Courtesy of PapJazz
Michael Brun Delivers A Message From Haiti — One Summer Block Party At A Time
Michael Brun held his microphone out toward the crowd at Miami’s Little Haiti Cultural Complex as they erupted in cheers and some waved Haitian flags. The venue was packed, the cocktail bar did a roaring trade and the smells of fried pork griot and spiced pickled cabbage, or pikliz, and fried plantains were in the air.Brun hoped his Bayo Block Party, which he hosted in Little Haiti in March, would bring a sense of unity. From the stage, the New York-based music producer and DJ encouraged people to shout out the Creole word "bayo." That’s the title of his newest track, too. “Bayo” means "to give.”“It also means give your heart and soul to what you do,” says Brun. “When you put everything into your work, people can tell.”In a call-and-response, the audience sang along while the mix of hip-hop and Caribbean rhythms pushed the PA system to the brink. It is here in Miami that he decided to take the Bayo Block Party on the road and bring the festive spirit of Port-au-Prince to both Haitians and non-Haitians.
“I want people to know how much of a strength Haitian culture is. Don’t forget the history of the country’s accomplishments,” says Brun.About 1,000 people were treated to live guests and a finale led by an ensemble of drummers and horns. The Bayo Block Party goes on tour during the month of June.Brun is attempting to cultivate an alternative narrative to combat misconceptions of Haitians by speaking out publicly any chance he gets. In January, President Donald Trump allegedly included Haiti on a list of “shithole” countries. Earlier, officials told the New York Times, he said that people in Haiti “all have AIDS.”Brun says he has heard the same things all his life.“Empowering the youth, empowering the people that are most vulnerable — you have to get strength from within,” Brun says. “These words aren’t going to hurt me. But for a young kid hearing every day that Haiti is this and Haiti is that, that you're basically trash, it is going to have an effect.”He reminds people about his country’s proud history and resilience. In 1804, Haiti became the first black republic in the Western Hemisphere, after winning independence from French colonial rule and abolishing slavery.
Dj Michael Brun wants to change the narrative on Haiti
“Haitians have taken every type of hit imaginable over the course of their history, from natural disasters to political and economic instability," says Brun. “We're still standing and we're still smiling and we're still fighting.”Brun remembers hearing Haitian rhythms when he was a kid on his walks through the streets of Port-au-Prince on the way to visit his grandparents. He grew up in Port-au-Prince where street processions were led by rara. Nothing wakes up a neighborhood like a rara street procession, with its goat-skinned drums, bamboo horns, tin trumpets and exuberant chanting and clapping. A small group can turn into thousands, carrying on for miles, especially during Haiti’s annual carnival held in February.You’ll hear rara often in Brun’s latest music.“It is a really raw, primal sound, but very infectious,” Brun says. “It is fast-paced, but it's also very soulful. I find it is a combo that I haven't really seen in many other countries around the world.”
Brun, 26, was already playing piano, guitar and violin by the age of six. In the age of music production software, Brun got into playing around with beats as a teenager. After high school, he enrolled in the pre-medicine program at Davidson College in North Carolina and was on track to become a pediatrician. But he decided to take a hiatus from medical school to pursue his other passion: Electronic Dance Music, or EDM. As a young EDM producer and DJ, he quickly became popular and performed at Coachella and Miami’s Ultra Music Festival. In 2013, he released “Gravity,” his debut EP, and in 2014 he founded the Kid Coconut label and released music by Basement Jaxx and Dirty Twist, among others.As yet, Haitian music has not enjoyed the international success of other Caribbean styles. Miami-based music promoter Farah Larrieux says it’s because Haitian music is not as visible in the international market as soca, calypso, reggaeton and reggae. There is a “language barrier and lack of organization, leadership and professionalism in the Haitian music industry,” she says. That’s what Brun wants to change.“I am going to take the Bayo live show around the US and around the world,” Brun says. “Really giving a snapshot of Haiti from my point of view.”“It’s a party that I would invite anyone who wanted to hear the hottest Haitian music, and also to hear new upcoming artists,” says Jonathan Perry, better known as J. Perry. He joined Brun onstage in Miami. “For Haitians in the US and in the world, I want them to know that they have a connection with Haiti. Even if they don’t live there, they should know that we appreciate them. We’re all one, we’re united."
