The end of the year produced a wide range of CDs. If you have not gone to the record stores yet, there are quite a few goodies that you probably will want to hear about.

First, there is this CD I bought and barely had time to seriously listen to. Karess is a CD that could be classified as a "New Generation CD". But folks, you will want to buy it as soon as you can. It was not until I took time to listen to it at home, in my office (I still have time to do that even there) that I realized what a nice CD it was. The first hearing may not be enough and by the time you listen to it a second time, the music gets to you. When you hear that musicians of the like of Yves A. Abel (Bass-Tabou Combo), the Jean-Pierre brothers: Kinelly, Welmyr and Assel, Rodrigue Gauthier and many others are on this CD, you know it has to sound good.

On lead vocal is Sandra Jean (from Riské). She does a wonderful job, confirming the role of Haitian women in Konpa dirèk. I like this album for many reasons. For one thing, the arrangements are excellent and I like the way the drummers are carrying the music. The second tune, an interpretation of "Careless Whisper" written by George Michael, has a very nice groove and the lyrics are interesting. The sub-title is "Mwen pap fè vagabon ankò". The fifth tune is in honor of Antoine Rossini Jean-Baptiste, alias Ti Manno, and is a plea for Haitian Konpa dirèk musicians to get together and create an association, following Ti Manno's exhortation. How unfortunate that he passed away so early, but his legacy lives on. This CD has an infectious rhythm, which makes it impossible to sit still when you listen to it. Four of the Konpa tunes are sung in English, in a serious effort to crossover to the non-Creole speaking audience. With good marketing strategy, that goal could very well be reached, because the music sounds so good. Of particular interest also is the last tune on the CD "Jou a rivé". This is a song played a cappella style, with very nice lyrics too. You can feel the band enjoying itself. Finally, I was very glad to listen to a "New Generation" group with some nice lyrics instead of the oh-so-mediocre lyrics coming these days from Haitian bands. But this could be the subject of another Chronique. This is a very good addition to your collection.

Les Rois du Compas, Vol 4 came out smoking for the New Year. This is another solid performance by Tuco Bouzi and his guys. There are some well-known musicians playing with him: Jacky Ambroise (Strings), Cubano (Ska Sha), Georges Nazie, Ronald Rubinel, Ralph Condé , Yves A. Albert (of course), Joe Fortuné, Ansyto Mercier and so many more. It is a good all around CD for a party. Listen to a nice arrangement of the Beatles' tune "Yesterday". It's sweet. The fourth tune "Lanmou se flè" was arranged by Raymond Cajuste and written by Tuco Bouzi. This is a vibrant ode to love, sung with a lot of feeling by Cajuste. "Lanmou se flè, se pou wouzé-l tou lematen". - Love is like a flower, it has to be watered every morning - Jacky Ambroise does a very nice guitar solo. Listen to Cajuste sing and you will hear the personal tribute to love from someone with strong convictions about how to nurture that love which can be so elusive for so many. With this series , Tuco Bouzi has ably replaced his "Dixie Band" by his "Rois du Compas whose four volumes now constitute a "must" addition to your Haitian collection.

The second volume of "Les Hits du Compas" is also out. This is another compilation of different Konpa groups. You will hear Sweet Mickey, Mizik Mizik, Top Vice, T Vice, Zin, Super Stars, Ralph Condé and Friends, Phantom. There are quite a few of this compilation CDs out there and they are ideal for the party people. This compilation is not bad, there are some very nice tunes such as Phantom's "Victoire", "Ayizan" from Mizik Mizik etc. I still like the first volume better, a matter of personal preference. However, if you are into Konpa compilations, this is definitely an album to include in your collection.

Serge Bellegarde