The PapJazz festival returns to Port-au-Prince despite the disastrous security situation experienced by our unfortunate country, particularly the capital and surrounding towns. The kick-off was given yesterday Thursday. From January 25 to 28, 2024, a wonderful line-up of artists from diverse backgrounds will make the Haitian capital vibrate.
Despite a terrible security situation in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, “PAPJAZZ” is back in Port-au-Prince for its 17th edition. After stopping last year in the country’s second city, Cap Haïtien, the festival resumed its initial place in the capital on Thursday with programs that were as attractive as ever. The objective is always the same: to offer the inhabitants of the city and beyond moments of relaxation despite the ambient gloom.
In the heights of Pétion-Ville, jazz lovers will be able to appreciate artists from various backgrounds: Cyrille Aimée (France), Ludovic Louis (France/Martinique), Richard Bona (Cameroon), Abe Rábade (Spain), Jerónimo González ( Mexico), Ruy Lopez-Nussa (Cuba); for Haiti: Jazz Lakay Project, Erol Josué, KANIS, Beethova Obas, Richard Cavé, Gwolobo. As usual, the Karine hotel hosts 70% of activities.
It is therefore with pleasure that we will find the stages of Karibe and Quisqueya University open to artists, as a sign that life could resume, including in places marked by difficult events in recent months.
This year, for budgetary reasons, probably also for security reasons, we went from 8 days of festivities to four days. The fact remains that the program is still as enticing and full of surprises. As usual, the Festival is more eclectic and gives voice to Jazzmen from different backgrounds. So from January 25 to 28, 2024, those who love jazz will be able to first go to the heights of Pétion-Ville to listen to Cyrille Aimée who will be on stage, he will travel from Paris to Port-au-Prince.
In addition, there will be the double artist, musical and pictorial artist Eddy Pierre, graduate of ENARTS. He is both a musician and a painter. This will be his third participation in the capital’s Jazz Festival which in 2024 is celebrating its seventh edition. Haitian artists are not forgotten. Far from there. Let’s return to Haitian land this time with someone who has been the delight of this festival since its beginning in the person of the Haitian Troubadour Beethova OBas. We knew his story, his father the artist, Charles Obas, disappeared under the dictatorship of François Duvalier. The son logically took refuge in music to continue the work of this father who haunts his musical compositions. With the guitar found in a corner of the house, he composes songs with recognition at the end. These will be the prices of American Airlines in 1988 and followed that of Radio France Internationale (RFI).
Participating in the Jazz Festival for the Haitian artist is simply routine because he is the ambassador par excellence of this celebration.
Always on the side of our compatriots, the public is still demanding “JAZZY STARS 262” founded in 2022 in the country’s second city, Cap Haïtien, by the talented Woolbens Bien Aimé. There are six young people. So let’s remember their names for posterity because they really have talent in a country where there is no longer even a music school Wedly Vindy Réveus, Guedelyn Pierre, Kervens Vanel, Samuel Philistin and Rood Stevens Anneau Louis. These young people compose Jazz pieces with instrumental games that leave the biggest players in this field speechless. we
It sometimes seems like Stéphane Grapelli, the French master in the field. What’s more, these young people have not forgotten the local area by introducing something local, namely traditional music. Which results in a captivating mix full of varied sounds: “The training under the direction of Professor Claude Carré has forged these young talents, and their captivating jazz is much more than a simple musical performance, it is an authentic expression of life , a melody that transcends borders and invites everyone to let themselves be carried away by its captivating movement. »
Other Haitian groups present Gwo Lobo. These five young compatriots go from presenting in the field of the fusion of electronic music and local culture that they want to be the patented avant-garde. It’s quite successful. They too are regulars at the festival. “GWOLOBO artists come from different backgrounds, but all share a deep love for their culture and their music anchored in their Haitian roots that they seek to preserve. »
As in this country, talents circulate in the streets and sometimes get lost in the limbo of our societal indigence, a new group has just emerged on the Haitian music scene, no later than 2022 and it will be present at the festival. His name is “Nam”. We can only be convinced by the objectives of this duo who happily aim to put vodou music on its pedestals. Here again the duo makes a clever mix between vodou music and contemporary music: “The clear objective of NANM is to resonate the ancient rhythms, living cultures and contemporary music of the country. Their skillful artistic approach consists of recovering Vodou music from various territories of Haiti, carefully adapting them into a contemporary style without distorting the original essence of the work. »
In the same vein, Erole Josué will be there on Saturday January 27 with this unique voice which will give you the best of our Vodouesque repertoire.
Rap will also be there with the talented rapper Niska. Finally, trumpeter Maxime La Fault will not be left out. He will also be present, as well as the compass which will be represented by Richard Cavé from the Kaï group.
FOREIGN ARTISTS INVITED TO THE FESTIVAL
Other artists are expected as the “Abe Rábade trio” which will be responsible for performing the first notes of the 17th edition. Born on the pilgrims’ route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, he is a pianist who roams the musical scenes in France.
The man has a particularly extensive discography. More than fifteen albums with two symphonic compositions, not to mention poetic-musical works where metaphors and images happily marry descriptions against a backdrop of heightened romanticism. Furthermore, he is the author of 200 musical compositions. Obviously jazz takes the lion’s share.
Also on January 25, 2024, the other invited and expected artist, this time, arrives from the African continent. This is Richard Bona, a world-renowned icon. He comes from Cameroon and this is not his first visit to the country of Jean Jacques Dessalines. He will take the stage on Thursday January 25, 2024, for the second time. Spectators accustomed to seeing this African brother evolve on stage will be delighted to discover an eclectic artist and his portrait in the communication from the promoters of this festival says it all: “Richard Bona is one of the most important international bassists, composers and multi-instrumentalists. more accomplished. With his unique sound and voice, he continually represents his Cameroonian origins. This formidable musician has built an original style, the fruit of multiple influences, from jazz to bossa nova, from traditional Cameroonian songs to funk, which he has been making resonate in the four corners of the world for thirty years. Richard Bona has toured, composed, recorded and created musical art forms with the greatest: Herbie Hancock, Harry Belafonte, Steps Ahead, Quincy Jones, Chick Corea, Buena Vista Social Club, Cesária Évora, Sting, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerrin, Chucho Valdés, George Benson, Oumou Sangaré and many others. »
From Africa, we return to South America with “LAST JERÓNIMO QUINTET” which will perform on Friday January 26, 2024.
Pair Maguet Delva