It’s a mix that has paid off. Spanish-language broadcasting company Telemundo recently revealed their anthem for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The song, “Positivo,” teams up Colombian reggaeton star J. Balvin singing in Spanish over the beats from Brun’s song “Bayo,” taking Haitians rhythms global.“Using Haitian music as the backbone of what I'm creating now is also a way to show how far Haitian music can really go,” says Brun. “That’s my journey as a producer, an artist and DJ — to take those sounds in new directions, in new contexts."
J-Perry, Paul Beaubrun, Gardy Girault, Niska, Rutshelle, Mikaben, Anie Alerte and Sandro “Dro” Martelly will make guest appearances on stage. Michael Brun’s Bayo Block Party, now on tour with stops in New York City, Washington, DC, Montreal and Boston.By: Maria Bakkalapulo and Niall Macaulay for PRI.org | June 13, 2018
Utah Symphony Message to Haiti Musicians: We Are With You and Your Country
(Utah Symphony music director Thierry Fischer (right) and Haitian conductor Pierre Leroy with participants in the National Orchestra Institute, March 30, 2018, Cap-Haitien, Haiti.(Photo: Colby Bryson)
We are one orchestra, one American organization in Utah, sharing our music to show support for Haiti. We hope our actions will inspire U.S. political leaders.
About 20 of us from the Utah Symphony recently spent a week in Cap-Haitien, in the north of Haiti. It’s about an hour-and-a-half flight from Miami. Close and yet so very, very far.
We were there for the National Orchestra Institute, a partnership with Building Leaders Using Music Education. For the second year in a row, BLUME had brought together about 100 Haitian musicians for a week of intensive training.
I’m the conductor of the Utah Symphony and I first learned about the institute last year when John Eckstein, one of our cellists, told me in an email that “we just want you to know that 17 of us are going to Haiti on our week off to teach music.” The musicians were volunteers raising their own funds for the trip from private donors, he explained, and added, “you might want to think about supporting this institute…” But I didn’t even get that far. I was already thinking to myself, “Am I free that week? I want to join them.”
This year, I was even more determined to go after recent unfortunate comments attributed to our president about Haiti and other parts of the world. I was thinking that if we can show our Haitian counterparts that we are with them and not against them, or worse, ignoring them, then we have made a difference. Even if we are just a drop of water in an ocean.
So there we were, professional musicians prepared to talk about technique and intonation to people (some of them with no electricity, very little clean water) who are taking care of sick parents and struggling to have access to education.
Their instruments were often in disrepair. We had brought many with us, violins, violas, bows, a horn, trombones, music books and scores to give them. We also brought a luthier and bow maker so they could be instructed on how to repair their own stringed instruments.
My initial reaction was to go easy — to take into consideration the way they live and the obstacles they face. But then very quickly I realized, absolutely not. They didn’t need to feel apologetic because of their current level of playing, and I didn’t need to feel sorry because some of them don’t have a proper house. Art is not just about perfection, it’s about the experience and what that experience can bring. Art can create solidarity and fraternity, as opposed to divisiveness.
I was very demanding (in French, since I'm Swiss!) but also very patient. They have said they want to create a National Orchestra of Haiti one day, so they deserved to know what it means to be an orchestra. They were so hungry to learn. For many of them, this week is the highlight of the year.
They worked hard. They had four hours of lessons with Utah Symphony musicians in the morning and three more in the afternoon with me. Our musicians instructed them on their own playing and on how to teach their instruments to others. They also led section rehearsals to prepare them for the concert that would cap our week.
