USVI drummer Dion Parson is Artist-in-Residence at UVI for 2012/2013

USVI

Is this precedence, or what? A Caribbean Jazz musician as Artist-in-Residence at a home-grown institution of higher learning. Precedence or not, the reality is that the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) has seen it fit to invite Grammy award-winning drummer Dion Parson to teach registered UVI percussion students, students in the Brass and Percussion Pedagogy class for Music Education majors and members of the UVI Jazz Band for the 2012/2013 academic year. UVI President Dr. David Hall made the announcement at the Fall 2012 Convocation on August 17 to spirited applause. Parson’s course load entails two private hour-long lessons per week geared towards providing his charges with “professional expertise and hands on training.” 

Parson brings to his new endeavour a sound academic background, having studied at Interlochen Music Academy in Michigan and later at Rutgers University in New Jersey; a wealth of practical experience in the formal classroom setting at Rutgers, Cheney University in Pennsylvania, North Carolina University and the Conservatory of Amsterdam; and as a workshop instructor and mentor. Never mind his accomplishments as a band-leader with three titles to his name, side-man credits for such greats as the late Milt Jackson, Jon Faddis, Terence Blanchard, David Sanchez, Lee Konitz, Babatunde Olatunji, Baaba Maal, Dianne Reeves and Ron Blake – his partner in crime – and a body of recorded work for labels like Blue Note, Columbia and Sony.

For three years now, Parson has run a sponsored outreach program on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, United States Virgin Islands called “Mentoring through the Art of Music.” His teaching engagement at UVI can, therefore, be seen as a natural extension of his community outreach to the Virgin Islands community. This was not lost on President Hall who told the Convocation during his address that he is “personally thrilled to be able to offer the students at UVI an opportunity to learn from Dion Parson – who represents the [top-tier] of professional musicianship.”

If you live in the Virgin Islands, expect to see Parson and his students at a mall or park near you some time around and possibly the 21st Century Band that he and Blake founded in 1998, before the academic year is over.

Parson with Dr. Hall of UVI (21st Century Band photo)

PS: Having served his first week at UVI starting on Monday, August 20, Parson returned to New York for a weekend of jamming on Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September o1 with the Steve Turre Quintet (Turre, trombone and shells; Billy Harper, tenor saxophone; Xavier Davis, piano; and DION PARSON on drums) at Smoke Jazz Club.

Festival de Jazz: Kyle Eastwood et Jacques Schwarz-Bart, concert gratuit, August 25 2012

GUADELOUPE

Festival de Jazz presented a free Kyle Eastwood/Jacques Schwarz-Bart concert in the Town Hall Square of Chateau de Clermont en Genevois, France on Saturday, August 25  2012.

The Jacques Schwarz-Bart Quartet, a perfectly harmonious dream combo led by the prodigious Guadeloupean saxophonist “Brother Jacques,” has come to the fore with “The Art of Dreaming,” an album filled with some of the leader’s most beatiful melodies.

With Baptiste Trotignon on piano, bassist Thomas Bramerie and Hans Van Oosterhout playing drums, JCB has dreamt up a synthesis of timeless Jazz that defies and redefines boundaries – une expérience collective de rêve éveillé is what it’s called.

JACQUES SCHWARZ-BART and KYLE EASTWOOD on stage at Festival de Jazz, Chateau de Clermont en Genevois, France, Saturday, August 25  2012.

Sources: spectable.com, jazzclubannecy.com

5th Annual Haitian Summer Jazz Festival, August 25 2012, one not to be missed

HAITI

From 1895, the date that North American Jazz was created in New Orleans, to March 2008, there was not such a thing as a Haitian Jazz Show on the airwaves. On March 16, 2008, DJ K (Kedner Stiven) decided to put together a radio show he baptized as “Jazz Creole” broadcasted weekly on a New York Radio station. To promote, expose and encourage this movement, DJ K launched the first Annual Haitian Summer Jazz festival, which was held on Sunday August 17, 2008.

Now comes the 5th Annual Haitian Jazz Festival on August 25, 2012 featuring a cast that includes Joel Widmaier, Jean Caze, Monvelino Alexis and Mozayik.

As a precursor, Haitian Summer Jazz Festival Inc. is having a Press Conference on Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 06:00 to 09:00 pm at TheVault Café, 481 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003.

