KOMPA! MAGAZINE

[DJ Kreyol]

So around this time of year, Kassav does their U.S tour to cities like Miami and New York City.

And around this time, there is always the same mundane discussion. It sort of goes like this, "O wi Kassav se si, Kassav se la...."

Don't get me wrong, you can throw the first stone at me, if I ever DISRESPECT the legends that is called Kassav.

I respect their contributions to Caribbean music and their stardom and influence in Haiti.

But why question is this, so when Kassav FINALLY stops playing live what happens?

Too many times I have to hear around this time, that Kassav is VASTLY superior than the KOMPA bands that I love. Or Kassav should never be compared to any Haitian band but rather Non-Haitian bands.

But I ask the question, in all of Kassav's GREATNESS, why is it they could not INFLUENCE on SUCCESSFUL Zouk band from Guadeloupe/Martinique to CARRY ON, what they have build.

Let me explain....

Without Michael Jackson there is NO Usher or Ne-Yo.

Without Michael Jordan there is NO Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade or LeBron James.

To me GREATNESS is defined in some many ways, but I respect greatness when your talent can INFLUENCE another GREAT thing.

So when I say Skah-Shah and Tropicana.

You should say Zenglen and Nu-Look.

So when I say ZIN and Scorpio.

You should answer Carimi and T-Vice.

So when I say Kassav...

You answer..... Yeah nothing to say.

This thread should not be taken as DISRESPECT to a legendary band like Kassav. But rather I think its a fair analysis and critique.

The GOOD should be SAID. But the BAD should also come to light.

So when Kassav finally stops performing, I guess I should anticipate that there will be no more of those "KONPA BANDS are inferior" discussions.
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"Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on...."

[XXplosive]

I think that question would be better suited for the other side, our side. Kassav is a legendary band. They did their time, they are having places packed and people excited about them playing their old tunes, bring back memories. You're asking a legitimate question here, like the Jonas Brother would try to follow The Beatles or Rolling Stones. Eminem and Jay-z would follow the footsteps of Biggie and Pac.
With Kassav, it's pretty much ends here. We can make the argument that for a long time Zouk has been a one person kind of show, not a band putting on a show. Nelson Freitas performed playback on a nightclub and he has one or two of the biggest hits.
But my main problem here is "And then what" for us(kompa bands)? Some bands make it like it's the end game putting on a good show in front of Kassav. Kassav is legendary, i get it. You owe them respect. But in the Haitian market, bands like T-Vice, Carimi, Nu Look and Djakout whose been there a long time, whether we like their style of music or not, they are on their way to be remember as legends. After all those years of hits, whenever there's a Kassav concert, these bands would serve as fillers while Kassav is the main event. That should tell us something cause we may travel and have concerts in many countries and be top 3 band in the HMI but after more than 10 yrs in the biz, we still have a long way to go.
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YA RAYI'W TANDE TI GASON(RICKY)

[dalida]

To me, When you say Kassav people always say Tabou Combo was the only Haitian band that could Compare to them in a concert setting.

If you look at the Tabou Combo aux Zenith 1989 concert, you can clearly see the similarity between the two bands. Other than that there is no comparison.
Just wanted to get this out of the way.

To Answer your questions, i would say Kassav pretty much put zook on the map, I think because they have a better music structure than us, you find more solo artist than bands. they had many successfull bands like kwak, malavoie to name a few,but i think they make more money as solo artist than groups that's why you'll probably never find zook band now a days that would come close to kassav.

my 2 centimes bien sure.
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Alon bel fraz sa. Devan byen deye malllll.

[kompekok]

I guess you really think the current crop of Haitian bands can perform at the same level as Kassav? Because I can guarantee you if it were Tabou, Magnum, Les Frere Dejean and/or Zekle we would not be having these discussions.

So now you want to knock Kassav because there are no other groups from either Martinique or Guadeloupe, that you know of, that want to emulate them? Are you serious?

