Caribbean jazz: Martinican singer Joachim Des Ormeaux refines his project “Wou Sé Mwen”

The “Wou Sé Mwen Trilogy” project, developed by Martinican singer and storyteller Joachim Des Ormeaux, continues on its way with pianist Thierry Vaton and drummer Arnaud Dolmen. After a first album in 2021 (Act 1), the musicians are working on the second part of the triptych with an Act 2 which will be released this year in four scenes.



A stimulating initiative. Wou Se Mwen (“We Are One”, in Creole) is a unique concept that aims to explore the multiple contours of Caribbean jazz. It comes in a trilogy carried by three “sizes” of West Indian music. Martinican pianist, arranger and composer Thierry Vaton, known as “the doctor”, who has played with Kassav’, MizikOpéyi, Myriam Makeba and Angélique Kidjo, among others; the singer, author and storyteller in the Creole language Joachim Des Ormeaux, aka “JOacHIM”, also percussionist and guitarist and Guadeloupean drummer and percussionist Arnaud Dolmen, “Nono” for those close to him, winner of the Révélation des Victoires du jazz 2022 prize for his album “Adjusting”.

There is a common synergy of inspiration“, explains to Outre-mer La 1ere Joachim Des Ormeaux, the creator of the concept Wou Se Mwen. Despite a calendar disrupted by the health crisis, “Act 1” of the musical trilogy, a six-track album entitled “Eta Carnival”, was released in January 2021. It is available on legal download platforms and soon on a another platform in creation, Web JAM DO OVER, “to compensate for the lack of visibility of Caribbean music”, explains Joachim Des Ormeaux. “This laboratory of artistic exchange and innovation will offer three poles: streaming in audio or video on our music or events, literature and transmission..

“This transmission component is important because its ambition is to set up training centers in difficult neighborhoods, such as Terres-Sainvilles in Martinique, where I come from”, says the singer. “In this context, for example, recording and broadcasting studios would be set up there where young people could learn the music trades. This would lead to adequate certifications which would allow their integration dynamics. There is a lot of talent in these neighborhoods but young people do not necessarily have the reflex and the know-how to go and solicit the institutions.”

Joachim Des Ormeaux – Wou Sé Mwen



©DR

The philosophy of the concept Wou Se Mwen ? “The sharing”, replies Joachim Des Ormeaux without hesitation. “It is our tradition, our Caribbean value, the transmission of the know-how of our musicians to young people.” As for him, the author of the texts is rooted in his experience thanks to his inspiration. “I’ve had a pretty tough life. I have gone far in my quest for spirituality, where I have looked at life events, society, human nature and relationships between people through a certain prism, with curiosity and an open mind.”

The Creole language is also very important in the creative process of Joachim Des Ormeaux. “What I like are the images and reception channels conveyed by Creole. It’s like drawing a picture with words”, he said. “There are a lot of possible structures and freedom in this language. It corresponds perfectly to the way I wish to express myself and perceive things in life. I conceive proverbs, expressions and themes of thoughts. I really appreciate the metaphorical side of Creole, its guttural side, its musicality which corresponds to jazz and it’s my mother tongue!”

The second scene of Act 2 (the second album) of the project Wou Se Mwen will be released on August 16 with the remaining scenes in October 2022 and January 2023 respectively. Act 3 of the trilogy is expected to pick up all of the titles released in late 2023.

Caribbean jazz: Martinican singer Joachim Des Ormeaux refines his project “Wou Sé Mwen” – Outre-mer la 1ère