Ti-Coca

Masters of Haiti's twoubadou (troubadour) tradition, Ti-Coca and his band, Wanga-Nègès perform with a straightforward and utterly committed joy. The band moves through Haiti's African, Caribbean, and Latin acoustic sounds with the high-energy determination and lightness of the group's namesake, the hummingbird. Nimble banjo and shimmering accordion pair up with earthy percussion, the rollicking manoumba (traditional double bass), and Ti-Coca's tcha-tcha, a simple gourd percussion instrument he coaxes into virtuosity. Led by his gritty, warm voice and unflagging charisma, Ti-Coca and his group make a mixture designed to elevate and seduce.