John "Buddy" Williams

Kaiso - John "Buddy" Williams

Track Listing

J'ouvert

Caroline

Hooray, Hoorah

My Pussin

Big Man Sweet Man

Ambakaila

Mama Don't Cry

Netty, Netty

Wood In The Fire

Thousand To The Bar

Take Me Down

Calypso Medley

Kaiso. Listen to our clips to be reminded of a definitive sound of the calypso genre. Pianist John "Buddy" Williams leads us on a musical journey that covers decades of popular and enduring calypsoes.

Travel from Roaring Lion's early days of "Caroline" to Sparrow's "Wood in the Fire". On this trip you enjoy the harmony of voice, clarinet, alto saxophone, flute, trombone, cuatro, guitar, bass, drum, bottle & spoon and shack shack.

In addition to the artistry, Kaiso the compact disc, has another commendable feature. This CD is one the few examples of the appropriate use of technology to preserve the musical heritage. If you are a non-audiophile you may think that this recording was made a few weeks ago. But these tracks were re-mastered from the original recordings of the 1960s and we are grateful for Kaiso.
[eCaroh/Ron - January 2006]

"Improvisation in calypso music dates back to the early 1900s when string and woodwind players spontaneously made intros and fills to accompany the calypsonians of that era. In the 1950s and 1960s , dance bands led by John 'Buddy' Williams, Rupert Clemendore, Fitz-Vaughn Bryan, Sel Duncan and The Dutchy Brothers were some of the pioneers who laid the foundation for the conscious development of improvisation in calypso music."
Ron Reid, Assistant Professor, Berklee College of Music, Boston