STIL - (Tet Kole, Live)

By Steve Desrosiers
"Fanatik Malad" (Dedicated Fans) in the US have been waiting quite some time to hear the "Stil" sound in live format and, alas, what Haitian fans have been exposed to is finally available.

The album "Tet kole" is a collection of seven live performances released on the Tropikal Records label.

The slow and painful demise of the band, K-Dans, heralded the end of an era in Haitian music where it ranked and ruled alongside major players like Zin=2 0and MuzikMizik. The mid 1990's were a time when Haitian bands began to reassert themselves with a little more of the influence and finesse of popular American music. Lead singer Jude Jean at that time was the reserved but undeniably gifted crooner whose skills could match or at least second the vocal feats of American acts like Boyz to Men and perhaps even Jodeci.

Things took a turn of the worst as the millennium introduced a new set aggressive Konpa acts that caused K-Dans to second guess its musical direction. Unfortunately, as that doubt played itselft out, the band unceremoniously parted with the tame Jean to test a more riotous approach to their live performances.

Long story short, Jude Jean eventually teamed up with the founders of Mizik Mizik and released the album "Reveil", his first solo effort. The final demise of K-Dans brought Jude back to a new collaboration with some of his former band mates in a new line up named "Stil". The new band's membership included keyboardist Alfred Lataillade and guitarist Duke Fontaine aka Didi Santana among others.

Stil's Tet Kole is styled after the long running live recordings usually realeased after a successful studio release. The album features a mix of new and old compositions and never rests instrumentally. Its best moments include a live rendition of their new song "Foli", a fantastic melody accompanied by a treasure chest of grooves from both Afred and Didi, Jude Jean's solo hit "Bonita" is also featured live and matched by K-Dans classics like "Ki Lang Ou Pale" and the run away hit collaboration between Jude and Shedley Abraham for his Djaz-La series "De Tanzantan".

"Tet Kole" is a decent release for a live album. The players are talented and totally display their desire to win a place among the industry's new leaders. The songs featured are strong choices that are mostly well performed and were things not a bit overdone instrumentally at times it would be a stronger product. The issue that hinders "Tet Kole" is one of dynamics and there are simply too many guitar and synth notes battling for the spotlight that should be on Jude Jean when he's singing the verses. Jude is also a bit out of his element in the animation department and perhaps a new recruit might take on that role in future releases.

"Tet Kole", despite its flaws, is definitely something to check out if only to discover a few of the moments in groove that Afred and Didi share.