As a conductor, I had much to tell them. Nobody had ever shown them how to tune as an orchestra, so that took a few minutes. And in an ensemble, you have to listen to each other so precisely — with this idea that playing exactly together, they can create a wave of beauty. You have to give them encouragement and be very patient. But they are so committed, it is beautiful to watch. Honestly, when you see them achieve the right tone, it’s breathtaking. You know that you have opened doors, and that these doors will lead them to even more discoveries. They don’t need to tell you — you see it in their eyes, in their smiles, in their body language.
They just want to work, to learn, to be better.
The last evening they performed Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, and after the concert we had a celebratory meal together. I made a little speech at the end. They kept telling us how grateful they were. But I told them they absolutely don’t realize how much we receive and learn from them with their genuine desire just to know more — about everything. Our commitment is our way to show them we love them.
It’s one thing to make yourself feel collaborative by making a donation, but it’s a completely different thing to give your time. To take the initiative and be prepared to be confronted by a different world and to give of yourself. The minimum we can do as artists is to share what drives us every day. A week a year to share and to translate what the notion of art can bring to life in general, it’s not too much.
I am so proud of the musicians of the Utah Symphony for bringing us there in the first place. We are an orchestra — just one American organization, committed to both our work in America and in developing countries like Haiti, and to the notion of sharing what sounds can bring. We hope to inspire our leaders through our actions.
Thierry Fisher is the music director of the Utah Symphony, principal guest conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic, and a frequent guest on international podiums.
By: Thierry Fisher for USAToday.com | April 30, 2018
Jason Derulo Releases Video For World Cup Song
Illustrating breathtaking views of and from La Citadelle Laferrière, a beautiful castle on the northern part of Haiti, Jason Derulo (whose real name is Jason Joel Desrouleaux), released the official music video for “Colors,” Coca-Cola’s anthem for the FIFA World Cup this summer. With shots also from Derulo's hometown in Miami, Florida, the video's intent is to bring individuals together from around the world to celebrate their respective flags and nationalities. A guitar-strumming Wyclef Jean, also of Haitian descent, also represents his “colors” in a cameo as well.
Derulo said of the song that, “Through my years of travel, I’ve been able to see the beauty in our cultural differences and I wrote Colors to celebrate that diversity and be a part of the amazing energy that sports fans around the world give to their teams.”
"There’s beauty in the unity we’ve found.We’re inundated everyday with negative news and it’s hard to remain positive... That’s why it’s more important than ever to unite with people in your community to try and make a difference. As a Haitian-American, I’ve become more and more invested in giving back to where my family is from. To that extent, this song is a bit of a launch of plans that I am excited to reveal soon…”
IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW...
If you aren't very familiar with Jason Derulo, here are some cool facts:
- He is a multi-platinum powerhouse who has generated over 9 billion audio streams.
- His breakout single “Talk Dirty” [feat. 2 Chainz] has reached 7-times platinum status
- Want To Want Me” and “Wiggle” [feat. Snoop Dogg] went quadruple-platinum.
- “Trumpets,” “Ridin’ Solo,” and “In My Head” went triple-platinum
- "Swalla,” “Marry Me,” and “It Girl” earned double-platinum certifications.
- Platinum singles include “The Other Side,” “Get Ugly,” and “Don’t Wanna Go Home.”
- Cumulative streams continue to soar, exceeding 9 billion overall and nearly 5 billion YouTube view
- At radio, his music has impacted 20 billion-plus listeners with a staggering 3.5 billion spins.
- Derulo was also a featured performer for the Monday Night Football theme
- His clothing line LVL XIII launched in Bloomingdales last Fall
- He has a label in partnership with Warner Bros. Records and a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music.
- He is an investor in many enterprises, including Catch L.A. and Rumble Boxing with Sylvester Stallone and Ashton Kutcher.
