Les Difficiles de Petion-Ville Morphs into D.P. Express Mini-Jazz Band

Updated December 2, 2012 9:19 PM

The Mini-Jazz movement, which began in 1964, was an evolving form of Kompa, Haiti's pop-dance music. What defined the music of Les Difficiles de Petion-Ville that was a popular Mini-Jazz band was the use of lead- and rhythm electric guitars and electric bass. The advent of this more modern sound led to a burgeoning music scene in the neighborhoods surrounding Port-au-Prince.

One of the new Mini-Jazz Kompa bands to emerge was Les Difficiles de Pétion-Ville. They were among a group of similar bands, like Les Shleu Shleu and Tabou Combo, who captured the essence of this new form of Kompa. Les Difficiles de Pétion-Ville released an impressive series of albums, whose tracks of up-tempo and down-tempo selections produced a variety of sounds, depending on the sound-board engineering choices.

Kompa music is light, delicate, and frisky, and Les Difficiles de Pétion-Ville were the masters of it. Some of their popular releases include "Coq Qualite", "Min Paulo", "Wala", "Ce laVie", and the album Yoyo & Experience, Live (1975).

(video not available)

Their sound often involved the prominent use of a guitar, shadowy back-up vocals, and light tenor voices. Sometimes the incorporation of a police whistle lent a carnival flavor.

(video not available)

Les Diffficiles de Pétion-Ville experimented with various styles within the Kompa and Mini-Jazz genré. One track would express a rural feel, while another gave off a definite urban vibe.

(video not available)

More music videos about Les Difficiles de Petion-Ville

In time, the band added tenor sax, horns, and synthesizers to their instrument line-up. To acknowledge this evolution and position themselves as the band to beat in popularity, Les Difficiles de Pétion-Ville re-named themselves D.P. Express.

Write a comment