But Haiti is also home to one of the hemisphere's oldest jazz bands: Septentrional. All over the country and in the diasporas, indeed Haitians are found all over the world, Haitians line up to dance to Caribbean big band tunes that have carried a country and a people through more than half a century of love and sorrow, dictatorship, turmoil and dreams of democracy.

Maestro Pierre Louis- Recipient HKM Award. See Picture Achives of Septentrional

Septentrional -the word means "northern" -takes its name from its native city of Cap-Haitian, the proud port town which slaves turned soldiers burned to the ground rather than handing it back to the French during the country's bloody 13-year revolution. The 20-piece Haitian jazz orchestra has been playing since 1948, when two groups got together after traditional Catholic-Voodoo pilgrimage concert appearances and decided to collaborate rather than compete. They founded what would become the first provincial Haitian orchestra to sweep the country and then the world.

Their signature "boule de feu' or 'ball of fire' rhythm -born of the Haitian "compa" meringue-influenced music with Cuban flavor gleaned from radio shows -is unique, and their hundreds of songs that interpret Haitian life, love and politics unforgettable. Other songs are based on bolero, calypso or Voodoo rhythms, which keep the dance floors trembling until the early morning

This year marks Septentrional's 60th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of its last active founder, Maestro Hulric Pierre-Louis. Pierre-Louis -orphaned at a young age -had a "revolutionary" dream, he said: make his fellow countrymen and women respect "the provinces" and also respect musicians, who until then were looked down upon

Sixty years later, Pierre-Louis has accomplished that and more. Septentrional has played in Miami, New York, Boston and Montreal, and also in Belgium, France and around the Caribbean, earning the band – which recently incorporated younger musicians – the nickname "International Ball of Fire." And Septentrional fans are serious. They have clubs in places like New York and Miami ("CoSeptent") and they plan their vacations around the group's renowned summer festival appearances in cities and towns across Haiti's countryside

** HISTORY **

Septentrional was founded in Cap Haitien on July 27, 1948, from two small groups, the "Quatuor Septentrional" and the "Trio Symphonia". The original group of seven members has now grown to a big band numbering (18) eighteen members.

The first Band Leader was Jean Menuau who remained the group*s guitarist for many years. The Year 1955 was pivotal in Septen*s history. The vocalist Roger Colas and pianist Louis Etienne joined the band that year and took it to a completely different level. In 1963, Septen produced and distributed its first album. In 1966, Septen came to the U.S. for the first time and has since traveled extensively throughout the Americas and Europe.

The band attracted many excellent musicians and composers in its ranks. As with any longstanding organizations, Septentrional has experienced many glorious years as well as some trying moments in its history. With the support of its fans, the group has survived, and in 1998, celebrated a half century of great music.

** ACCOMPLISHMENTS **

Septentrional published its first recording in 1963. Ever since, no other Haitian musical formation has reached the level of production that the group has achieved. Septen, as it is called by million of fans, has published an impressive total of 62 albums, 20 accompanying some of the greatest Haitian artists such as Guy Durosier, Ansy Derose, Roge Cola, and Charles Dessalines. The group also accompanied some well-known international artists like Alberto Bertran, Roberto Ledesma, Nelson Ned and Hugo Enrique with whom it also produced an album.

On January 1, 1967, Septen inaugurated its own Night Club, "Feu Vert", built on the ocean waterfront of the beloved hometown of Cap-Haitien. Six years later, on January 1, 1973, Septen Theatre erected next to the "Feu Vert" complex, was inaugurated.

** RECOGNITION/AWARDS **