Bongo, Backra, and Coolie Jamaican Roots, Vol. 2 (1975) CD

Jamaican folk music blends African, European and East Indian (in dialect: Bongo, Backra and Coolie) roots into something distinctly Jamaican. Revival Zion, an Afro-Christian religious cult influenced by the early 19th century Myal cults and American missionaries (largely Baptist), involves possession led by a body of music comprised of Christian hymns, choruses, bands choruses and blowing tunes. Possession is uniquely defined by a heavy rhythmic breathing often called “trumping”; this practice is clearly audible on this recording. Quadrille (“katreel”) music hearkens back to the colonial era when slaves learned European dance forms for the entertainment of the Europeans, but it quickly became a fully appropriated fiddle music for the entertainment of the non-Europeans following the fall of slavery. On these recordings, the instrumentation includes bamboo fife, guitars and four-string banjo. Fife and drum music is often associated with junkanoo festivities surrounding the Christmas season that involves energetic dancing intended for “jollification.” Volume One (FW04231) includes music of kumina and convince cults and “Hindustani” dance music.

Tracks
1. Zion Revival: Chorus     Revival Zion drummers, singers, dancers     3:52     
2. Zion Revival: Chorus     Revival Zion singers, female dancers     4:00     
3. Nine Nights Set Up Song: Band of Holy Angels     Wake singers, guitarist     3:41     
4. Quadrille Band: Round Dance     St. Ann quadrille band     3:02     
5. Quadrille Band: Quadrille 1st figure     St. Ann quadrille band     0:45     
6. Quadrille Band: Quadrille 3rd figure     St. Ann quadrille band     2:13     
7. Quadrille Band: Quadrille 4th figure     St. Ann quadrille band     3:36     
8. Quadrille Band: Jane and Luisa     St. Ann quadrille band     3:45     
9. Fife and Drum: John Canoe Music     St. Ann fife and drum band     2:46     
10. Fife and Drum: Ballerina/John Canoe     St. Ann fife and drum band     3:29