The media and festival-goers will have the opportunity to ask questions and address any issues or concerns they may have regarding the 5th edition of the festival.

During the news conference, the Haitian Summer Jazz Festival, Inc. friends, members and its team will expose exciting new plans for this year’s festivities.

Scheduled speakers are Gashford Guillaume of Mozayik, Joel Widmaier, Monvelino Alexis, Kedner Stiven himself and some of the HAITIAN SUMMER JAZZ FESTIVAL 5th Edition performers.

Haitian Summer Jazz Festival is hosted by Chez Mirelle’s, 170 Post Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 on August 25. Showtime is 08:00 pm till 02:00 am Sunday.

Children’s Heart Fund of Dominica presents Arturo Tappin, Boo Hinkson with All That Jazz, August 18 2012

DOMINICA

Barbadian sax lion, Arturo Tappin, has been invited back to Dominica, no doubt because of the hit charity show he put on there two years ago and the resounding reputation he has garnered over several decades.

Tappin will once again give of his time this Saturday, August 18 in support of Children’s Heart Fund of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Also travelling to Dominica for the event is St. Lucian guitarist Ronald “Boo” Hinkson who will make an appearance as a guest artist at the show.

The CHF-organised fundraiser, captioned All That Jazz is also slated to pool the collective talent of the most prominent Jazz tribes in Dominica at the bedrock Old Mill Cultural Center, situated at the southern entrance of Canefield, three miles north-west of the capital Roseau. These are saxophonist Quanti Bomani & Friends (Quanti seemed to have gotten stuck in the Nature Isle); Armstrong James & Jazzwalk Quartette, once the leader’s house band at the now defunct Jazz Walk club and the young upstarts, Breve, a promising group buoyed by the Finnish saxophonist, Yussi Paavola, now resident in Dominica to learn to play the indigenous music of the island.

ALL THAT JAZZ with Arturo Tappin with special guest Boo Hinkson, Quanti & Friends, Breve, Armstrong James & Jazzwalk Quartette +

Old Mill Cultural Centre DOMINICA

8.00pm, Saturday 18th August 2012
Tickets $50 and VIP $100 are available at…

Fadelle’s on Kennedy Avenue, Dr. Rhonda McIntyre’s office at Harlsbro , Kai K Boutique and Heart fund directors

Etienne Charles emancipates Michigan, Chicago and California, early August

TRINIDAD

During Emancipation season in early August, Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles journeyed to Lansing, Michigan to perform at the Lansing Jazz Fest. LJF is a free, two-day event organized for the past seventeen years by the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA). Like all other artists booked for the fest, MICA wanted Charles to debut a brand new song during his show on Saturday, August 04  2012, one that was not played at any festival before.

Now into its eighteenth year, Lansing Jazz Fest attracts thousands from in and out-of-state to its home at Turner St. and E. Grand River Avenue, Lansing, Michigan.

Charles then participated in a UNICEF fundraiser in Chicago, August 05. Finally on this swing, it was off to California to do three more dates, the first at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on August 06, the second at Yoshi’s, August 07, and the third at the Blue Whale two days later.

Jazz in Marciac draws some heavy hitters from our part of the world

Jazz in Marciac, France, is nearing the end of its regular two-week programme of traditional and non-trad styles of Jazz that, for 34 years, has catered to the varied tastes of its 100,000 visitors – many of them from Europe- to the village of Marciac.

The most prestigious names in Jazz have been to Marciac over its long history. Some of the veterans like Sonny Rollins continue to make the trek to Marciac as he did three days into the festival, which got under way on July 27. Following in his and the others’ footsteps unto the main festival stages, the Chapiteau and L’Astrada this season are a couple of Cuban instrumentalists, Roberto Fonseca and Omar Sosa, and the pioneering Cuban band, Orchesta Buena Vista Social Club & Omaro Portuondo plus the Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio.

There is also an “Off” festival, held on the fringes of the village square. That was where Guadeloupean singer Tricia Evy entertained the fans who gathered there for the free concerts, art and craft exhibitions and films and to patronise the cafés and bars found on every pavement, as Jazzonline described it.

Thereafter, Columbian harpist Edmar Castaneda, the Guadeloupean saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart, and the Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra played the Chapiteau.

