean music. Establishing
Michel's position as Haiti's queen of song,
Cordes et Ame is a brilliant collection of tunes exploring traditional Haitian rhythms such as compas and adding touches of jazz, bossa nova, and samba.
Michel's rich, supple vocals effortlessly pour over the tunes, which document the joy, hope, and struggle of Haitian culture. With effervescent, peppy songs such as "Fo M Ale" as well as sultry offerings like "Ecoute-Moi," all sung in Haitian Creole,
Cordes et Ame skillfully transcends language and musical boundaries. ~ Rosalind Cummings-Yeates