By: Tammy for Haitiville.com | April 13, 2018(Photos from "Colors" music video)
Reggie 'Combat Jack' Ossé, Hip-Hop Journalist And Podcaster, Dies At 48
Reggie Ossé, better known to the hip-hop world as podcast host Combat Jack, has passed away from colon cancer. Chris Morrow, Ossé's friend and his co-founder of Loud Speaker Networks, confirmed his death, telling NPR that he died this morning at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York. Ossé was 48 years old.In October of this year, Ossé shared that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of colon cancer with his fans online.Ossé was born and raised in Brooklyn. Before Combat Jack, he worked as music attorney, representing the likes of Jay-Z and Capone-N-Noreaga during the fledgling stages of their careers. In 1989, Ossé switched from entertainment law to entertainment journalism. He would go on to work for MTV Networks before launching his own Internet radio show titled The Combat Jack Show in 2010.The Combat Jack Show started on a lark — with a crazy crew of sidemen including Dallas Penn, Premium Pete, an occasional Just Blaze, DJ Benhameen and producer A-King — on its way to becoming a pioneering hip-hop podcast. The show scored some of the rarest and rawest hip-hop interviews of an era when rap's center of gravity started its move toward the Internet. Ossé was able to get gems out of otherwise reserved or reclusive rappers by employing a type of interview style many emulate today. From Scarface playing guitar live and proclaiming his love for Pink Floyd to Prodigy detailing his own childhood kidnapping to J. Cole telling the story of how he wanted to sign Kendrick Lamar, listeners knew they would always get something special out of a Combat Jack interview.Ossé co-founded the Loud Speakers Network, a family of podcasts, in 2013. Before his passing, Ossé produced and hosted groundbreaking podcast Mogul: The Life & Death of Chris Lighty earlier this year. Produced in conjunction with Gimlet Media, the series about the life and death of the notable hip-hop industry executive Chris Lighty became hip-hop's first serial narrative podcast when it debuted on Spotify. "For Reggie to bring back the legacy of my brother Chris through the Mogul series was monumental for me and the culture of hip-hop," Chris's brother Dave Lighty tells NPR.In an interview with NPR Music earlier this year, Ossé explained why he felt it was necessary to champion Lighty's work ethic and accomplishments."Our culture is so rich — not just in hip-hop but [black culture]," Ossé said. "We have been the creators of culture since we hit this land. Let's look beyond the parameters that we already know and just really try to expand the dimensions of telling our stories."By: Sidney Madden for NPR.com | December 20, 2017
New Music! "Promise" by Josh X Feat. T-Micky (DRO)
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rMCU_pmBps[/embedyt](we do not own the rights to this video)
Haiti’s Beloved Troubadour Emmanuel “Manno” Charlemagne Dies at 69
And Haiti’s beloved folk singer and troubadour Emmanuel “Manno” Charlemagne has died in a Miami Beach hospital at the age of 69. Through his music, Charlemagne helped inspire a generation of Haitians to rebel against longtime dictator François Duvalier. He was often called the Haitian Bob Marley. He briefly served as mayor of Port-au-Prince in the 1990s.By: Democracynow.org| November 14, 2017
Why Jazz Lovers Should Travel To Haiti For This Unique Musical Experience
A trumpeter at the Catts Pressoir Music School during PapJazz.
