CD Review no. 52 | All CD Reviews

Quite a few Konpa dirèk CDs have been released recently, some better than others, but there is definitely no doubt that Carimi's first release ranks among the best. Entitled Ayiti (bang bang) the CD came out with a bang. The title tune is a powerful melody, with lyrics which carry a potent message to the politicians. Richard Cave and Michel Guirand, the composers of Ayiti bang bang, make an urgent plea for the CIA, DEA and others to stop interfering in Haiti internal affairs. They pointedly say that their country is not a toy, and that they should stop playing with it.

This is quite a direct condemnation of the behavior of the professionnal politicians who prefer to close their eyes while the country deteriorates. This is a powerful message that comes at the right time. They oppose the tendency of the people to be so quick to pull a gun to resolve their differences. The lyrics are supported by nice melodic lines, a very steady Konpa beat, in short a perfect mix. These guys have some of the most ineresting introductions to their songs. Bang Bang opens up like a Star Wars movie, with full use of all kind of electronic sounds. The other songs have equally interesting and original introductions. Just pay attention to that as you listen it.

At different times in the music, the lead singer proclaims that Carimi is the New Generation on the offensive . I am not quite sure about that, but a solid case can certainly be made for that claim. Carimi's use of electronic gadgetry, a trademark of New Generation music, is quite ingenious. Furthermore, I would have to admit that its appeal to the young generation must undeniable, a I look at my own teenage daughter's reaction to the CD. She cannot have enough of Carimi. She will play it again and again, on her way to school, to the store etc. So it seems that Carimi has become one of the leaders of the New Generation Music.

The mixing is pretty good, the beat is solid and the music is not loud. While the lyrics on the other songs are not as powerful as that of the title tune, something else is quite satisfying to me, and it is that the Kreyòl spelling is pretty adequate, unlike so many other artists who do not care about this aspect on their CD. So, if you are looking for an entertaining CD, do not hesitate to add Carimi to your collection, you will thoroughly enjoy it.

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I was quite impressed by this next CD from Canada by a new comer on the scene. I suspect that, once it is discovered, the album Carte Blanche by Pierre-Michel Ménard will get a lot of mileage. Indeed, it is a very lively Konpa, Salsa, Meringue CD. All those beats are covered. Pierre-Michel Ménard sings some of the most well-known songs of the Haitian folklore which have been rearranged as either Konpa dirèk or Salsa. Those arrangements are excellent. Danbala Wèdo is played on a Konpa beat, Latibonit and Yoyo are played on a Salsa beat. The arrangements on those songs are superb. Listen to the horns on Yoyo for example. You cannot do better than that. I really like the international outlook of P.M. Ménard's music. Apart from what I mentioned above, tune No. 5 Caruso is played on an infectious Dominican meringue beat and sung in Italian. It sounds really nice. Tune No. 11 is played on an African soukous beat. So the 12 songs on the CD cover four beats; that is pretty impressive.

The arrangements are excellent, the mixing is pretty good and the CD is very entertaining. My recurring criticisms of this CD is one which applies too often to too many Haitian artists: they refuse to properly spell the Haitian Kreyòl. In this specific case, the spelling is atrocious and completely ignores the rules for writing Kreyòl. I am at a lost trying to understand the thinking of these artists in that area. This is unfortunate, because in Canada, where the CD was made, there are enough Haitians who know Kreyòl perfectly well and could have proofread the texts.

Having said that, if you just listen to the lyrics and dance to the music, you will really enjoy this CD. So, go to your favorite record store and add it to your Haitian collection.

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This next CD is hot off the shelf, having been officially released this past Sunday in New York. This is the New York All Stars's third album and these guys are playing some pretty sophisticated Konpa. That is to be expected when you look at the musicians' line-up: Yves Albert Abel, one my favorite bass players, the omnipresent Welmyr Jean-Pierre on the piano, the arranger on the CD, Shedley Abraham on the drums, Makarios Césaire on the guitar and many more. The chorus is excellent and I like the discipline with which it sounds. The music is tight and the brass section is also quite solid. Listen to the lyricism in the introduction of tune No. 3 Pou la vi . Welmyr Jean-Pierre's piano is just right and throughout the song, Makarios Cesaire's strumming on the guitar provides excellent harmony to the singing. With his laidback style on the guitar, I love to listen to him playing Konpa. This is one of my favorite songs on the album. Each one of the songs has a particular flavor. Listen for example to tune No. 5 Parfum d'été sung with such feeling by Nathalie Dee. Follow also Y.A. Abel's excellent play pattern on the bass in this song. Tune No. 7 is ;played on a nice Salsa beat. As I said earlier, these Konpa arrangements are pretty sophisticated, but you won't pick up everything in the songs until you listen to the CD more than once. Such was my personal experience. Tune No. 8 which features guitarist Makarios Césaire, has the most original and interesting introduction. His playing is crisp and sure. You will have to get the album to hear what I am talking about.

To conclude, this is a nice Konpa CD by the New York All Stars, which seems to be competing with Miami All Stars. It is a most interesting initiative to have All Stars Haitian artists in New York and Miami. I wonder which city will be next. I definitely recommend this one for your collection.

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Some more musical news
With the end of the year approaching quickly, there are some very interesting CD to be released in the next couple of weeks and months. I understand that Beethova Obas will release a new CD in the near future. Meanwhile, Gina Dupervil's new CD will be released soon under the label of Mini Records. It is about time for a new release from a female artist! Since Emeline Michel's Cordes et âmes , there has been a real scarcity of single releases by Haitian female artists. I wonder why ? Haitiando, Vol. 3 should be out by Christmas. I also understand that Eddy Prophète will release a new CD in a near future. So stay tuned and I will try to keep you posted.

Serge Bellegarde
For Windows on Haiti