Tabou Combo

Formed in Pétion‑Ville, Haiti, in the late 1960s around guitarist Albert Chancy Jr and drummer Herman Nau, Tabou Combo quickly established itself on the local scene before relocating to New York in the early 1970s. The group developed a direct, electric and highly rhythmic compas, driven by a dense rhythm section, forward brass and the voice of Roger “Shoubou” Eugène, with lyrics in Haitian Creole, French and sometimes English or Spanish. Tabou Combo incorporated elements of funk, soul and Caribbean and Latin American music into compas, which opened the doors of Haitian diaspora clubs in Brooklyn and later numerous festivals in Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa. Often organized as a large dance orchestra, the band has undergone several lineup changes while retaining the name Tabou Combo and an aesthetic continuity centered on groove, melodic guitar lines and brass arrangements. Over the decades, Tabou Combo has continued to produce studio recordings and live captures, and remains linked to the history of Haitian compas both at home and in expatriate communities.