well known in Caribbean dance music from which the music of Kassav' evolved. Kassav' released another CD in 2007, All U Need Is Zouk, to substantial acclaim with another successful world tour. Nearly 30 years later the same musicians are still arguably great performers . Originally formed solely of Guadeloupean artists (Decimus, Desvarieux, St-Eloi), within a few years Kassav' also embraced band members of Martinican ancestry (Béroard, Naimro, Marthely); their music is mostly compas that delved deep into synthesized sounds after exploring many acoustic timbres, with rhythms based fundamentally in a gwo ka (French Caribbean folkloric drumming/chanting) context, especially in earlier recordings. It has been suggested that their success was largely outside of the large U.S. music market due to a nearly total absence of English lyrics; instead, they use a very localized version of Créole Français unique to Guadeloupe and Martinique, very distinct from European French or even Haitian French Kreyòl. Their choice of language however did not limit their artistic vision, and it remains carnival-like and eminently danceable; the success of Kassav' was ongoing in the 2010s. On 30 July 2021, Jacob Desvarieux, 65, passed away at the University Hospital of Abymes in Guadeloupe. He had been medically induced into a coma for almost a month. His death was attributed to COVID-19 by media reports. Musicians Current Vocals: Jean Philippe Marthely (1981–present), Jocelyne Beroard (1980–present) Keyboards: Philippe Joseph (1994–present), Jean Claude Naimro (1980–present) Drums: Thomas Bellon (2012–present) Saxophones: Claude Pironneau (1999–present) Bass: Georges Decimus (1979–present) Trumpets: Fabrice Adam (1994–present) Trombone: Hamid Belhocine (1982–present) Backing vocals: Marie-Céline Chroné et Marie-Josée Gibon Past Drums: Claude Vamur (temporarily replaced by Hervé Laval, although Vamur did not leave the group) Percussion: Patrick Saint-Elie Percussion: César Durcin (died 11 February 2016) Saxophones: Claude Thirifays Trumpets: Jean-Pierre Ramirez, Freddy Hovsepian (1982–2021) (died 12 February 2021) Trombone: Claude Romano Backing vocals: Catherine Laupa Keyboards: Douglas M Bida Bass: Frédéric Caracas, Pierre Edouard Decimus, Guy n Sangué et Stéphane Castry Vocals: Patrick Saint Eloi 1982 - 2002 (died 18 September 2010) Vocals: Jacob Desvarieux 1979 – 2021 (died 30 July 2021) Guests Vocals: Zouk Machine, Jean Luc Guanel, Princess Lover, Tanya Saint Val, Shoubou, Philippe Lavil, Daly, Passi, Tony Chasseur, Jocelyne Labylle, Tribal Jam, Edith Lefel, (died 20 January 2003), Ralph Thamar. Backing Vocals: Claudine Pennont, Suzy Trébeau, Sylvie Aïoun, Jean-Jacques Seba Drums: Jean-Philippe Fanfant, José Zébina, Jérome Castry Percussion: Dédé Saint Prix, Albert Vigne Keyboards: