T-Vice Pandemonium

As Roberto Martino sang “je suis innocent,” I couldn’t help but to think how he and his band, T-Vice, were guilty of driving pride and love of culture into the Haitian-American heart.

Ceepco Records and Zanzibar nightclub provided the opportunity and the environment for the crime to happen. Hundreds of young people were lured into the club in promise of ecstasy and delight. What T-Vice provided was more than sheer delight, it was utter pandemonium.

The recent events in the Washington metro area, from the Smithsonian Institute celebration of Haitian culture to the show of force by the Haitian community at the DC Caribbean Carnival were the foreplay to the T-Vice climax that was to happen on July 10. The show started unusually late for a T-Vice concert, but by eleven thirty the show was in full swing, T-Vice deja ap frape. The band took no time to get the crowd off their feet and dancing on the floor.

With T-Vice, a bal quickly turns into a party, and in other words, chaotic good time. The popularity of the band has not waned, in fact, judging by the young ladies up front grabbing for James and Roberto, they are still in high demand. With little room to move, the crowd jumped and screamed in joy until four o’clock in the morning. The crowd screamed in excitement at the rapping of James, the bass solos of Gerard, the dancing of Roberto, even Reynaldo was dancing, hidden far behind the keyboards.

Many things have been written about their skills as entertainers, but more needs to be said about their growth as musicians. Roberto’s guitar work on “je suis innocent,” was a show stopper. Many in the audience stopped to listen to the skills, which in no doubt was passed down from his father. Reynaldo works magic from many electronic cables and wires. Gerard’s fun energy with the bass is like the beating of a heart in love. James’ has created a unique flow for his rapping style.

The Haitian Fab Four are guilty of taking perfectly sane people and driving them out of their minds. Many work forty hours a week trying to catch the American dream, but when the opportunity comes to danse konpa, they willingly pledge allegiance to T-Vice. One young woman at one point jumped on the stage, forgetting that her short skirt would not cover all, as she was above the crowd. But it was party, and she was having the time of her life.

© EchodHaiti.com, july 2004

T-Vice Zanzibar Nightclub 2004