San & Griot Spirit
Griot Spirit
A creole voice of blues mixed with the colors folk; rhythms of the world and traditional; deep lyrics which evokes any social condition…
Writer, composer, singer, Jean Sanon Lamour – San - was born in Pétion-Ville, Haiti. As a child, San discovered music in his parents’ library where he found songs of different material, which he learned without even understanding the words.
On his own, San started to sing and play the guitar, before joining the National Arts School where he studied music for some time. But what has made San the artist he has become is his ability to diversify his style and to mix the different sounds which continue to influence him.
At the beginning of 2000, San became public thanks to the group Sokute, which already introduced a new musical concept, merging soul music with Haitian rhythms.
With Sokute, San went on stage in Port-au-Prince at Café des Arts, at the French Institute in Haiti, as well as at the Roots Rock Reggae and the Rolling Stone Café; in Miami at the Roots and Culture Festival; and more importantly in Canada at the Francofolies de Montréal, at Festival Vues D’Afrique, and at Clubs such as Balattou and Zest.
After 10 years as a musician, San now presents us with a new face in Haitian music: he is back on the world music scene with a new project : San & GRIOT SPIRIT (The Griot Spirit). Naturally, the name of the project refers to the traditional musicians and poets of Africa. It also comes within the scope of Haitian native art and to the roots of the Haitian culture.
In fact, it is from his ancestors that San gets his new inspiration, and creates an hybrid, afro-pop sound, with traditional Haitian rhythms merged with world rhythms, and influenced by American folk, roots rock reggae and blues creole. To the sound of Haitian drums, his music leaves freedom to experiment and improvise. In his songs, where he speaks of identity, unity, freedom and equality, one can feel the influence of Paul Simon, Tracy Chapman and Ben Harper.
San (Griot Spirit) has been on stage with Bélo and Boukman Eksperyans in Haïti and at the World Café Live in Philadelphia and at Club Balattou in Montreal; with Emeline Michel, Luck Mervil and Beethova Obas at the Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, as well as at the French Institute in Haiti and at Fondation Konesans ak Libetè (FOKAL).
The music of San & GRIOT SPIRIT goes to a new level on stage everywhere they play in the world when they stir the public to their new vibration.
World: Creole