Although Waahli’s show on the main stage of La Fête de la Musique de Tremblant was billed as Hip Hop, Waahli’s true musical essence is Haitian groove-soul tinged with Hip Hop (among other things). Such is the nature of the rich, wide-ranging palette of sounds produced by this Montrealer of Haitian origin. In this fiery but smiling groove, we find Funk, Reggae, Konpa and, yes, Hip Hop, with an extra dash of classic Twoubadou and bits of Jazz. To this stylistic richness, Waahli adds a dose of stage presence that imposes with respect and authenticity, as well as an attitude well away from the clichés of violent, macho Hip Hop. Waahli appeals to everyone, and Tremblant’s ‘hilltop’ square was well inhabited with youngsters dancing to the hard beats and grey-heads swinging their arms at the singer’s cues. Tremblant was the last stop on a Quebec tour, so the current version of Sundance, Men sou yo, Mal du pays, Teke fren and many others were played for the last time. Angèle Dubeau repeats that this is a festival for ‘all kinds of music’. The proof is in the programming.