Eddie Palmieri

Palmieri did so on Thursday, August 09. Nicknamed “the Latin Monk”, Palmieri is one of the most famous pianists, arrangers and conductors on the Afro-Cuban scene. The Salsa Orchestra is Palmieri (piano), Charlie Sepulveda (trompette), Brian Lynch (trompette), Jimmy Bosch (trombone), Conrad Herwig (trombone), Nelson Gonzalez (guitare, voix), Luques Curtis (basse), Jose Claussell (timbales), Vincent “Little Johnny” Rivero (congas), Orlando Vega (bongos), Herman Olivera and Joseph Gonzalez (voix).

Jazz in Marciac shuts down on August 15, 2012. But for Caribbean Jazz? That’s it!

Dafnis Prieto Sextet at the 2012 Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island

CUBA

Dafnis Prieto was one of the many artists who agreed to have his Newport Jazz Fest set streamed live online.

The Dafnis Prieto Sextet came on at around 01:30pm on Saturday, August 04  2102 and, for an hour or so, the fans under the tent (and outside of it) at the Harbour Stage listened to an incessant pull and tug between Latin and Mainstream.

Prieto, instead of immersing the band in Latin rhythms as one might have guessed, arranged the music with just a hint of it, the leader preferring to weave the clave into his stick work, especially on the made-for-drums “Commandante,” the leader’s song, if you will. ” The one exception was “Two for One,” written especially for this the 58th annual Newport Jazz Festival. The tension and release were palpable.

The three horns fronting the sextet played off each other like a well oiled unit, neither one nor the other appearing to take the absolute leading role, the interplay between them giving the band somewhat of an orchestral sound, (emphasis on “somewhat”) at once locking horns and stolling in unison while making room for some divergence.

Some of Prieto’s cohort did, however, get to play lead, like saxophonist Peter Apfelbaum who doubled on melodica on “Just Say It” and pianist Manuel Valera and bassist Yunior Terry on “Until The Last Minute.”

“Until The Last Minute” was made up of undeniably stately figures, essayed by the two saxophones of Apfelbaum and Felipe Lamoglia and the trumpet of  Ralph Alessi that gave the piece an exultant character, much like an anthem of sorts.

“Two For One,” sponsored by the Doris Duke Foundation through Newport Jazz Festival, was one of two instances when the sextet was unabashedly loose and relaxed, the pianist straying from chord structures and melody for a bit there, but in pleasing and unobtrusive fashion; and the drummer taking an extended solo as he would again on “En Las Ruinas De Su Infancia.”

“En Las Ruinas De Su Infancia” was off the blocks with the swiftest of trumpet and sax soli followed by riffing so energized by the drummer’s propulsive beats that it lingered right through the choruses taken by the bassist in its wake. Twinned with set closer “Emergency Call,” there was more than enough head of steam to drive the Dafnis Prieto Sextet to a foot-tapping, body-jerking high all the way to full stop at 62:39 minutes.

All told, the Dafnis Prieto Sextet kept it really tight on the Harbour Stage on August 04, building tension over the first half of the programme and letting loose in the second to keep the audience hunting for more when the music finally stopped.

Now, take a listen and see if you agree.  Whether you do or don’t, let us know with a Comment.

NPR Music also webcast Newport Jazz Festival sets by the Cuban vocalist and conguero Pedrito Martinez on Saturday, August 04 and Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenón Rayuela Quartet on Sunday, August 05 2012.

Pannist Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe in Concert in Trinidad, August 10-11 2012 (updated with GuardianMedia review)

TRINIDAD

Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe in Concert

Presented by

The Little Carib Theatre under the patronage of Mr. Peter Minshall

Originally by The Little Carib Theatre, edited with additional reporting by the WEC

The Little Carib Theatre proudly featured the legendary Lennox ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe in Concert! on Friday, 10th August and Saturday, 11th August at the Little Carib Theatre, Trinidad and Tobago. A cultural icon, a pan genius and master composer and arranger, Boogsie Sharpe‘s concert came ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharp has been hailed as the ‘Mozart of Pan’, the Michael Jordan of the Steelpan, and honoured with the title of Cultural Ambassador (2000). He has also been awarded the Chaconia Silver Medal (1988) and the Hummingbird Gold Medal (2009) for his contribution to the art-form. Boogsie Sharpe has also amazed audiences around the world.

