Both volumes of the Caribbean Audio Odyssey on one compact disc! Calypso, the infectious rhythms and melodies of the Caribbean area originated in Trinidad. It is really the musical expression of the Afro-West-Indian population. There are various explanations for the origin of the word Calypso, but it is most likely that it stems from the African word Kaiso, which means Bravo. The lyrics (in a dialectic English) and the melody are usually made up at the spur of the moment. The words very often have a double meaning. The topic is sex, but frequently deals with current events of social and political happenings. The rhythms are enticing and therefore popular for dancing. Calypso in the Caribbean includes a range of genres, including: the Benna genre of Antiguan and Barbudan music; Mento, a style of Jamaican folk music that greatly influenced ska and reggae; Ska, the precursor to rocksteady and reggae; Spouge, a style of Barbadian popular music; Cadence-lypso, which mixed calypso with the cadence rampa of Haiti and Dominican traditional music; and soca music, a style of Kaiso / calypso, with influences from Cadence-lypso, Soul, Funk and Indian musical instruments. It features cuts from Maria Bryant, Lord Kitchener, Orchestral Overtures, Duke Of Iron, Count Owen and His Calypsonians, Blind Blake, The Charmer, The Talbot Brothers, Wilmoth Houdini, Small Island Pride, Ruben McCoy and The Hamiltonians, Anatol's Cubans, Charlie Binger and His Quartet, Orchestre Combo Zombie, Noro Morales Y Su Orchestra, Tommy McCook and The Supersonics, and Cyril Diaz and His Orchestra