Haiti might be off the beaten path, but it's home to one of the most unique music festival experiences around. Into its 12th edition, the annual Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival, also known as PapJazz, is back and better than ever this January 2018.The event is opening the world to seeing the country's special culture and the genre of jazz music in a new light. From after hours jam sessions at some of the best local restaurants in the capital city to hit Haitian-born DJ, Michael Brun, dropping a dance influenced set, expect an unexpected combination of sounds to come together. Instead of planning for your usual festivals, dare to go somewhere different. To get a deeper understanding of what attendees can look forward to, I spoke with the foundation's manager, Milena Sandler, who made it clear why this is a can't miss adventure.Isis Briones: What was the inspiration behind the PapJazz? Milena Sandler: "It came naturally to musician and President of the Haiti Jazz Foundation, Joel Widmaier. From a jazz background through his dad, the late Herby Widmaeier — who has been a promoter of jazz in Haiti through his radio shows — he wanted to do something that would honor the legendary genre in his country. Joel has also taken part in many festivals around the world and knew what it took to put one together on an international level."IB: It's remarkable that the festival also includes a mentorship program for native artists. Can you elaborate on its mission and how it came about? MS: "Since the first edition back in 2007, artists have always been asked to offer workshops geared towards aspiring, young musicians — free of charge. There is no jazz education and very few music schools in Haiti, so this is an opportunity for them to learn from professionals from all over the world.Today we can pride ourselves in having participated in the creation of new generation jazz musicians. Moreover, we recently started a school program, where we will give free jazz, harmony, composition, and music appreciation classes. We also plan to obtain grants that will improve the students' equipment and provide seminars for them"IB: EDM was also incorporated in the lineup through Michael Brun and given the influence dance music has on the festival scene, do you foresee the different genres blending on a larger scale? MS: "Our challenge and objective since the start has been to attract a larger crowd to this jazz festival, including a public not familiar with it. Plus, the Haitian music is very diverse and the inclusion of all kinds of music is what's made us successful.However, we still plan to focus the majority of the lineup on jazz musicians and at the end of the day, Michael is a great illustration of this. We didn't pick just any DJ, Michael includes his Haitian jazz roots into his sound. He will be closing out the festival this year showcasing the perfect example of diversity."
Courtesy of PapJazzAn inside look into PapJazz.
IB: Beyond revolutionizing people's perspective on jazz, what are some stereotypical misconceptions about Haiti that you feel the festival is helping change? MS: "The first thing that comes to mind is that in Haiti great things can happen. We offer events that meets international standards in terms of organization logistics, sound quality, comfort, and of course, security. Yes, there's a lot of poverty, but at the same time, the Haitian people have a real 'Joie de Vivre' that you can feel through their smiles and faith for a better tomorrow. Attending PapJazz does something to you, anyone who goes come back with a new outlook on Haiti and a better understanding of what the country could become.IB: 12 years is also a long time to be hosting a worldwide event, what would you say about this year makes things even better than the last? Can you point out some highlights festival goers shouldn't miss? MS: "We strive to bring better lineups each year, which is no easy task. Jazz musician fees can be quite expensive and it's important to remember that the festival is a nonprofit with most shows being free. Luckily, this year, we are proud to include two Grammy Award winners and thanks to the participation of foreign embassies, we were able to have artists from 12 countries.In this edition, we also made a commitment to make the event a tourist destination, in which we created various packages that allow for the possibility to explore the country, the kindness of its people, its rich culture, and beautiful beaches on a higher level. We know it will be an unforgettable experience."By Isis Briones for Forbes.com| November 20, 2017
My Happy Place: Wyclef Jean Reveals His Hidden Paradise In Haiti
In My Happy Place, we talk to some of our favorite people about their emotional connection with an unforgettable destination.
Wyclef Jean is one the biggest musical names to ever come out of the island nation of Haiti. His star first rose as a member of the famed hip-hop group the Fugees and continued to climb as Jean pursued a career as a solo artist, collaborating with everyone from Shakira to Young Thug. A three-time Grammy award recipient, Jean has never forgotten his home country of Haiti and regularly extols his love for the country through his music. Mic caught up with Jean at an October benefit for VH1’s Save the Music Foundation, which is dedicated to bringing instrumental education to U.S. public schools.For Jean, there’s one place in Haiti that he can’t forget. "It’s like a magical river. It’s called Saut d’Eau," he said. Saut d’Eau is the name of a town and 100-foot waterfall about 60 miles north of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
Saut d’Eau -- or Sodo in Creole -- is a place where natural beauty and Haiti’s rich history meet. The towering waterfall was created by an earthquake in the mid-1800s. According to local lore, shortly after a man saw the Virgin Mary appear near the waterfall. Saut d’Eau became a sacred site, and now, as Jean explains, "they have great ceremonies" every year.
