JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE À MUSHY WIDMAER GOUSSE.
Légendaire pianiste, compositeur et arrangeur haïtien.
Mushy Widmaier is a "modern jazz" piano player, but one with a certain undertone of both Haitian folklore and European art music - but all of it as ingredients of a digested and unified whole sounding unmistakably as Him. Mushy is capable of fitting in with groups of almost any stylistic observance, and takes a most active and creative part in the proceedings. He seems to master a vast repertory, whether jazz standards, Haitian folk songs, popular dance music or originals.
Based mainly on a self thought theoretic knowledge Mushy may apply anything from slight harmonic embellishments to a complete reharmonization including all kinds of extensions, substitutions and passing chords following each other. He realizes the specific possibility of the keyboard, not only regarding harmony but the subtle percussive potential of the instruments is just as important. A significant characteristic of Mushy individual style is his ability to set moods, structuralize the solos, to built those improvisations on Harmony derived from the theme but most of the time not being a clear form of repetition of the theme framework. Sometimes even recreating original melody (in the interpretations of folk songs), sometimes surprising, sometimes witty, where, those lead to a complete remodeling beyond recognition that any song may undergo being exposed to his perception.
The attendant serenity and maturity during later years with no record productions of his own since his last album “KOTE’OU” are certainly not attempts of explaining away anything like artistic stagnation. On the contrary, Mushy continues to expand his musical language. He is not just staying on firm ground but is, as any creative musician taking risks every now and then. Important achievements as a composer and arranger have been music written for Ballets, Theatre Pieces, Poetries and Documentaries. These works are revealing more facets at each hearing.
Established as the enfant terrible of Haitian music, Mushy Widmaier embarked on a period of research into ways of writing music that would certainly shake the Haitian music tradition, the so-called “School of the New Generation” starting in 1982 , named after His Band Zekle was devoted to the ideals of changes and eradications that would emerge from any evoluting society. And most of all for him, it has been a main goal in his musical life to fight for the acceptance of all musical genres in Haiti as being theirs. As he concluded one of his lectures on “Haitian dance: history and tradition.”:
“Haitian Music is, Song, Classical, Root, Dance, Contemporary, Traditional, Jazz and all musical genres originated from the Haitian soul. This variety constitute the Opera of our History.”
Honors
Invited for the Jazz Workshop in Martinique “Fondation Culture Creation and the Centre Martiniquais d’action culturelle (1993)
Three times Jury Member of American Airlines Music Contest
Musical Composer Contest Award for the 150th Anniversary of Petion-Ville (Hymn) 1981
First Prize winner of International Contest “Phonurgia Nova” for Best Jingles, Best Radio Beds, Best News Themes 1997
Chosen by The Journalist & Critic Gerald Merceron (Jazz Mag) as being among the top 10 best Piano Player of the Caribbean
Associations
Founder of “La Societe Haitienne de Production “(Shap Music) – Haiti
Founder of “La Societe ZEKLE MUSIC “Haiti
Co-Founder of Metro-sound Co. / - Haiti
Co-Founder of Groups ZEKLE & LAKANSYEL – Haiti
Member of the “Societe des Auteurs et Compositeurs “– SACEM France
Founder and President of Fondation Musique & Art - 1997
Share Holder and Consultant of “Communication Professionals “(COMPRO)
Share Holder and Member of the Administration board of “Radio Metropole “(Port-au-Prince, Haiti)
Musicography
1. Gerard Charmier (La flute enchante) 1974
2. Ti Corn 1975
3. Gerald Merceron Energie Mysterieuse 1978 GM002
4. Scorpio Ansan'mAnsan'm 1979
5. Caribbean Sextet Joui la VI 1979 MRS 10596.
6. Gerald Merceron Haiti 2000(Tet San kò) 1980 GM
003
7. Skah Shah #1 1981
8. Baba Boogie Band 1981
9. Zekle Memories 1981
10. Claude Marcelin Boul Malachong 1981
11. Joel+Zekle Ce ou Men'm 1982 ZR701
12. Claude Marcelin Se Verite 1982
13. Gerald Merceron Bokassa 1982 GM004
14. Tuco Bouzi et les Freres Dejean 1982 Kala 1002
15. Zekle Pil ou Fas 1983 ZR 702
16. Simond Jurad 1983
17. Joel + zekle Repon Mwen 1983 WEA
18. Tuco Bouzi Joui La VI 1983 Makaya
19. Raoul Denis Jr Misikasyon 1985 K1003
20. Claude Marcelin 1985 K1007
21. Kajou Tet Chaje 1987 ZR 704
22. Alfred Varasse Ti Bonon'm 1987
23. Jean-Michel Daudier Soley La 1987 S1001
24. Emeline Michel Douvanjou Ka leve 1987
25. Carole Demesmin La Rouze 1987 S1003
26. Shap Vol 1 Zekle Pirogue Assali 1987 S1004
27. Jacques Fattier Haiti 86 1987
28. Zekle STOP 1987 Mad4010
29. KonKou Mizik 86 AA 9 Hans Peters 1987 (aak 1)
30. Vive Haiti Mario De Volcy 1987 Gero004
31. Emeline2 Emeline Michel 1988 S1005
32. Bernard Lavilliers IF 1988 BaryN/S33. Shap Vol 2 1989 S1006
34. Jacqueline +Zekle L'ordinacoeur 1989 S1007
35. Claude Marcelin Roule Tanbou 1989 S10083
36. 3eme Concours Mizik AA Jeannot Montes 1989
AAK3
37. Emeline Michel Flan'm 1989 Cobalt/
38. Yole Desroses Quand Mon Coeur… 1989 ADP002
39. Emeline Michel Tout Mon Temps 1991 Sony5525
40. Emeline Michel Pagenmanti nansa 1991 Geronimo
41. Zekle Best of Zekle 1991 Geronimo
42. Toto Bissainthe CODA 1996 R&B
43. Boukan Ginen 1996
44. Kote'ou Mushy & Lakansyel 1997
45. Zekle San Mele 1998 NG
46. Zenglen An nou Alez 1998
47. Matebis 2000
48. En plein coeur Herby Widmaier 2001
49. Lionel Benjamin Noel Kan Men'm 2001
50. Phillipe Guillaume Guy Durosier 2004
51. Matebis 2000
52. Documentary Faiseur de fanaux 2002
53. Ballet Soley Brule TiGa 2002 BFH
54. Documentary Casseuse de Pierre 2003
55. Documentary Kazale 2004
56. O Chan Pou Haiti Kolectif Non 2004
57. Luc Merville Ti Peyi Mwen 2005
58. Documentary Roussan Camille 2005
59. Documentary Albert Mangonez 2005
60. A Voix Basse 1 Pierrot Brisson 2005
61. My World Mushy Widmaier 2006
62. A Voix Basse 2 Pierrot Brisson 2006
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