Baster

Founded through the initiative of Alain Joron in 1983, Baster was born of the desire to bring life to the Basse-Terre district of Saint-Denis (La Réunion), a disadvantaged area of the city. Thierry Gauliris joined the association in 1981, at the age of 16, and developed his musical desires and ideas into the group Baster. The group went on to record their first album two years later, Mouvman kiltirel Basse-Terre (1983), a direct reference to their host association. Inspired by the Reunionese maloya style, the group had little success and some tracks were censored, but they did manage to get close to such figures of the genre as Danyèl Waro and Ousanousava. Gradually gaining recognition through their live performances, Mon péi, mon lémé (1988) and Rasine momon papa (1990) were released, raising Baster's profile. The group went on to export their music, performing in Bordeaux and Angoulême, before undergoing structural changes shortly after the release of their fourth studio album Lorizon kasé (1992). Recomposed with new musicians, Baster performed at the Printemps de Bourges and Zenith in Paris, then exploded onto the scene with Black Out (1998) and its eponymous single. Baster went on to gain international renown, recording at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong Studio for Kaf Gong Reggae (2002), and touring extensively. In 2011, Baster's eleventh album, Nou lé la, marks the 30th anniversary of a rich career, showcasing traditional Réunionese music and fighting discrimination alongside the likes of Ziskakan, Granmoun Lélé, Ousanousava and Danyèl Waro.

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