PNP (Plezi'n Nap Pran) - 5th Anniversary @ Elks Lodge - Madan Marye (2009) video

In the spring of 2004, a group of friends started to meet every Friday simply to "hang out", with no specific purpose. At times, they would watch music videos, sports, or discuss various topics ranging from family issues, acculturation, the US economy and its occurrences, to, inevitably, Haiti. The discussions about Haiti were positive in nature because the unplanned focus was "the good old days", including the growing experiences and the many activities which constitute the fond memories that they and so many other Haitian-Americans keep within themselves as a treasure. After Gregor Blaise dug up his 25 year-old High School Band saxophone out of his Miami home garage, jamming to Shleu Shleu and Les Fantaisistes old songs, it all started. Carl Craig joined with his guitar, Eddy (Didy) Altiné brought in the groove and the guitar solos, Jean Kerby Baton added the needed bass, Edouard Leon and Patrick Louis took their roles as percussionists and all, they formed the group PNP-Plezi'n Nap Pran with Pantal Guilbaud and Philippe Carrie as vocalists. PNP members then engaged in the interpretation of tunes from Tabou Combo, Skah Shah, Les Shleu Shleu, Les Fantaisistes, Les Ambassadeurs, Ibo Combo, Les Difficiles, Nemours Jean-Baptiste, Webert Sicot, Septentrional, and Pepe Bayard/Gary French. The purpose had then become self-explanatory: The weekly gathering was for the release of stress from work, family/children, bills, changes in the US, career uncertainties, deterioration of ...