And for two days, Sharpe serenaded and wooed with his repertoire of compositions, backed by an all-star band: Clifford Charles (guitar), Douglas Redon (bass), Richard Joseph (drums), Tamba Gwindi (percussion) and Chantal Esdelle (piano). The night only got sweeter with a special guest performance by renowned pannist and pioneer in pan music, Ray Holman. 

It has been said that ‘Boogsie’,  the leader and co-founder of the Phase II Pan Groove Steel Orchestra – the three-time Panorama champions – continues the work that Ray Holman started. 

This event was one of many fund-raiser initiatives put on by the management of Little Carib Theatre and is presented to you under the patronage of Mr. Peter Minshall.

In the words of Errol Skerritt, Boogsie is “the most versatile and gifted performer of our national instrument!” What better way to celebrate and commemorate Independence.

Peter Ray Blood reviewed the show for GuardianMedia, Trinidad. Here are the choice excerpts of the write-up, titled “On Becoming Golden…a time to celebrate“

It is one of the most amazing musical experiences I’ve ever had. Attending the recently held Boogsie in Concert event at Little Carib Theatre in Woodbrook left me pretty much challenged to find the most appropriate adjectives to describe the night. The venue was packed and Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, affectionately dubbed “the Mozart of Pan,” was at his best. For the concert, Boogsie invited to guest with him, his mentor and friend Ray Holman; CAL Invaders poster girl Desiree Myers; and young members of his band, Petrotrin Phase II Pan Groove. He also handpicked some competent musicians to accompany him, including fellow Phase II pannist and bassist Douglas “Dougie” Redon; Clifford Charles (guitar); Chantal Esdelle (piano); Tamba Gwindi (percussion); and Richard Joseph (drums).

To open proceedings, Boogsie and his ensemble played the much loved Green Dolphin Street, as well as two of his original compositions — Crying and Baby Ashley. Boogsie then invited his pannists onstage and they performed on two four-pans, two seconds, three tenors and a PHI Electronic Pan. On four-pan as well was Myers while Boogsie played the other PHI Electronic Pan on stage. This pre-intermission set included Sparrow’s Royal Gaol; Boogsie’s Half A Yardie; God Bless Our Nation; and Magic Drum, the Panorama classic composed by Boogsie, Machel Montano and the late Franklyn Ollivierra.

The supporting band and pan ensemble then combined to accompany Boogsie after intermission, a segment that was as magical and mesmerising as the preceding. Opening the show’s second stanza with the late Andre Tanker’s Forward Home, Sparrow’s Memories was the next selection played. Boogsie gave me pleasant memories of my days as a pannist in Phase II when he played another of his compositions, titled I See Aysha….

Moon River, Summer Time, Rose and The Archbishop of Pan completed the programme but it was Summer Time which took Boogsie’s versatility to another level, leaving captive patrons breathless. Excusing all musicians [from] the stage, with the exception of Myers on four-pan, Boogsie showed off the infinite range of his skills on the PHI Electronic Pan and tenor, with Myers augmenting with counter harmonies her well-tuned instrument. Another thrill was Boogsie and Holman teaming up to execute Sparrow’s Rose. This was a fun item as these two exceptional musicians seemed to try to outdo each other while soloing, Boogsie being the aggressor and Holman cool and laid back.

 

 

London calls Arturo Tappin & Michele Henderson to Caribbean Soul Fusion, August 09

One sports commentator, an anchor at iMc (International Media Company), the official broadcast carriers of the Olympics to the Caribbean islands, shared the sentiment the other night that one would have had to be hiding under a rock not to be aware of the feats by our Caribbean athletes. Not so well publicised and for good reason – the Olympics are sucking all the oxygen from the air – are the cultural events being put on by some Caribbean countries and entities.

One particular show did, however, catch our attention here at the Woodshed: Caribbean Soul Fusion at Grosvenor House in London. Caribbean Soul Fusion is sponsored by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) as part of its London Engage Initiative that will, on Thursday, August 09, bring together a number of Caribbean artists representing a broad range of indigenous Caribbean styles, namely Reggae, Soca, Zouk and Kompa, folk, Afro-Haitian…and Caribbean Jazz.

