Dance Calypso

Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution the national museum of the United States. They are dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation preservation and dissemination of sound. Folkways Records believe that musical and cultural diversity contributes to the vitality and quality of life throughout the world. Through the dissemination of audio recordings and educational materials Folkways Records seek to strengthen people s engagement with their own cultural heritage and to enhance their awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others. Our mission is the legacy of Moses Asch who founded Folkways Records in 1948 to document "people s music " spoken word instruction and sounds from around the world. The Smithsonian acquired Folkways from the Asch estate in 1987 and Recordings has continued the Folkways commitment to cultural diversity education increased understanding and lively engagement with the world of sound. According to the liner notes "Calypso is...a humor coated pellet of uncamouflaged truth...taking the opportunity of saying something to somebody in song that you couldn t say in polite society...the dummy for a singing ventriloquist." Whether or not this is an apt description this compilation brings together some of the best calypsonians from Trinidad and Antigua: Johnny Gomez and Orchestra Small Island Pride and Herbert Howard with the Brute Force Steelband as well as Lord Cristo and Dictator. (Also check out SWF40453 Calypso Awakening from the Emory Cook Collection.)- SKU: ZX9SFR0464