Coronto International was a seminal
compas band from
Haiti formed in 1955 by
saxophone
The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of Single-reed instrument, single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed (mouthpi ...
players
Nemours Jean-Baptiste
Nemours Jean-Baptiste (February 2, 1918 – May 18, 1985) was a Haitian saxophonist, writer, and band leader. He is credited with being the inventor of '' compas'', also known as ''compas direct'', a style of Haitian music.
Nemours nicknamed ...
and
Weber Sicot. Initial band members included Anulis Cadet, Kreutzer Duroseau, who originally came up with the name ''compa direct'', because Nemours was Maestro of the band, took all the credit for himself, Mozart Duroseau, Kreutzer and Mozart are brothers, Monfort Jean-Baptiste, and Julien Paul.
Kreutzer was the best Tambour (
Conga) player in Haiti.
The band's music was popular among the higher classes of Haiti, reportedly including the family of
François Duvalier.
In 1956, Sicot left the band to form another compas band, Latino. That same year, Nemours would rename Coronto as Enssemble Au Calbasse, and later as Ensemble Nemours Jean-Baptiste.
External links
Kompa.blogentry on Nemours Jean-Baptiste
compas Musicians Biography
Haitian musical groups
{{Haiti-stub