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Zenglen: 5 Dwèt

Top Vice in Concert

Tabou Combo: Crossroads

T-Vice: Still Red Hot, Still on Top

Phanttoms: Le Roi et La Princesse

Zenglen Web site

Classic and professional are two words that come to mind with Zenglen, one of today’s best konpa bands. Professional, because, Lè Zenglen ap jwe, when Zenglen is in concert, whether it’s playing for two hundred or six hundred people, the bands gives it their all; Classic, because Gracia Delva, the band’s lead vocalist, delivers a smooth sound reminiscent of Ti Manno, or the great Shoubou, also the band keeps a live horn section, reminiscent of the great bands of yesteryear.

They don’t have the sex appeal of T-Vice, or the following of System Band, but they are well respected for their music and professionalism. Due to no fault of their own, Zenglen’s last concert in the DC area was squeezed between a Zin concert and a Sweet Micky event, and that affected the amount of people who attended the show. However, the lack of a large crowd did not stop the band from putting on a great show. Yo monte konpa pou sak te la yo. Gracia, dressed in a dark colored suit and sunglasses, eyed the crowd and started the show off with some coordinated dance moves with the horn players. The step show indicated that the band actually gave some thought to their routine before coming on stage.

Gracia Delva is a natural onstage. His presence, like that of Shoubou of Tabou Combo, completes the band. He sings, he dances, he laughs and plays with the crowd, entertaining everyone. His expressions on stage indicate that he can only be defined on his terms. It is evident that Zenglen wants to give us something new while paying homage to the days of the great 70’s and 80’s konpa bands.

One of the aspects of the earlier bands is the live horn section. The distinct sound of Zenglen is not only produced by Gracia, but also with a great horn section. Consisting of perhaps the only female sax player in konpa today and a great trumpeter, they invoke memories of when every Haitian band had Spanish horn section.

Those bands of earlier created the classic konpa sound, and Zenglen is continuing that tradition, while modernizing the music. With Gracia on lead, Ritchie on drums, Zenglen’s professionalism is evident whether in front of a large or small crowd.

Zenglen Photo Gallery

© echodhaiti.com, 12/2002