Though Canadian-Haitian percussionist Daniel Bellegarde has been on the music scene since the early 1980s, it’s only recently that he has released his debut album titled “Anba Tonèl” (Under Coverings). In this project, Bellegarde explores the rural world of Caribbean music from a European influence. From the contredanse, the quadrille and the minuet-congo, he takes listeners on a journey “under the coverings” of traditional folk music.  The music on these tracks include instruments such as banjo, violin, guitar, manouba (kalimba bass) and traditional percussion from the Antilles (tanbou di bass, ti bwa, graj, chacha), which only adds to the unique sound emanating from the album. His passion is to share his cultural heritage with the world.

It took Bellgarde six years to complete Anba Tonèl, “It was a titanic job demanding perseverance,” he says.  “This project happened by accident. Initially, I was interested in the music Rasin of Haiti (traditional). I received a scholarship from the Canada Council for the Arts to hone my skills with Frisner Augustin, a Haitian drummer.” 

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Rachele Viard

Managing Editor at Haitian Times

Born into a Haitian family in the state of Georgia, Rachele visited Haiti several times in her youth and connected to the country and the culture. She moved to Haiti in 2009, where she put her English degree to use as a writer, using her voice and pen to promote tourism in the country and highlight the richness of the Haitian culture and people.

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