Dec. 27, 2007 – Reichhold Center for the Arts will present Kassav performing zouk music at 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12. Kassav traverses the globe as ambassadors of zouk music.
Its sound is an eclectic mix of popular rhythms from the Caribbean region. Kassav's brand of zouk combines strong sounds of percussive instruments and horns with synthetic rhythms. The group delights in having its audience dance, taking to heart the true meaning of zouk: to party.
The core group members are Jocelyne Beroard, Jacob Desvarieux, Jean-Philippe Marthely, Jean-Claude Naimro and Georges Decimus. The Paris-based group will bring new music from their recent release "All You Need is Zouk." The first single from the CD, "Doubout Pikan," is now playing in heavy rotation across the Caribbean region.
Kassav is credited with developing the zouk sounds with their first album "Love and Ka Dance" in 1979. However, it took six more years before they would be recognized globally. They struck gold in 1985 with the album "Yélélé," featuring the dance hit "Zouk la Sé Sèl Médickaman Nou Ni," which means "zouk is the only medicine."
They have made several appearances at Dominica's World Creole Music Festival, the St. Lucia Jazz Festival and St. Vincent's Blues and Rhythms Fest. For the past few years, they have opened the New Year with a lively concert in St. Martin.
Kassav's performance at Reichhold Center is sponsored by First Bank, First Insurance, Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort, Tropical Shipping, the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and Innovative Cable TV.
Tickets are $25, $36 and $45, and are available at Modern Music, UVI Bookstore, V.I. Bridal & Tuxedo, Urban Threadz, Essentric Shoe Boutique, Island Video (Nisky), Home Again (Red Hook) and the Reichhold Center Box Office at 693-1559.