To listen to audio on Rock Paper Scissors you'll need to Get the Flash Player

Sample Track 1:
"I Want to be Free" from Manze Dayila
Sample Track 2:
"Ibo" from Manze Dayila
Buy Recording:
Manze Dayila
Layer 2
Concert Review

Click Here to go back.
Caribbean Life, Concert Review >>

Gede Night with Manze Dayila

Manze Dayila has a new CD out - Soley and in the unofficial release party, which was actually a homage to Gede_Hait's All asintes Day, Manze Dayila & The Nago Nation played Joe's Pub on Monday, Nov. 3.  The dead was honored with class

Manze and her band celebrated the dead (the dates of Gede are actually Nov. 1& 2) in the intimate music venue among Rasin (Haitian root) music lovers.  Manze's deep soulful voice opened the evening, in a prayer-like  song paying homage.  Appropriately, she was dresses as Gede, in white face with sunglasses, a felt hat and in Gede's colors: purple, black and white.

Manze's band, The Nago Nation, including percussion/vocalist Evans "Zelebo" Seney and rapper Bennchoumy Elian, kept the up-tempo rhythm going non-stop for the entire set. 

There were those in the audience who could not help themselves and even though Joe's Pub is not organized for dancing, people rocked in their seats and during some songs, jumped to their feet and dancing with those on stage, especially to the Afro-Haitian backbeat mixed with pop, reggae, salsa and even hip-hop. 

Unfortunately, Joe's Pub's sets are defined time wise, and as their early act ended, the audience shouted out requests.

Given it was the eve before the election, the crowd clamored for Manze's homage to Obama, asking for her song "Change"(I can believe in, Obama is my president).  She must have been prescient.  She was only able to sing a couple bars, the rest you need to hear on www.manzedayila.com.  It is available to download free.

It was not until Manze arrived in New York (from Haiti via Miami) decades ago, that she discovered her gift for singing.

She began adapting songs she learned from Vodou ceremonies in St. Marc, singing them in a different way with new arrangements.  In her repertoire, one hears familiar Vodou tunes with a mélange of world beats, "I blend them with some spice," she says.

The Gede Vodou spirit governs the dead and cemeteries as well.

By: Tequila Minsky

 11/19/08
Click Here to go back.