Jacques Yves “Jeanba” Jean-Baptiste, of the East twenty fifth Avenue Block Affiliation and unique NYPD 67th Precint Block coordinator — each in Brooklyn — and one of many founding members of the legendary Shleur Shleur Haitian Kompa bands, died on Friday, March 22, his daughter, Christina Jean-Baptiste mentioned. He was 77.
Christina instructed Caribbean Life on Sunday that her father was “surrounded by household till having taken his final breath.”
She mentioned Jean-Baptiste was additionally one of many percussionists within the Shleu Shleu band, one of many extra influential Haitian Konpa bands.
“To equate it to American tradition, it will be corresponding to Earth, Wind and Fireplace,” mentioned Christina, stating that Shleu Shleu was a slang time period for mini skirt in Haiti throughout the ‘60s.
“Fashionable-day Konpa artists up to now proceed to pattern their music, in addition to my father’s tempo,” she added, disclosing that her father spent over 20 years with the Shleu Shleu band.
Christina mentioned Jean-Baptiste was born Might 3, 1946, at L’Hôpital Normal in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, to Lilia Sanon and Alius Jean-Baptiste.
She mentioned her father was “lovingly identified by his bandmates” as “Jeanba.”
“(He) wasn’t solely only a member of the band, however, extra so, a brother to every member,” Christina mentioned.
She mentioned her father was an unique member of the Haitian Kompa band, Les DiJnns (pronounced “Denims”), from 1964 to 1965, the place he performed the tam tam (additionally referred to in English because the cowbell) – together with bandmates Yves-Arsene Appolon, Gary Resil, Leslie Couradain, brothers Eddie Gideon and Fanfan Gideon, and Wilfred Jean-Jacques.
Christiana mentioned Jean-Baptiste was contacted by lifelong finest associates, Smith Jean-Baptiste and Hugues “Dada” Jacaman, to hitch Shleu Shleu after a lot of the band members migrated to america to kind the New York extension of Shleu Shleu.
She mentioned mentioned Jean-Baptiste left Les DiJnns “to take the reins from Franky Jean-Baptiste, after becoming a member of Shleu Shleu in New York, in 1970, the place he performed the tam tam, bass drum and conga drums.”
Christina mentioned her dad was famend for his signature “2-3-9-3 tempo on the congas, which was and nonetheless has a major international affect on up to date Kompa music up to now.”
Whereas in Shleu Shleu, Jean-Baptiste toured Guadeloupe, Paris, Curaçao and French Guyana, amongst different locations, Christina mentioned.
She mentioned Jean-Baptiste’s “beats had been instrumental within the growth of over six albums, spanning from Franky Tête Chauve, Recontre Joe Trouillot, Acé Frapé, Cé La Ou Yé, and extra.”
After over 20 years of enjoying within the band, Christina mentioned Jean-Baptiste handed “the torch” to Joseph “Chinois” Savius after experiencing again ache from an accident.
“He and Chinois equally developed a longstanding friendship, during which he initially mentored Chinois in his early phases of integrating into the band,” she mentioned.
Outdoors of band life, Christina mentioned Jean-Baptiste was extra generally generally known as “Yves.”
She mentioned “he made his life” within the Little Haiti part of Brooklyn, along with his spouse, Marie Evelyne, and their two daughters, Alexandra and Christina.
“He was very enthusiastic about having sturdy household ties and establishing a constructive influence on society,” Christina mentioned. “He took occupation as a bookkeeper and labored within the arts, all whereas fervently serving as an auxiliary police officer of the 67th Precinct till his retirement.”
He additionally served as president of the 300 East twenty fifth Avenue (Greenest Block in Brooklyn) Block Affiliation for one 12 months “during which his legacy was forging relations between the block affiliation and the 67th precinct to extend security and consciousness within the space,” Christina mentioned.
“Till his remaining moments, he was equally involved in regards to the high quality of life for all of the group,” she mentioned.
Apart from his spouse and daughters, Jean-Baptiste is survived by his brothers, Hervé, Anthony, Ehmil, Frantzy St. Louis, Jean-Robert St. Louis, Claude St. Louis; sisters, Marie Grecia Denis and Edith; and plenty of different family, associates, colleagues and bandmates in Shleu Shleu and the Haitian music world.
Jean-Baptiste was memorialized at Frantz Daniel Jean Funeral Residence on Friday, April 12.
Christina mentioned Haitian elected officers, corresponding to Meeting Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Council Member Farah Louis, attended the viewing and mass providers “and spoke in reminiscence of ‘Jeanba’ and his contributions to society.”
Jean-Baptiste was interred the subsequent day at Cypress Hills Cemetery on the Brooklyn-Queens hall, Christina mentioned.
“He was celebrated amongst shut household and associates, with a stay efficiency by his bandmates in Shleu Shleu the identical day,” she mentioned.
