Godwin Louis: A Grammy-nominated Saxophonist
Godwin Louis’ latest album could have easily been called “Global 2” as a sequel to the original because of the reocurring theme philosophically and aesthetically. His intrigue with exploring the Diaspora, particularly the African Diaspora, attracted him to study the religious musical traditions and cultures. Born in Harlem, New York, and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, the musician, composer, and arranger traced different movements, denominations, and musical influences from Europe to Africa to the Caribbean to gain perspective of global praise and worship.
“As a jazz saxophonist, I have been studying a lot of music and spending time in West Africa but not fully understanding the different denominations and where they come from. I consider myself non-denominational, but I have always been intrigued by people being Baptist or Seventh Day Adventist and where that culture fits in musically,” he explained. “Everything I am doing in terms of improvisation of the same aesthetic we find in church is the concept of exploration of hymns. So this jazz album is a global exploration of hymns to psalms and proverbs.”
Settling into the spirit of writing music for the album, Louis was inspired by his late father, Rev. Marcel Louis. Before his transition in 2019, the elder Louis had written a suite and intended to compose music for all 150 Psalms in the Bible. As a tribute to his father’s inspiration, Psalm 23 is indelibly commemorated on the album. Louis stated, “Growing up, Psalm 23 was very popular in our Port-au-Prince church, and I have been exploring that and playing with my band for the past five years, and I added a little bit to it and turned it into three sections: “The Lord is my Shepherd,” “I Shall Fear No Evil” and “Surely Goodness and Mercy.”
Other tracks on the “Psalms and Proverbs” album, including the Christian hymn “Showers of Blessings” and “Now and Forever,” resonate with intimate meaning and deep conviction. “When I think of music and my personal belief in spirituality, I think of the goodness and mercy of God in my life. I am always reminded that it is ‘now and forever’ that His mercy endures. I always think of that, even when playing music.”
Music has been a central part of Louis’s life since he was a child prodigy at the age of five. Later, he advanced to the saxophone, where he found his true calling. Before long, Louis was playing in the church band and charting his path to grander heights, studying and performing with some of the musical greats: Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Clark Terry, Madonna, Prince, and Patti LaBelle; he first played the piano, among others.
Louis has advanced educationally as a graduate of Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance and Berklee College of Music. He currently has four years of experience in educating and mentoring students. “It is humbling and shows the power of education, specifically music education and mentorship. I remember some students came in, and I felt I was not necessarily resonating with them with my teaching style, so I would always find a way and go by faith. And then the next year, they would come back, and you would hear the wisdom they attained, and I was thinking, WOW, they’re ready for the real world!”
When Professor Louis returns to his classroom at Berklee this fall, he will be even more committed to Experience Ayiti, a non-profit educational and multidisciplinary arts program he founded in Haiti. He also plans to revitalize the school in Port-au-Prince, established by his father nearly sixty years ago. Louis will continue to promote talent at his Rooftop Jazz Club in Toga. He intends to produce another album delving into the rich sounds of Africa, following up on the success of “Psalms and Proverbs.”
Despite the multiplicity of dedication, Godwin Louis’ testimony to manifest his own personal proverb as an ‘ambassador of music’ paying it forward. “I have traveled the world through music and I realize the connections that need to be made. My lifelong goal is to create a bridge where students and professional musicians from the African Diaspora and here in the United States can meet, learn, and experience each other’s culture. Music should always be the voice of humanity.”