The annual festival at Saut d’Eau occurs in mid-July, when Haitians, tourists and members of the diaspora travel to the waterfall to take part in the festivities. Attendees bathe in the water, hoping it will rid them of sicknesses or bring them good fortune. Both the Virgin Mary and her Vodou analog, the Haitian spirit Erzulie Dantor, are associated with the waterfall.Vodou -- more commonly spelled as "voodoo"-- is a key part of Haitian culture, and stems from its colonial history. When French colonizers made African slaves in plantation colonies like Haiti practice Catholicism, many combined the religion with indigenous African gods, giving birth to Vodou. That’s why Vodou spirits, like Erzulie are often so similar to Catholic religious figures like the Virgin Mary.
Music is woven into the yearly Saut d’Eau festivities. "You go out there, a lot of music is played," Jean said. "The style of the music is called rara. Rara is the roots." During the festival, rara musicians lead a procession from a church in Saut d’Eau to the waterfall. The main instrument used in rara is a bamboo or metal cylinder called a vaksen, which is accompanied by drums and other percussion instruments.
Rara is also played during Easter and Haiti’s equivalent of Mardi Gras, Carnival, which happens every year in the weeks leading up to Lent.
Jean hasn’t always had such a rosy relationship with his home country. After a catastrophic earthquake upended Haiti in 2010, his charity Yéle was accused of overspending on travel and luxury office expenses, as well as not fully paying its contractors. Jean responded to criticism in 2010 saying, "I never would ever take money for my personal pocket when it comes to Yéle," and that he has "always been committed to the people of Haiti."
Despite being roiled by the Yéle controversy, Jean remains dedicated to uplifting his country, and he released a song named "Lady Haiti" in February 2017. For Jean, the synesthetic combination of music, nature and religious ceremonies make the Saut d’Eau waterfall and festivities one of the most treasured pieces of Haiti. And at the end of the day, it sums up what Jean loves so much about his native home: "You chill. You meditate. You enjoy nature."By: Benjamin Moe for Mic.com | November 6, 2017
Haitian Orphan Choir leads national anthem at Atlanta United match
ATLANTA, Georgia, USA (sentinel.ht) – On Tuesday, Major League Soccor club, Atlanta United, brought in the Haitian Orphan Choir to sing the national anthem. They are a group that was born out of the tragedy that was the 2010 7.3 magnitude earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Every member of the choir lost their parents in that disaster.
Atlanta United writes in a post:
One by one, they showed up to the Paul family household, and they were taken in. Their orphanage possessed next to nothing: several kids to every bed, limited room and supplies and intermittent power and water. But they loved to sing together, and soon it became a hobby and a talent. Now they’ve used that talent to make a difference.With Atlanta-based nonprofit “Love Him Love Them” as their hub in the United States, they’ve also taken their talents on the road. Last summer, the Haitian Orphan Choir raised enough money through singing appearances and performances to completely revamp the local orphanage. They’ve installed solar panels to guarantee electricity and now have running water. Every kid has their own bunkbed and storage locker for clothes. They’ve learnd trades – like how to become bakers and sewers and have learned how to make concrete blocks. They use those blocks for construction of their own but also to sell and boost the local Haitian economy.After returning to Haiti for the school year, they went back on tour this summer, with gospel star Kirk Franklin in front of 85,000 people in Haiti. Their performance at Tuesday’s Atlanta United game was their final appearance of the summer, as they try to raise money to build a small medical facility in their town. Meanwhile five of the students will stay in Georgia to attend Barnes Academy in Hartwell, learning as much as they can to go back and help their hometown.
Ryan Catanese who wrote about the choir’s performance provided a link for information to support the Haitian Orphan Choir. He writes, “there are many different levels in which you can contribute. From clothes to plane tickets, giving a little or a lot will go a long way.”—By: Haiti Sentinel | October 6, 2017
NEW MUSIC - PIKLIZ - Sam Sneak feat. Billy Blue, Zoey Dollaz & Bruno Mali
[embed]https://youtu.be/g_7RdMFBu9k[/embed]
