We then were called to duty by movie director, Mora Junior Etienne to be part of his movie, “Profonds Regrets” (featuring Nice Simon, Fabienne Colas and himself) and to write a song for the soundtrack. Together, we came up with a song entitled “Profonds Regrets” which will be released on Rafrechi’s second album. We then wanted to have a more competitive band to represent the Washington metropolitan area; we had decided to bring in two talented musicians: Jean Gardy Hypolitte on guitar, and Mickey Walker on keyboard.
In January 2006, we released a live album recorded at Ray Tilkens’ studio with one of our very first single studio track entitled: “Wap Plede Gade Mwen”.
By spring 2006, we released the “Wap Plede Gade Mwen” music video, directed by James “DJ Difficile’ Narcisse. Then we launched a promotional tour in the United States starting in Delaware, followed by Connecticut, New York, Florida, and summer 2006, we landed in Haiti for a promotional tour where we played in Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, Cap-Haitien, and Ouanaminthe.
While in Haiti, the group realized that the Digital era was quickly fading away, and had to add a “ban dèyè”, meaning (drum, percussion, & conga) to be competitive. Upon returning from Haiti, the band reinvented itself by adding Nixon Clermont on percussion, Michael Sebastien on drums replaced by Harold Mindron and Bruce Nicholas on congas replaced by Roody Volcy to complete the new band. It took us a good 2 years to find the right players to meet the group expectations. Then in 2009 we released our first album entitled Eske’n Pare as well as a music video directed by Justin Dorelas of Dorelas Productions.
At first look, the new kompa band, RAFRECHI, seems too young to know how to keep the kompa maché. But after you see and hear them live, you will be pleasantly surprised. The band has spent the last two years convincing the public of their musical maturity. With a mixture of Hip-Hop and Reggae, the band is creating a new generation of fans from Washington, DC, Maryland, New York, Florida, Boston, to Haiti and beyond with their album, “Eske’n Pare. RAFRECHI’s sound is a mellow, steady konpa with a hint of R&B and Reggae.
Today RAFRECHI is emerging with a new blend of konpa. With his hip-hop swagger and the way he grabs the microphone Pierre “Kiki” Jodnerson together with Gary Bruno struts on stage as they sing away. Cedryc Lafontant on the keyboard and vocal as well brings his unique sound to the group and Mickey Walker, the most versatile musician of the group, leads the band and works his magic on the keyboard. Pierre Vico Alcindor wants to make a name for himself with his imposing guitar licks and is making many people drop their jaws at every performance. Our “ban deye” consists of Nixon Clermont on percussion, Roody Volcy on congas, Harold Mindron on the drums and Mario Germain, the most experienced musician playing the bass.
The band’s popularity is on the rise in the United States because the efforts of our skillful Public Relations rep, Jean Claude Vivens and our management team, Woolley Antoine, John Benjamin and Wisler Moise. RAFRECHI has already played with all the major players in the HMI and has plans to travel to several key cities in the United States, Canada, and Haiti to continue their quest.
The band’s maturity is proven on stage. With the support of their fans, the band will continue to rise and may even change the course of Konpa music
