Les Difficiles de Petion Ville - Haiti Music Video

Les Ambassadeurs (LA) have been among a group of pioneer bands that began the Mini- Jazz music style in Haiti. Mini-Jazz evolved between 1964-1969, basing itself on the simple stylings of rock and roll bands from 1960-1964, before Britain's Beatles revolutionized the genré.

The new-style Kompa bands comprised an electric-lead and -rhythm guitars, electric bass, and polyrhythmic percussion instruments, defining Mini-Jazz. Frequently, the inclusion of a saxophone held down the melodic line. The Mini-Jazz movement took root in Port-au-Prince and its surrounding neighborhoods, led by innovative musician Shleu Shleu. The most noteworthy neighborhood bands, which grew to prominence along with LA, included Les Loups Noirs, Les Fantaisistes de Carrefour, Tabou Combo, Fréres Dé Jean, Les Difficiles, and Bossa Combo. They led the Mini-Jazz movement and other Caribbean countries soon followed suit.

Read more →  

Jean-Robert Hariss of Mini-Jazz group, D.P. Express, lost his life to a long-standing illness in 2008. He began his music career with the group in the latter part of the 60s, known back then as Les Difficiles de Pétion-Ville, part of the exploding Mini-Jazz movement. The movement began in neighborhoods surrounding Port-au-Prince in the mid-sixties.

Known affectionately as Porky to his family, friends, and other musicians, Jean-Robert Hariss earned critical acclaim as an outstanding electric bassist. As a leader at the forefront of Mini-Jazz, he helped to revolutionize the Kompa genre, Haiti's pop-dance music. A talented arranger and song-lyricist, he co-produced the 1980 major-hit single "David".

Read more →