Bon Appetit 2022 08

Haitian American singer-songwriter Leyla McCalla (Our Native Daughters), who now calls New Orleans home, chronicles a vital part of Haitian history with a groundbreaking concept album made in partnership with Duke University. Breaking the Thermometer draws inspiration from the story of Radio Haiti, a now-defunct independent radio station that, in addition to playing Creole music and broadcasting primarily in Creole language in the French-dominated country, used its platform to challenge corruption in Haiti. McCalla spent time with Duke’s archive of Radio Haiti recordings and devised a multidisciplinary stage show around the material, the music from which makes up Breaking the Thermometer. Primarily performed in Creole, Breaking the Thermometer is part homage, part time capsule, part journalistic reporting, all anchored by McCalla’s dynamic voice, masterful banjo picking and deep connection to her roots. Highlights include “Fort Dimanche”, named for an infamous French-built former prison known for torturing inmates, and the jazzy, English-language “You Don’t Know Me”.

Guitarist Andy Summers long ago shed his Police-man's uniform to take a stab at being a jazz fusion guitarist, and this is his toughest test, tackling 13 of Thelonious Monk's most well known pieces. His backing band has some considerable talent; drummer Peter Erskine, organist Joey DeFrancesco, trumpeter Walt Fowler and cellist Hank Roberts are outstanding jazz musicians, and prove their mettle throughout. The CD overall is inconsistent, starting with an out-of-tune bass and an inaccurate reading of the title track. But it gets much better with horn charts, the precise Erskine and searing DeFrancesco saving grace on "Hackensack." Then they really get down with Monk's stealth Misterioso feel on "Brilliant Corners," and an economical Summers works effectively on "Monk's Dream"…