Boukman Eksperyans
Theodore Beaubrun Jnr. (b. 20 September 1956, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; lead vocals), Mimerose P. Beaubrun (b. 13 November 1956, Ouanaminthe, Haiti; lead vocals), Ted Gabriel Beaubrun (b. 29 June 1980, Ouanaminthe, Haiti; percussion/keyboards), Laura Beaubrun (b. 3 September 1981, Haiti; dancer), Hans Dominique (b. 1 October 1978, Petionville, Haiti; drums), Jean Paul Coffy (b. 15 June 1975, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; keyboards/musical director), Maquel Jean Baptiste (b. 15 September 1967, Jeremie, Haiti; guitar), Henry B.D. Pierre Joseph (b. 28 March 1959, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; drums/percussion), Raymond Lexis (b. 24 November 1960, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; drums/percussion), Gary Seney (b. 21 October 1961, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; drums/percussion), Hubert Severe (12 December 1972, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; bass), Katiana Malbranche (b. 12 May 1971, Port-au-Prince, Haiti; dancer). Formed in 1979 by husband and wife Theodore and Mimerose P. Beaubrun, Boukman Eksperyans (named in tribute to eighteenth-century Haitian voodoo leader/revolutionary Boukman Jetty and the Jimi Hendrix Experience), shook up the Haitian music scene with their "vodou rock" music, blending contemporary sounds (Hendrix, Santana and Bob Marley) with traditional Haitian influences and the rhythms associated with vodou (or voodoo) ceremonies. The group hark back to Haitian music's African roots and, in contrast to their contemporaries, bring a political edge to their lyrics. Working as a live act in Haiti throughout the 80s they were at the forefront of the countries "mizik raisin' (roots music) movement. In 1991 they released their international debut, Vodou Adje. Their second release, 1992's Kalfou Danjere (Dangerous Crossroads), won the award for best album at the Third Annual Caribbean Music Awards and spent four weeks in the Billboard World Music Charts. A year later they toured in the USA and Canada and also appeared at the Ouidah "93 Festival Of Vodou Cultures held in Benin, West Africa. Back home in Haiti meanwhile, owing to the uncompromisingly political nature of their lyrics, they became the victims of a campaign of increasing government harassment and censorship. The band's original bassist Michel-Melthon Lynch died of meningitis, owing, in part, to the lack of medical supplies caused by the US embargo on Haiti. In 1994 Boukman Eksperyans undertook a tour of Europe at the end of which they found themselves unable to obtain a flight back to Haiti and were refused visas to the USA. They ended up in exile in Jamaica where they recorded their third album, Liberte (Pran Pou Pran'l!) (Freedom (Let's Take It!)), at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong studios with co-production from reggae producer Clive Hunt. Released in 1995, it introduced commercial, R&B influences into their roots/rock sound. (These first three albums were all released on the now defunct Mango subsidiary of Island Records and are, in the late 90s, unavailable). In 1996 the band toured Japan for the first time and a year later they undertook another major tour of the USA. In 1998 the band released their fourth album, Revolution, produced at the Fugees Refugee Camp Studios in New Jersey, USA. It featured a slick and diverse sound with hip-hop and jazz influences added to the mix. To promote the album the band undertook a world tour, which included controversial shows in UK nightclubs in which they provided the musical interlude in an authentic vodou ceremony. Live At Red Rocks was a rough-edged recording of the band in concert in Colorado, USA.

Listen to Boukman Eksperyans at Finetune.

Albums
Top Tracks
  • Bay Bondye Glwa
  • Mizere're'
  • Jou Nou Revolte
  • SEVELEN/SUKIYAKI (NO MORE EXCUSES FOR THE WAR)
  • MARIAJ AZAKA
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