The artists chosen to perform, according to the organisers, are a mix of six emerging and two headline acts, Jamaican Reggae singer/songwriter Christopher Martin…and Jazz and Reggae saxophonist Arturo Tappin of Barbados. Supporting Martin and Tappin are multi-talented petite from Dominica, Michele Henderson who straddles everything from Jazz to Zouk to Cadence to Rhythm and Blues; BelO of Haiti; Hezron Clarke from Jamaica; St. Lucia’s Claudia Edward; Mr. Dale, Barbados; and Xiomara Fortuna out of the Dominican Republic.

Grabbing a quote from our main source, Caribbean 360, Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director, Caribbean Export put it this way: “One of the best identifiers of the Caribbean Brand and its uniqueness is our music. Its ability to have global appeal is unquestionable. What we are seeking to do with Caribbean Soul Fusion is to showcase that authentic Caribbean culture and widen the market appeal for our regional music.  As such, the artistes that will be performing will represent the diverse nature of musical genres across the Caribbean. Not only will the entertainment industry benefit from the increased demand for the products on offer, but also performers will have the opportunity to display the export potential of their craft and its appeal to an international audience.”

BIGUINE JAZZ, 10 ans de festival in Martinique, August 09-12 2012

MARTINIQUE

Biguine Jazz celebrates 10 years starting on Thursday, August 09, 2012 with performances by a slate of prestigious musicians at multiple sites around the French Caribbean island of Martinique. This for the enjoyment of the growing number of fans who have supported the festival over the past decade. The programme begins at 07:00 pm on Thursday with a tribute show at Hôtel La Batelière featuring Mano and Manuel Cesaire, Rosier Audibert, the Bernard brothers and Jesus Fuentes.

Alex Bernard, Dominique Bérose and Dominique Bougrainville will be joined by guest artists Jocelyne Beroard, Fred Deschaies, Orlane, Sael, Jean Luc Guanel, Joelle Vielet and others to also pay homage to the forebears of Biguine Jazz, Eugene Mona, Marius Cultier, Al Lirvat, Francisco, P. Rosine. 

The festival enters its second day at La Pagerie aux Trois-Ilets. The Jesus Fuentes and Charly Trio , Emile Antile and Just Wody will be on stage there.

On Saturday, August 11, there is another concert at a new venue, namely Parc Culturel Aimé Césaire in Fort-de France. Headlining this one is Haitian-Canadian singer Emeline Michel who is teaming up with dancers Yna Boulanger and Josiane Antourel. The under-card is the Maher Beauroy Trio, Mano Cesaire and his group and Denis Lapassion. Back at Hôtel La Batelière will be a Master Class given by saxophonist Jesus Fuentes and bass player Just Wody.

Bringing down the curtains on Biguine Jazz festival on Sunday, August 12 is Zanzolaj, Guy Marc Vadeleux, Bwakoré, and DD St. Prix/Guedon/Laviso at C.D.S.D. Saint Pierre.

 

Andy Hamilton MBE –– Jamaican Jazz Patriarch –– dies in England

JAMAICA

by Herbie Miller, Director/Curator, Jamaica Music Museum at The Institute of Jamaica
Email: herbimill@aol.com

Jamaican Jazz saxophonist Hamilton (credit: Wikipedia)

On Sunday June 3rd, word was received of the passing of 94 year-old Jamaican tenor saxophonist and music organizer Andy Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton died in the early hours where he lived in Birmingham, England, in the presence of family and friends.

Born in 1918, in Port Maria, St. Mary, young Anderson’s first exposure to music was through the church and the piano at home. He also listened to American radio broadcasts received in Jamaica during the 1920s, which exposed him to early jazz.

His biography states: as a youth Andy “made his first “sax” from bamboo and got his young friends to form his first band, Silvershine, in 1928” to play local jobs. His first experiences on saxophone came through hiring an instrument from a local gambler. Soon Andy and his band started to perform regularly across the island.

He joined the war effort in the USA and played regular jazz gigs all they way to New York. On his return to Jamaica, he reformed his band and secured a booking at The Titchfield Hotel in Port Antonio. In the late 1940’s Hollywood film legend Errol Flynn settled in Port Antonio and having heard Andy play, invited him to perform on the famous yacht Zaka.

