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In Remembrance of Lenord Fortune, “Azor”

August 5, 2011 by Steve Desrosiers, Contributing Editor

Lenord "Azor" Fortune (1965-2011)Lenord "Azor" Fortune (1965-2011)The old saying is Tanbou frappe, Haitien kanpe —or “when the drum’s struck, Haitians stand!” That’s been the case for us throughout the many years that Racine percussionist Lenord Fortune, or “Azor”, used his talents in music to carve a national and international path for Haiti’s roots tradition.

The Island does not lack for talented percussionists but Azor - like his renowned predecessor, “Ti Roro”- could make the drums talk, sing, scream, shout and - sometimes, even whisper. His amazing ability with a hand drum was only matched by his astounding talent as a vocalist.

His videos were celebrations of the sounds, colors and movements of the African in Haitians. He set his scenes on Haiti’s lush mountains and its vibrant waterfalls and sung the trials and tribulations of his native land in plain-worded truths. He was a rarity among his kind – a “tambourineur” who was as comfortable in an “all vocals” acoustic setting and equally at peace with the best of Haiti’s electric music traditions. Read more

Central Square Theatre hosts “Ti-Jean and His Brothers”

February 15, 2011 by Chris Harding, Special to the Reporter

TI-JEAN & HIS BROTHERS: From Left: Cedric Lilly (Mi Jean), Kervin George Germain (Ti-Jean), and Hampton Sterling Fluker (Gros Jean).TI-JEAN & HIS BROTHERS: From Left: Cedric Lilly (Mi Jean), Kervin George Germain (Ti-Jean), and Hampton Sterling Fluker (Gros Jean).Mattapan resident Kervin George Germain has the title role in Derek Walcott’s “Ti-Jean and His Brothers,” a musical drama that has been in continuous production around the world since it was written in 1957 and now is being revived in Boston to celebrate, among other things, Black History Month.

Through March 13, Central Square Theater marks the 30th anniversary of Nobel Prize winner Derek Walcott’s founding of Boston Playwrights’ Theatre at Boston University and commemorates the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti with this local production of the Saint Lucian playwright’s powerful folk parable. Read more

Gazzman Couleur’s new group Disip doesn’t disappoint

September 17, 2010 by Steve Desrosiers, Contributing Editor

The talented singer/songwriter and former Nu-Look front-man, Gazzman Couleur, has unleashed his highly anticipated release with new band, “Disip”. The album hosts 13 original compositions and was backed by Miami based Tropikal Records.
The announcement of Gazzman’s sudden split with his former Nu-Look band mates in early 2010 shook the Haitian music industry to its core. While it was known among insiders that there were strained relations between Nu-Look’s leaders, no one foresaw the extent of Gazzman’s dissatisfaction with co-leader and vocalist Arly. Apparently, Gazzman had long been planning his exit strategy as no sooner did he announce his departure from new look, rumors soon surfaced that he was well underway to forming a new group with yet another former Nu-Look member, guitarist – Gabriel Laporte. Soon thereafter the name of the group was broadcast on industry websites and promoters jumped at the chance to capitalize on the interest generated by the dissolution of one of the industry’s most popular partnerships.   Read more

Two new releases by Haiti’s hottest live acts

January 11, 2010 by Steve Desrosiers, Contributing Editor

Chale MizikChale MizikChale Mizik
Mme Bruno
Miami-based Chale Mizik ranks high among the Haitian music industry’s roster of new bands. The group’s first release, “Mme Bruno” is a 14-song collection of original material. The album is an independent release. Read more

Michael's Legacy: Jackson 5, MJ had huge impact in Haiti

July 9, 2009 by Steve Desrosiers, Contributing Editor

You’ll probably never forget where you were or what you were doing when you heard the news. I was sneaking a little time on Facebook enjoying a conversation with a fellow musician who was gigging in Switzerland.
We were enjoying a nice chat when she suddenly typed “They’re saying Michael Jackson’s dead?”
Of course, active consumer of American media that I am, I immediately thought it was half-true and that Michael was probably sick. Too young to die! No way. We haven’t seen each other in a while, but we’re growing old together. Read more

Life Outside of Pearl: From Dream to Film Reality

July 9, 2009 by Pierre E. Auguste

Uscla "Johnny" Desarmes: Director of "Life Outside of Pearl"Uscla "Johnny" Desarmes: Director of "Life Outside of Pearl"With such a small Haitian population out here in Los Angeles, you cannot imagine the excitement shared by my wife and me as we stood in the lobby of Uscla “Johnny” Desarmes’ home in Hollywood waiting to meet him. When you’re far away from home — which in my case is the northeast, the Mecca for Haitians in the U.S.— you’re never sure what to expect from your fellow countrymen. Read more

Another classic by the elder statesman of Jazz fusion

June 24, 2009 by Steve Desrosiers

Reginald Policard
Changing Moods
Reginald Policard, a leader among Haiti’s elite musicians, recently released his latest work, “Changing Moods” for fans of his brand of Haitian and not-so-Haitian jazz. The release is a product of his label, PoliSon, and is comprised of a very modest nine instrumental pieces. Read more

BHR Reviews: Jude Jean makes his return with live album by Stil

June 24, 2009 by Steve Desrosiers

Stil
Tet Kole (Live)
“Fanatic Malades” (Dedicated fans) in the U.S. have been waiting quite some time to hear the “Stil” sound in live format and, alas, what Haitian fans have long been exposed to is finally available. The album, “Tet Kole” is a collection of seven live performances released on the Tropikal Records label. Read more

BHR Reviews: Jude Jean makes his return with live album by Stil

June 24, 2009 by Steve Desrosiers

Stil
Tet Kole (Live)
“Fanatic Malades” (Dedicated fans) in the U.S. have been waiting quite some time to hear the “Stil” sound in live format and, alas, what Haitian fans have long been exposed to is finally available. The album, “Tet Kole” is a collection of seven live performances released on the Tropikal Records label. Read more

Kreyol-Rap crew make impressive debut on Wyclef’s label

June 24, 2009 by Steve Desrosiers

Barikad Crew
Jisko Bou (Til the end)
Haiti’s Rap-Kreyol community has a lot to celebrate with the release of Barikad Crew’s (BC) “Jisko Bou”. The talented young MCs 'repping Port-au-Prince’s downtrodden working class hoods now boast a mainstream album backed by Wyclef Jean’s Sak-Pase Records. Read more

Manno Charlamagne’s voice moved a nation; Homegrown talent Fontaine makes an impression

June 24, 2009 by Steve Desrosiers, Contributing Editor

Manno Charlemagne
Les Inedits (unedited)
Songs of Manno Charlemagne

His was the voice and conscience of the generation of Haitian men and women who ousted the Duvalier regime in the early 1980s. Manno Charlemagne also helped to usher in Haiti’s first attempt at Democratic government ten years later. Read more

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