Have you ever been to a Kassav concert? Were you at the concert last night? Can you honestly say that T-Vice (any other current band for that matter) and Kassav are equals in terms of preparation and execution for these types of shows?
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If there is one thing we know how to do it is MUSIC.

(Dadou Pasquet)

[evolityon]

Eske nou kon difference de ball e concert .
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THE UNITED STATES OCCUPATION OF 1915-1938.un occupation 2004-2020 ABA ESKLAV

[evolityon]

Paske kasav paka jwe bal
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THE UNITED STATES OCCUPATION OF 1915-1938.un occupation 2004-2020 ABA ESKLAV

[DJ Kreyol]

To everyone and KompeKok in particular,

If I were to highlight Kassav's success and accolades with a thread, this very board would be filled with AT LEAST 3 FIRST PAGES of success.

I LISTEN to Kassav. I have danced to Kassav.

I have nothing against the group.

But why shouldn't a fair QUESTION be asked?

As BIG as a group as Kassav, why haven't they themselves produced ANOTHER CURRENT Guadeloupen or Martiniquen band playing their style of kompa OR why hasn't a group from those respect islands been influenced by them and BECAME somewhat successful as them.

So with all due respect to everyone, please answer the question.

Please don't say what else they can do.

Everyone knows that Kassav are PROFESSIONALS in the concert format; they have AWESOME SOUND; they transition masterfully in medleys; I can go on and on.

But I asked a question....

And if you dont have an answer, that doesnt make you a hater.

There is NO PERFECT band.

Kassav can handle fair criticism. They are big boys (and girls).

So please don't derail the thread. Just answer the question.

Oh by the way, Kompekok, if they are other groups in those islands, which I can safely assume they have, I am talking about those bands SUCCESS, because quite frankly I haven't heard of them.

Go to my initial post.

Michael Jackson to Usher. Jordan to Bryant.


And thank you XX for answering the question.
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"Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on...."

[jeanVALjean]

In terms of concerts and putting on a show, you're probably right. This has always been the knock against Zouk: live presentations. But to be fair, the genre has changed drastically to where Zouk love probably dominates it and not necessarily Kassav's more fast-paced, concert-friendly approach. So no, I can't think of another band that's on Kassav's level (I'm not putting Malavoi in the Zouk category, necessarily).

But I think you err in your Pac/Biggie to JayZ and MJ to Kobe allusions. Before Pac, rap existed; before MJ, there WAS basketball. Kassav's legacy isn't necessarily which band equals it in terms of putting on great shows. It's the fact that before Kassav, there WAS NO Zouk! I would put Kassav in the category of Grandmaster Flash, the Sugarhill Gang, Afrikaa Bambaataa, i.e., the creators of the rap genre. Since then, people have added their own touch to the music and the genre has gone in different directions. To me, that's a fairer way at looking at it.
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Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
~Berthold Auerbach

[DJ KOMPA]

Dj Kreyol I agree with you brother....

but the same question goes as well for SWEET MICKY
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GAZZMAN COULEUR............THE BEST SINGER NAN HMI LAN......DEMANTI M' SI W KAPAB


GAZZMAN COULEUR:I want to be clear about one thing “I AM Nu Look”

[TiZepeng]

DJK,

I agree, you made a fair observation, however the answer to your question answer is very simple: Its a matter of industry structure and choices.

If there appears to have been no band to follow in eh footsteps of KASSAV its only because the music industry in the French Antillies favors the development and promotion of solo artists; and all these solo artists followed in the footsteps of solo projects of individual KASSAV members. As a matter of fact, KASSAV members produced a lot of hits and albums for the solo artist that flooded the market in the 90s.

And before I go I would like to second the comments made by JVJ: Before KASSAV there was no ZOOK.... PERIOD!!!


TZ

PS: Maybe Pat should get Pierre Huberson's take on the subject...