Augustin, Richard

Born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Richard Augustin held his first guitar when his older brother placed it in his hands as a young boy. He was only eleven years old when the bond between him and his music started. After years of self-taught music theory and choir participation in the Catholic Church, this yet unpolished musician knew, upon writing his first composition, that his life was destined to evolve around music. Therefore he took music writing and reading classes and lessons in classical guitar, Bossa Nova and Jazz understanding.

After graduating from high school, Richard moved to New York City, where he attended college taking Psychology, Philosophy and Liberal Arts classes. Eventually he graduated with honors in audio technology. Since then, Richard has performed with, composed for, produced, engineered for and promoted several well-known Caribbean and American artists.

Richard’s live appearances include several prestigious performances in the New York City, most recently at the Midsummer Night Swing Festival hosted by the Lincoln Center, at the famous Upper West side Jazz club Smoke, at the Lion’s Den in the Greenwich Village, at the OAS building in Washington, D.C. for the official Haitian art exhibit and at the Haitian National Palace for the visit of the Dominican Republic’s President.

Today, the artist presents us with his two solo albums in which his talent as a composer, arranger, engineer and musician explodes in a rainbow of rhythm named “Jamba Rhythm” by Richard himself and his friends. This style depicts a unique musical flow around the cultural spectrum. The beat is danceable, the groove intoxicating and the musical arrangements will please and/or amaze you. As Richard eloquently stated: “Let us share with the world.”

Although the acoustic guitar remains his passion, it is always a pleasure to see Richard on stage, playing congas, keyboard, drums, percussions or the bass. When performing, the sensitivity of his touch and the devotion to his craft overpower the stage. Do not be fooled by the fact that Richard’s albums are only instrumental because each note, percussive or not, tells a story.

Richard’s latest album, “Kafe,” features 8 new tracks written by the artist which continue to demonstrate his ability to shine in a wide variety of instruments. “Kafe” also features collaborations with today’s respected hip-hop artist Donald Guillaume of “The Fugees” on drums in “Kafe” and reggae artist Michel Lemorin of “Freedom Sound” for the arrangements of “Kafe” and “Caroline.”

According to The Haitian Times (July 2001) “..[he] should be in the dictionary under ‘syncopation’. And according to Listen.com (January 2001) “..easy listening Caribbean music with acoustic guitar, drums and percussion .. and he easily floats between jazz-tinged phrasing and traditional Haitian compas melodies”.

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