Harlem Stage Presents KONBIT POU AYITI, 7/17

A free outdoor event in celebration of Haiti and its relief efforts. The scope of the performances will range from the traditional to the contemporary and popular and not cover only Haitian music but linked traditions from Africa and the Caribbean from Los Terrys. It will also feature special dance performances and a tribute to Benji Jolicoeur.

4:00 - 9:00 pm - Gates open, family activities, arts & crafts, DJ set (Rain or Shine)

Annuciation Park on Bruce Paltrow Field (at Amsterdam Ave and W. 134th Street)

(Please feel free to bring blankets as this is an outdoor concert. NO CHAIRS allowed.)

We encourage you to bring the following items:

Blankets
Cash for concessions and shopping with vendors
Mementos and items (photos, buttons, etc.) to help build a "Tower of Power" for Hait
The following items are prohibited:
Chairs
Alcohol
Smoking
Glass bottles
Coolers
Beach umbrellas
Bikes

Featured Artists:

Tabou Combo

"Rhythm is the essence of Tabou Combo," says Tabou Combo's co-founder and ex-drummer Herman Nau. The infectious rhythm of Haiti's national dance music, Konpa (con-pah), has propelled the country's preeminent dance band around the world. The 12 members of the band have covered many territories since leaving Haiti and relocating to New York City in 1971. By that time, Tabou had already established itself as Haiti's number one group, and as the "Ambassadors of Konpa." Tabou Combo now has worldwide fans and followers from London to Paris, Holland, Switzerland, Japan, South America, throughout the Caribbean and in North America.

It is easy to understand why Tabou Combo's relentless and high-energy style of Compas dance beat knows no language barrier. Singing in English, Spanish, French or their native Creole, Tabou serves a hot mix of grooves and textures with roots from around the world. You will hear a strong dose of the Dominican Republic's national dance music, meringue. In addition, there is Haiti's dance-till-you-drop carnival music, rara, the hypnotic drums of Haitian voodoo rituals. Add to that quadrilles and contra-dances from Haiti's French colonizers and funk from the American soul era to James Brown for good measure. The mixture of all these influences makes for a serious bass line that brings new meaning to the word bottom; layer upon layer of accents courtesy of drums, percussion and congas; the constant intertwining of two guitars with the feel of West African Soukous topped with bright piano riff and the brassy sound of a 3-man horn section.

Employing the repetition and breaks of Afro-American gospel music, TABOU COMBO entices the listener to become listener and dancer. Almost four decades after TABOU COMBO's establishment, the band has audiences dancing everywhere from concert halls to the streets and in night clubs around the world. Says Fanfan, the band's background vocalist and main songwriter, "We want people to dance and forget their sorrows."

www.taboucombo.com

Emeline Michel

Emeline Michel is the reigning Queen of Haitian Song: a captivating performer, versatile vocalist and one of the premier Haitian songwriters of her generation. She has recorded and appeared on concert stages throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and North & South America for over 20 years. Singing both in French and Haitian Creole, Emeline's nine albums, Douvanjou ka leve (May the Sun Rise), Pa gen manti nan sa (There's No Doubt), Rhum & Flamme (Rum & Flame), Tout Mon Temps (All My Time), The Very Best, Ban'm pase (Let Me Pass), Cordes et Ame (Strings and Soul), Rasin Kreyol (Creole Roots), and Reine de Coeur (Queen of Hearts) have catapulted her to international acclaim.

Emeline Michel is beloved by Haitians for combining traditional rhythms with social, political and inspirational content. She emphasizes complex themes, conscious lyrics, and a broad palette of musical styles, including the native Haitian compas, twoubadou and rara. She dances, sings, and does all with style, grace and pride. in 2006 she was commissioned by President Bill Clinton to perform at his annual 2000+ attended fundraiser. She has performed at venues worldwide including but not limiting to, the Lincoln Center, Schomburg, Carnegie Hall and the Flagey Theater in Brussels to name a few. She is a true representation of the best that Haiti has to offer.

www.emeline-michel.com

Daniel Bernard Roumain

Having carved a reputation for himself as an innovative composer, performer, violinist, and band leader, Haitian-American artist Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) melds his classical music roots with his own cultural references and vibrant musical imagination.