I first became aware of Andy Hamilton around 1989 when jazz tenor saxophonist David Murray, thinking I had known this Jamaican master, brought me a copy of a CD of Mr. Hamilton’s on which he had made a guest appearance. Mr. Hamilton had written the title song “Silvershine” while on Mr. Flynn’s Yacht.

Amazingly, in1985, the melody of Silvershine, which he had not played or thought about in nearly 40 years, came to him while hospitalized in a diabetic coma from which he was not expected to recover. He credited that flashback as having brought him out of the coma.

Silvershine

The CD became the biggest selling UK Jazz Album of the Year, one of the 50 Sony Recordings of the Year and The London Times Jazz Album of the Year. Hamilton was the subject of a film documentary made by the Foreign Office, directed by an Oscar-winning producer, and several BBC TV and radio broadcasts of live concerts. He was also invited to major festivals and venues in Paris, Milan, Madrid, St Lucia and Jamaica.

This British based tenor saxophonist and clarinet player was an immense figure on the Birmingham music scene and impressed musicians as diverse as Clark Terry and David Murray. He was also the patriarch of the Jamaican Diaspora jazz tradition and a relentless advocate for encouraging young people to express them through music. Andy served as an inspiration to countless jazz musicians including Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Soweto Kinch, and Gary Crosby the current British jazz innovators connected to Jamaica that are well-recognized as important players in international jazz circles.

In its recent post, The Birmingham Music Archive said: “ There can be no greater tribute to Andy’s work than [his] performance at the 2008 Meltdown Festival where the curator, the Jazz maestro David Murray, specifically asked for Andy to play, which he did with David and the majestic hip-hop group The Roots.”

In 1997 Andy Hamilton was inducted into the Jamaica Jazz Hall of fame. In 1996 he was awarded an Honorary Master of Arts degree by Birmingham University and in 1999 he was presented with a Millennium Fellowship for his work in Community Education. In 2006 he was reunited with the newly refurbished Zaka, Errol Flynn’s legendary yacht. Andy was awarded the MBE for his services to Birmingham in 2008 to coincide with his 90th Birthday.

The Jamaica Ocho Rios Jazz Festival dedicated the evening concert of June 18 to Andy Hamilton, 1918-2012.

Olympics in London, Jazz Jamaica and Myrna Hague in Hull, England

JAMAICA

While London was gearing up for the grand opening ceremony of the 30th Olympiad, Hull Jazz Festival was awaiting Jazz Jamaica and their special Jamaican guest, Myrna Hague, on Saturday, July 28, 2012. Hague, wife of the late Sonny Bradshaw, prominent JA trumpeter and band-leader, joined a strong line-up that included Bobby Watson, Pee Wee Ellis and Bruce Barth for the 30th summer of Jazz in Hull as curated by promoter J-Night. Hull Jazz Fest is a nine-day event, which takes place at multiple venues such as the award-winning Pave pub.

Hague’s guest appearance with Jazz Jamaica paired the legendary Jazz singer with a band that emerged out of bassist Gary Crosby’s concept, to create a quintessential fusion of traditional Jamaican folk music (mento, ska and Reggae) with Classic and Modern Jazz standards. The result is that unique blend called “Skazz.”

Led by original Jazz Warrior Crosby himself, Jazz Jamaica is Denys Baptiste (tenor sax), Soweto Kinch (alto sax), Abram Wilson (trumpet/vocals), Harry Brown (trombone); the rocking rhythm section of Gary Crosby (double bass), Alex Wilson (piano/keys), Robin Banerjee (guitar), Oreste Noda (percussion), Rod Youngs (drums); and features the powerful, soulful vocals of Juliet Roberts, and rising star vocalists Zara Macfarlane and Wesley Lucas. 

The week in Caribbean Jazz ending July 27, 2012 – a sampling from the Woodshed

Have you been following Miguel Zenón on tour? Having completed a swing through Europe and Angola with his 4tet, Miguel Zenón returned to Italy on Thursday, July 26th to undertake a teaching assignment that will last until the end of the month. Then it is back to the States to do a couple of dates as a leader of his own band, co-leader of the SF Jazz Collective, and as a side man.

