Kassav'

Formed in 1979, Kassav' is a collective of world musicians from the islands of Guadalupe and Martinique who perform the traditional Caribbean music known as zouk. Founded in Paris by Pierre-Eduoard Decimus (formerly with Les Vikings de la Guadaloupe) and guitarist Jacob Desvarieux, the group has produced more than 30 albums during its four-decade run, beginning with the debut effort Love and Ka Dance in 1979. Principal performers have included vocalist Jocelyne Béroard, saxophonist Claude Pironneau, trumpet players Freddy Hovsepian and Fabrice Ada, trombonist Hamid Belhocine, and drummer Hervé Laval, while album highlights include 1985's An-Ba-Chen'n La, 1987's platinum-selling Vini Pou, and 2004's Top 40 album K Toz. Although the group remained active on the road and in the studio during the 2010s, Kassav' was dealt a tragic blow in July 2021, when co-founder Jacob Desvarieux succumbed to Covid-19 at 65 years old.