10 MOST INFLUENTIAL HMI BANDS OF ALL TIME by FABRICE ROUZIER
PostPosted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 12:19 pm
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We asked FABRICE ROUZIER the following question below...check out what he told us. READ BELOW.
*KOMPA MAGAZINE: If I were to ask you to name the 10 MOST Influential BANDS in the HMI of all time...what would be your list, and tell me why...in terms of what they brought to the GAME
FABRICE ROUZIER's list is below:
*1. ISSA EL SAIEH. With his musicianship and the caliber of people he collaborated with, he influenced EVERYBODY , even the creators of Konpa. He also left a golden legacy for Haitian music worldwide. The famous cuban pianist Bebo Valdez called the ISSA SAIEH orchestra, the best band in the caribbean.
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* 2. DJAZZ DES JEUNES. This is in my book, one if not the best Haitian band ever. The harmonies, the mix of folklore and modern harmonies the clever creations.
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* 3. Nemours Jean Baptiste, Richard Duroseau and Webert Sicot: Notice I put the three in one category. They defined the konpa / cadence rampas genre and are probably the biggest influence on 4 generations of musicians.
* 4. Shleu Shleu. This is one of the institution that gave konpa some of its most revered creations and some of its most brilliant musicians : Tony Moise, Cubano, Zouzoule, Smith Jean Baptiste, Serge Rosenthal, Loubert Chancy, Ti Frere....The two guitars and a sax format copied so many times...
* 5. Ibo Combo. The masters of harmony. The band that ruled the late 60s and pretty much was the benchmark for the early Tabou, Difficiles and everyone else. The fantastic school that revealed to us Jose Tavernier, Boulo Valcourt, Michel and Jean Jean Laraque, Pantal or Reginald Policard.
* 6. Les Difficiles de Petion-Ville. One name : Robert Martino. This man became a demi-God for so many aspiring musicians/ guitarists in Haiti and the US diaspora. His fusion of rock and caribbean cliches are still copied by everyone.
* 7. Tabou Combo. Is there really anything to say about this group. The vision completely different from what was happening at the time, the clothes, the logo, the hits ! Everybody tried to copy what they were doing, but no one really came close except for DP Express maybe...
* 8. Skah Shah. I could have easily put them in my Shleu Shleu ranking but the transformation that occurred when these gentlemen moved to the US made their product a novelty on its own. The brass arrangements ( courtesy of the genius Dernst Emile sometimes ) the guitar duo, the drums, the vocals and the stellar pianists ( Jean Alcindor and Richard Duroseau...again ). One of my biggest influences.
* 9. Les Frères Déjean. Andre, Fred, Camille, Philippe and Lionel put together a family band that has the most unique sound in Konpa outside of Coupe Cloue. They had the genius of recruiting some youngsters that would become also icons in their own rights. Guitars : Reginald Benjamin, Polis Nozile or Reynold Nader. Bass : Ernst Vincent , Josue Fortune. Drums : Tuco Bouzi or Ramponeau. Vocals : Harold Joseph, Isnard Douby or Yvon Louissaint. This band is to this day the favorite haitian band in the french antilles and was the backbone of a lot of productions from over there.
* 10. Magnum Band. This is, just like Dejean, one of the most unique sounding group in Haitian Music history. Just like Dejean, they made it a trend to "modernize" traditional haitian songs. It helps that its founders, Dadou and Tico Pasquet, had notable past experiences with Raoul Guillaume, Les Gypsies , Les Freres Dejean or Tabou Combo. The Pasquet brothers also have a very famous uncle: Legendary crooner Dodof Legros. Magnum has left us a considerable volume of infectious grooves filled with indicate harmonies. Magnum, to me, is the gold standard when it comes to presenting the best of Haitian rhythms.
VOILA! *Please put this disclaimer*. It is my choice not the gospel. I realize that not putting Bossa, Zekle, Septent, Tropic, Djet-X or DP ( All bands that i absolutely love ) in there will create some tension but i'm confortable with my choice. I'd love to read some of the other choices from contributors or musicians."
KM!