Paquito D’Rivera ended a visit to Chile where he played Festival de Jazz de la Patagonia and Teatro Universidad de Concepcion with one date by the Paquito D’Rivera Sextet in Conception, July 23.

Zinc Bar in Greenwich Village, New York had John Benitez Timba Zinco, NY, Thursday, July 19. Benitez was on the Zinc Bar stage on Wednesday, July 18 as well, but as a side-man with Yosvany Terry (Alto sax and Chekere) on pianist Manuel Valera’s Cuban Jazz Ensemble called “The New Cuban Express.”

After backing up Manuel Valera, Terry landed his own run at Zinc on July 25 and 26. He would have been expected to do what he does and that is to fuse the traditional sounds of his native Cuba with fiery post-bop. File under Latin Jazz Events.

The Cuban-born conga player, singer and bandleader Pedrito Martinez and his group were on live at the BAM R&B Festival, NY, July 26. Sponsored by BAM and Metrotech Center, BAM R&B Fest is a free outdoor music event being staged on Thursdays at noon all summer long.

The pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs Group (Roger Byam – soprano and tenor sax; Gregory Jones – bass; George Gray – drums; Gary Fritz) rang in Week 4 at the Thomas D. Harris IV Pavilion, Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT on Monday July, 23, 2012.

Eddie Palmieri, a giant of Latin music with incredible international stature, has built his fifty-year long career fusing Classic Jazz with Salsa. The vehicle for his percussive piano stylings, Eddie Palmieri & His All-Star Salsa Band is one of the most popular bands of its kind in the US. New Morning, France found out exactly why that is on Tuesday, July 24.

The Festival All Stars is Eddie Palmieri (Piano), Charlie Sepulveda (Trompette), Herman Olivera (Voix), Nelson Gonzalez (Guitare, Tres, Voix), Joseph Gonzalez (Voix), Brian Lynch (Trompette), Conrad Herwig (Trombone), Jimmy Bosch (Trombone), Jose Claussell (Timbales), Vicente “little Johnny” Rivero (Congas), Luques Curtis (Basse), Orlando Vega (Congas).

Not to stray too far from Francophone Jazz, if you want to call it that, the Arousse Restaurant in Quebec had to deal with the energy of Haitian saxophonist Jowee Omicil and The Jowee O Quartet at Mardi Jazz, Arousse Restaurant, Arousse, Rue Blainville Ouest, Blainville, Quebec, Canada, Mardi, le 24 juillet 2012.

Les musiciens Jowee O Quartet: Jowee Omicil, sax; Rafael Zaldivar, piano; Michel Laplante, basse; Martin Auguste, drums.

Some masters of the art of Jazz rendered a couple of unique shows in Trinidad this week. Trinidadian pianist and Calypso-Jazz innovator Clive “Zanda” Alexander gave a free Concert at the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando on the 24th July 2012; Foreday Mornin’ Entertainment‘s The Intimate Concert Series: StRiNgS & SeNtImEnTs featured 4 Guitar Masters, Theron Shaw, Stanley Ruiz, Neil Payne and Ian Villafana at Martin’s Bar in the capital, Port of Spain.

Last time we checked, that was two weeks ago, St. Thomas, VI drummer Dion Parson had just vacated the stool in the Steve Turre Quartet at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago; and St. John pannist Victor Provost was on show at Rosslyn Farmer’s Market in Rosslyn, VA.

Then on July 27, Parson and Provost reincorporated The 21st Century Band with Tabari Lake (bass), Jeff Davis (trumpet), Ornette Pencheon (keyboards) and Kai Richardson, Je’Coy The Doctor Hawley, Jenee S. Reynolds & Eddie LeBron for ‘Jazz in the Park’ at Roosevelt Park and Hospital Gade on St. Thomas.

The ‘Jazz in the Park‘ event is an initiative to draw people back to the very lovely Roosevelt Park and, in so doing, help revitalise the Downtown Area of St. Thomas.

At 08:00 o’clock on Friday, and every Friday, you will find the magnificent quartet made up of saxophonist Christian Florentini, pianist Jose Privat, bassist Alex Thedose and drummer Dominique Bougrainville at Martinique’s Hôtel La Batelière on 20 Rue des Alizes, Fort-de-France Bay 97233.