Proving that he's "about as omnivorous as a contemporary artist gets" (New York Times), DBR recently collaborated and performed with Lady Gaga on FOX's American Idol. His accolades range from being voted as "America's Assignment" on the CBS Evening News, to receiving praise as one of the "Top 100 New Yorkers" (New York Resident), "Top 40 Under 40" business people (Crain's New York Business), one of the entertainment industry's "Top 5 Tomorrow's Newsmakers" (1010 WINS Radio), and spotlighted as a "New Face of Classical Music" in Esquire Magazine.

www.dbrmusic.com

Tabou Combo

"Rhythm is the essence of Tabou Combo," says Tabou Combo's co-founder and ex-drummer Herman Nau. The infectious rhythm of Haiti's national dance music, Konpa (con-pah), has propelled the country's preeminent dance band around the world. The 12 members of the band have covered many territories since leaving Haiti and relocating to New York City in 1971. By that time, Tabou had already established itself as Haiti's number one group, and as the "Ambassadors of Konpa." Tabou Combo now has worldwide fans and followers from London to Paris, Holland, Switzerland, Japan, South America, throughout the Caribbean and in North America.

It is easy to understand why Tabou Combo's relentless and high-energy style of Compas dance beat knows no language barrier. Singing in English, Spanish, French or their native Creole, Tabou serves a hot mix of grooves and textures with roots from around the world. You will hear a strong dose of the Dominican Republic's national dance music, meringue. In addition, there is Haiti's dance-till-you-drop carnival music, rara, the hypnotic drums of Haitian voodoo rituals. Add to that quadrilles and contra-dances from Haiti's French colonizers and funk from the American soul era to James Brown for good measure. The mixture of all these influences makes for a serious bass line that brings new meaning to the word bottom; layer upon layer of accents courtesy of drums, percussion and congas; the constant intertwining of two guitars with the feel of West African Soukous topped with bright piano riff and the brassy sound of a 3-man horn section.

Employing the repetition and breaks of Afro-American gospel music, TABOU COMBO entices the listener to become listener and dancer. Almost four decades after TABOU COMBO's establishment, the band has audiences dancing everywhere from concert halls to the streets and in night clubs around the world. Says Fanfan, the band's background vocalist and main songwriter, "We want people to dance and forget their sorrows."

www.taboucombo.com

Eddy Francois

Haitian vocalist Eddy François, the charismatic former lead singer for Boukman Eksperyans and Boukan Ginen, delivers a smooth hybrid of RASIN (Haitian Roots Vodou music), Hip Hop and Konpa. This exceptionally gifted and multi-faceted musician -he's also an accomplished guitarist - writes music that reflects diversity and a powerful sense of place and time. His lastest CD release "Zinga".

www.myspace.com/eddyfrancois

Los Terrys

"Los Terry are a family of musicians from the Camaguey province of Cuba. Their unique blend of musical styles includes elements of folklore, classic charanga and modern jazz, creating a bridge across generations. The title From Africa to Camague reflects the deep African influences in the music and the culture of Camaguey. Eladio Terry, the patriarch of the family, known to many as Don Pancho, grew up surrounded by the music of the Afro-Cuban religions and learned the traditional drumming and vocal styles that date back centuries. Eladio followed the path of the apprentice drummer as he learned the prayers, songs and rhythms that accompany the religious ceremonies- watching, listening and playing for hours. Like many Cuban musicians, he also learned to play popular music styles, incorporating his knowledge of African traditions into the secular dance music of the day.

http://afrocubaweb.com/losterry.htm
mikaben

Mika Benjamin started his career as a solo artist in the late 90s, when he won first prize for the song "Nwel trist" (Sad Christmas), a song he wrote for the "Konkou Nwel" organized by Telemax. As a solo artist he released two albums "Vwayaj" in 2000, and "Mika" in 2004. In 2005 he became the lead singer of a new Haiitan konpa group named Krezi Mizik. November 2006 saw the release of "Ayiti San Manti", Krezi's debut album.

www.mikaben.com
Ase Dance Collective

ASE Dance Theatre Collective is a professional neo-folkloric performance ensemble that specializes in Dance Theater from the African Diaspora. Under the artistic direction of its founder, Adia Tamar Whitaker, a dancer/choreographer and vocalist from San Francisco's Bay Area, this Brooklyn based dance theater collective is dedicated to preserving the past, present and future of the African presence in the "New World". Since 2000, ASE has presented work that links modern dance, original vernacular movement, and traditional dance theater from the African Diaspora to conceptual ideas in the human experience. The current repertoire features a variety of multi-media dance theater works choreographed by Adia Tamar Whitaker and new work by Afro-Puerto Rican dancer/choreographer/songwriter Mara Rivera. Under the musical direction of Sekou Alaje, ASE presents the Diaspora's diverse dance and musical repertoire.

www.myspace.com/asedance