La Petite Musicale Caribbean Folk Songs

La Petite Musicale is a Caribbean institution. Founded in Trinidad in 1940 by Olive Walke, the choir has defined a style of performance that has become almost inseparable from the music itself. This is a collection of folk numbers ranging from the very familiar (Every Time Ah Pass, Après Carnival La, O Belem, Boykin) to the (to me, at least) more obscure — testimony to the extensive research carried out by the group over the years. In typical La Petite style, the music is jaunty and lively, with robust accompaniment on strings, flute, percussion and steelpan. As we’ve come to expect with Sanch productions, the liner notes are detailed and informative. (GP/Caribbean Beat)