The Legendary Journey of Robert Martino

On February 15, his birthday, Robert Martino sat down with Le Nouvelliste for an interview retracing his journey as a musician. Initially a bass guitar enthusiast, Martino rode the mini-jazz wave launched by Shleu Shleu, went on to create Les Gypsies and Scorpio Universel, and later, with Top-Vice, pioneered the “digital compas band” format featuring drum machines. Over the years, he became the quintessential guitarist of Haitian music. Though he still listens to Carlos Santana and Jimmy Page, his solos have left an enduring mark on compas direct for generations. From his first band in 1966, Les Difficiles, to his current ensemble Robert & Friends, his career spans more than fifty years of Haitian music. This edition revisits the extensive interview with Robert Martino originally published on May 28, 2020.