By Laura Quinlan, Big Night in Little Haiti

The September 20 edition of Big Night in Little Haiti brings the color and extravagance of One Miami Broward Carnival to the plaza of the Little Haiti Cultural Center, along with two top Haitian bands live in concert.  Costumed masqueraders from Carnival, which comes to town in October, will get ready with a costume fashion show and exhibition.

The audience should come out ready to dance, because the night features Les Freres Dejean in concert in the plaza!  This band will transport the crowd back to the golden age of classic Haitian konpa.  Formed in Haiti in 1963, Maestro Lyonel Dejean and his brothers formed the core, playing elegant dance parties and concerts alongside their colleagues in other legendary orchestras of the day, the Shleu Shleu All Stars, The Ambassadors and more.  They forged a new rhythm from their shared love of big band jazz, Haiti’s rich musical heritage and Caribbean dance rhythms like merengue and Cuban son.   The group’s discography, dating back to their first release in 1974, tells the full story of konpa.  The group, now based primarily in South Florida, have become revered statesmen of the genre, yet still promise to bring the crowd to their feet in concerts.

The night opens with a set by Aroze Twoubadou, a locally based folk group. After his departure from the band Bel Jazz in 2012, singer and guitarist Jean Levelt Vital and a few friends joined their instruments to create a small troubadour band, Aroze. In creole aroze, means “to water” and, as their name suggests, Aroze waters the heart of their fans with a warming style of music, a mixture of ceremonial traditional rhythm, folk, and compas. Since June 2012, this 5 piece, South Florida based, mini-band has been keeping old and young on the dance floor.

Between sets, DJ Mack of Mizikpam.com plays music to keep the crowd moving.  Mizikpam.com has been a partner with Big Night in Little Haiti since the beginning, and has now launched a live online streaming radio station.  Fans of Haitian music can enjoy the station anytime.

Big Night in Little Haiti will also include a visual arts exhibit of photojournalism in the gallery coordinated with IPC Visual Lab.  The show is curated with renown photographer Carl Juste and features the work of his colleagues and students.  In the studio space, Positive Impact Foundation hosts a Family Art Corner, with hands-on supervised activities for kids.  Hungry patrons will enjoy delicious kreyol cuisine for sale from Leela’s Lakay.

As always, Big Night in Little Haiti is free, from 6pm to 10pm.  The series is produced by The Rhythm Foundation and the Little Haiti Cultural Center, with major support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and other sponsors.  Information at http://BigNightLittleHaiti.com or 305-960-2969.