Review
Publication date : Sunday, December 12th 2004 - 27 255 views
Admiral T, Carnival in Paris
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At only 23, Admiral T is one of the leading artists of the Guadeloupean music scene. "Mozaïk Kréol", by developing a project that is both artistic and rich in identity, has seriously refreshed French dancehall. Each of his visits to mainland France is an opportunity for him to confirm it, and for us to note the enthusiasm of an ever larger and more mixed audience, even if it remains mostly Antillean.
 The concert begins in a packed Elysée Montmartre, with hands in the air. As usual, the Parisian public turned out in force. Yet this is the third time in less than a year, and without a new album out, that Admiral T has performed in the capital. Judging by the ovation he receives on appearing, it seems nobody is complaining, quite the contrary. Accompanied by the group Maeva, he runs through the songs in a riot of energy and enthusiasm that sets the room ablaze.
Admiral T loves the stage and it shows. As he enjoys reminding us before launching into a thundering Sound System, he "comes from there, it's from the Sound Systems that [his] music comes... so go for it". It is from that era, when he set the corners of Gwadada alight with his collective the Karukera Sound System (K.S.S), that he gets his stage energy. Hands stay in the air and the crowd sings along to choruses it knows by heart. When he launches into Rev En Mwen, it is hard not to conclude that he is one of the artists of his generation who has best succeeded in uniting the rhythms of the traditional Guadeloupean drums (the Gro ka) with modern Caribbean music.
Tropical carnival
Admiral T is happy to be performing in Paris and says so many times to the audience. Between songs, the "conscious" artist multiplies the dedications to the different communities he manages to bring together at each of his appearances, showing, like Kassav in its day, that Creole is no obstacle to the development of his music in mainland France. The audience enjoys it and responds to each of his calls before chanting the famous Gwadada, a true anthem of Guadeloupean youth. Not long before the end of the concert, he improvises a carnival by bringing spectators up on stage. The drums resound in an atmosphere of tropical carnival ahead of time. The show is now in the room.
The concert ends after 1h45 of music during which a whirling Admiral T was once again equal to his talent. The protagonists of the show leave the stage only to return very quickly to treat us to Move Together, like the final note of a concert during which the singer never stopped sending messages of unity and fraternity. The encore was short... one song and then off they go! For the diehards and everyone else, remember that from 19 January he will be on the bill of Jean-Claude Flamand Barny's film "Nèg Maron", alongside Stomy Bugsy and D Daly. Perhaps an opportunity for the bubbling Admiral T to show us a new facet of his talent.
Report written by Karl Joseph
Tags : Admiral T (89)
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