Haitian Music - Haiti Observer Blog

NOEL AND CECIBON PRODUCTIONS invite you to celebrate 20 years of The Haitian Compas Festival in Wynwood on Saturday, May 19, 2018. We are celebrating 20 years of music, 20 years of success, 20 years of culture.

The 2018's Haitian Compas Festival will have your favorite top Haitian bands and artists on one stage. VIP tickets include complimentary food & drinks from 5-8 PM!

The Talent Lineup:
Admirat T
Harmonik
Tabou Combo
Djakout #1
Nu Look
Kreyol La
VayB
Disip
Septen
T-Vice
Kai
Gabel
Enposib
Rutshelle
Ada
JPerry
DJ FMA
Tony Mix
Power Mix
...and many more surprises!

Date and Time
Sat, May 19, 2018, 4:00 PM -
Sun, May 20, 2018, 2:00 AM

Location
MANA Wynwood
318 NW 23rd ST
Miami, FL 33127

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Every beautiful thing must come to an end.That is the case of the Haitian music band CARIMI that has decided to disband and dissolve. The news came from the manager of the group Frito Fannen "Fito" who stated that the decision to do away with the band CaRiMi was a result of their lead singer, Michael Guirand, not being able to commit his time to the band.

The group was founded in 2001 by Carlo Vieux, Richard Carve and Michael Guirand and the group was named after them as well.

What do you think?

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Mikael Guirand has announced to step down as a Carimi lead singer. He has announced his decision to step away from the stage in KompaMagazine.com on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015, addressing Pat Desvarieux. He was the "Mi" of Carimi, with Carlo Vieux and Richard Cavé and has remained with the group since its inception in 2002 in New York.

In the last November, the band has celebrated its 14th anniversary. Carimi is one of the most consistent and popular band in Haiti. The reason for his departure was not disclosed. He has informed his decision to the management of Carimi so that they can plan how the band would move forward in the future. He has admitted this was a hard decision for him, after having been reliable to them and his fans for the past 14 years.

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On Thursday, October 8th, 2015, during a ceremony at the National Palace, President Michel Martelly honored five Haitian musical personalities, elevated to the rank of National Order of Honor and Merit, Grade of Knight: André Dejean, Albert Chancy, Henrio (Boulot) Valcourt, Richard Duroseau and David Metellus aka "Ti Coka". The Haitian Prime Minister Evans Paul was present during the awarding ceremony. While delivering his speech for the occasion, the President has said that the contribution by these honorees would easily inspire today's youths to put valuable stones in the reconstruction of Haiti.

Albert Chancy (1950?) is a man of many personalities. He is a guitarist, pianist, singer, songwriter, journalist, businessman, media owner and co-founder and first maestro of Tabou Combo Pétion-ville. His first music group was "Atomic". Thereafter, he formed the group "Incognitos" with his childhood friend Herman Nau which later (in 1968) became "Tabou Combo". Albert is accredited for style 'igniter' that characterized his group "Tabou Combo" by his technique, speed and compositions. He is also marked as the advent of mini-jazz in Haiti.

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All the efforts of the Haitian Compas band Klass and its Maestro Richie this year have not been unnoticed. At the 34th Annual International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) the group was awarded Best Haitian Entertainer of the Year.

The THELAR Management Group and Martin's International Culture have honored Haitian Compas band, 'Klass' "The Best Haitian Entertainer of the Year 2015" award at the 34th Annual International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) ceremony. Nu Look, another Haitian Compas band based in Florida has been awarded "Florida Haitian Entertainer of the Year 2015" award during the same ceremony held on October 4, 2015 at Bailey Hall of Broward College Central Campus in Davie, Florida. The prestigious annual award ceremony was attended by many well known entertainers, dignitaries and personalities from the music industry of the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, the U.S and Africa. Every year, the experts in Haitian music from these countries participate in the nomination process and the whole process of awarding is overseen by the THELAR Group. Nominations are based on the works released between June 2014 and May 31st, 2015 and the winner is selected by considering the work's social relevance, originality, quality of performance, stage performance, sales at local/national/international levels, etc.

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Haitian musician, Freshla, wants to shake up the establishment with his music, Raboday. A high-profile music producer also, he is playing a role in this month's Parliamentary elections.

Music critic, Susana Ferreira, who writes for BuzzFeed and profiled Freshla in the e-magazine, comments on various interpretations of Freshla's current hit, "Kite Ti Pati'm Kanpe". She says a couple of meanings translate from Creole as ". . . let my little party stand", or don't mess with ". . . my piece of the pie".

Freshla, reigning King of Raboday, heads Vwadezil, which performs a new genre of pop music. Using elements of electronic music, voodoo beats, and rah-rah, its synthesis began in the streets. Haitian youth love Raboday mainly for its beats, but also because it strikes back at the status quo and criticizes the current political climate.

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Many who grew up with many of the love songs of singer Herold Christophe are sad today. The popular Haitian singer died on August 28 after a long illness.

Herold Christophe, the great love singer of the Haitian girls in the late 80s, has left for another world on August 28, 2015. He has died in Boston, Massachusetts, after his five year long fight with prostate cancer. As per news sources, for the last five years, the singer had tried everything; gone through many sessions of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, blood transfusion, and he even followed many forms of natural remedies. Unfortunately, earlier this year, the doctors told his family members that the last sessions of chemotherapies were doing more harm than good to him. In the span of last 2-3 months, he had lost his ability to eat, drink, swallow or move and was even fighting to breathe.

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Music promoter, Ewald Étienne, was gunned down last Thursday, December 17, 2014 in front of his home close to Maurice-Duplessis Blvd. in Montreal

Ewald Stephen who was 35 years old was also a cafe owner and bank employee. He has been described by many as a very kind and gentle person.

Haitian-born, Montreal-based show promoter Ewald Etienne became the 27th homicide victim for the city for the year when he was murdered in Rivière-des-Prairies, Montreal. The victim, 35 years of age, sustained at least one gunshot to the upper body in the incident that took place on 63rd Avenue, outside of a home near Maurice-Duplessis Boulevard.

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It is that time of year again when the city of Port-au-Prince, along with other host cities, is woken up by the sonorous sophistication that is jazz. From the 17th of January through to the 25th, the International Jazz Festival of Port-au-Prince promises to fill the air of the capital with the offerings from the 12 visiting participating countries who will take part in an equal number of concerts throughout the festival season.

Held now for its 8th year, the International Jazz Festival will feature performances from French acts, artistes from Cameroon, Benin and the United States, to name a few. The legwork and effort was made by partners of the Haiti Jazz Foundation, including the Tourism and Culture Ministries, the International Organization of the Francophony and 9 embassies.

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We learned with sadness the death of a long time member of the Orchestre Tropicana d'Haiti. Keyboardist Herve Casseus is no longer with us. He passed away on Monday December 16, 2013 in new york city

Yon lot membre nan fanmi tropicana-a alle. Herve Casseus se te yon moun de byen. li te jwe yon rol impotan nan Orkest la e pi li te pote plisyer chapo. Li te bon anpil nan Kibod-li. Apa de sa, Herve Casseus te konn kompose, fè arangman tou/ En bref, li te direktè nan mizik pou orkest la