The Creole mazurka, "la mazouk," is a popular dance in the Caribbean, featuring a synchopated three beat pattern. Instead of a waltz, think of a biguine (such as "Serpent Maigre, our May 2014 release) with an extra beat. We learned this month's track-of-the-month, "La Mazouk En Avant," from a recording made by Martinique clarinet hero Eugène Delouche in 1953 that featured a vocal by David Martial. The present offering features the New Orleans chanteuse and Panorama collaborator Jane Harvey Brown (check out "Shame Shame Shame," our May 2016 release, as well as three tunes from off our Panoramaland CD, "Don't Touch Me Tomato," "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" and "If You Love Me"). You will also hear instrumental solos by Panorama saxophonist Aurora Nealand and our trombonist Charlie Halloran. Special thanks to the France-based vocalist Sylvain Padra, originally from Martinique, who transcribed the lyrics from the original Delouche recording as well as to the Haitian-born, New Orleans-living school teacher, Yves Conséant, for providing the English translation. Recorded March 21, 2016 at Listen Up! Studios, New Orleans, LA Jane Harvey Brown - Vocal Ben Schenck - Clarinet Aurora Nealand - Alto Saxophone Charlie Halloran - Trombone Matt Schreiber - Accordion Georgi Petrov - Banjo Steve Glenn - Tuba Doug Garrison - Drums Music arranged by Ben Schenck Lyrics transcribed by Sylvain Padra Lyrics translated by Yves Conséant Recorded, edited and mixed by Michael Seaman at Listen Up! Studios, New Orleans, LA Mastered by Lu Rojas at Oak Street Recording, New Orleans, LA Graphic design by Ben Schenck and Daniel Murphy Cover photo by Greg Miles Lyrics in Creole and English translation: La mazouk en avant! Kavalié ka pointé , Les dames subordonnées Les mains sur le coté. Robes, jupons, souliers d'or, Colliers, foulards madras, Peau kréyol Martinique, Yo peu di yo joli. Au bordèl Lè yo bèl! Yo dou, yo dou, yo dou! Yo joli, yo joli! Pa ni, pa ni konsa. Junn' kon vieu ka pasé, Étranjé ka rivé, Yo ka di Martinique Pa ni pli dou ki sa. The mazurka is beginning! The Gentlemen are pointing, The ladies who accompany them Have their hands on their hips. Dresses, skirts, gold shoes, Necklaces, madras scarves, Creole skin of Martinique, You can say they are pretty. They are beautiful! They are sweet, sweet, sweet! They are pretty, pretty! There is none other, none other like them. Young and old who pass by, Strangers who arrive. They will say there is no other place As sweet as Martinique.