Michigan went to see Eric Darius this Friday at the 8th Annual “An Evening of Smooth Jazz” series at the Holt Performing Arts Complex-Margaret Livensparger Theater in Holt, MI. Darius was brought in as headliner for this the eighth annual edition of the series and the third at the current location.

…and the Ebe Gilkes Jazz Trio kept on jamming Tuesdays at Waterfront Cafe in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Related articles

• The week in Caribbean Jazz ending July 19 – a sampling from the Woodshed (woodshedentertainment.wordpress.com)
• The week in Caribbean Jazz ending July 06, 2012 – a sampling from the Woodshed (woodshedentertainment.wordpress.com)

The weekend of July 20-22, 2012 – a sampling of Caribbean Jazz from the Woodshed

Ever the busy bee who sings, The Tessa Souter Quartet rolled up to the Unitarian-Universalist Church at 28 Mugford Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts on Saturday, July 21 with Marvin Sewell (guitar), Sean Smith (bass) and Satoshi Takeishi (drums/percussion) for the Marblehead Jazz Concert Series.

Founded in 1985, Marblehead Jazz Associates present up to eight regular season concerts and a few in the off-season out of a passion for good classical and contemporary Jazz.

Shirley Crabbe had her turn on Saturday, but at 76 House, Tappan, NY with Jim West at the piano.

Earlier in the week, Paquito D’Rivera and Friends uprooted for Chile where they played for two consecutive days at Festival de Jazz de la Patagonia in Fruitilla on Wednesday, July 18 and Thursday, July 19 and one at Teatro Universidad de Concepcion with the Paquito D’Rivera Sextet in Conception on July 23. 

Arturo Sandoval for his part appeared with Arturo O’Farrill at Bric Arts Media’s Celebrate Brooklyn! under the Prospect Park Bandshell, Brooklyn, NY, July 21, one day after whipping out his horn at Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport, Massachusetts. “It’s a great space, it’s a great stage, and it’s an environment where people are encouraged to express themselves,” O’Farrill told The Brooklyn Paper, perfect for the blistering rhythms of mambo and salsa-infused red-hot Latin Jazz, straight from the heart of Havana.  

Alexis Baro was also in action on Saturday, playing at Sunlife Financial UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival. 

As a solo artist, Baro has two albums under his belt, “Havana Banana” and “From the Other Side.” He has been nominated for “Best Jazz Trumpeter” by the National Jazz Awards in the years 2006, 2007, and 2008. Although born in Havana, Cuba, Baro has become one of Toronto’s premier trumpet players.

According to the festival website, SLFUWJF was founded 19 seasons ago with the stated mission to enhance the broad cultural experience in Waterloo through the delivery of an accessible jazz music festival in UpTown Waterloo and in so doing to sustain and promote their local Jazz. It has grown into a 3 day event with 2 stages while maintaining its commitment to be a free festival.

Miguel Zenón’s foray into Europe is well under way now. So far the Quartet has visited Spain, France, Netherlands, Poland, Italy and Portugal. From Europe, the Miguel Zenón 4tet took to the skies headed for Hotel Tropico, Luanda, Angola for a five-day swing starting July 19.

From Europe, the 4tet took to the skies for Hotel Tropico, Luanda, Angola for a five-day swing starting July 19 through the weekend.

Other events worthy of mention: Alfredo Rodriguez at Festival da Jazz at the Dracula Club,  St. Moritz, Switzerland, July 20. And St. Thomas transplant Sonny Rollins in Victoria, Spain, July 21.

The week in Caribbean Jazz ending July 20, 2012 – a sampling from the Woodshed

Was Thursday, July 19 Caribbean Jazz Day, or what? That was a full day, if you ask me. You just did. Here is the answer:

Le bar La Rhumerie, La Créole Beach Hôtel & Spa BP, 61 Pointe de la Verdure, 97190 Le Gosier, Guadeloupe, received the exceptional Sonny Troupé & Gregory Privat  duo on July 19 – and July 20 – for two exclusive concerts.

Mozayik: Guillaume, Bourjolly, Torres

Sticking with the Francophones, Mozayik, you know, that Haitian band based in New York, was the second act of the Summer Jazz Series being put on by Psalmist Productions Inc. (PPI) every third Thursday at Rustik Extension, a new performance space located directly next door to the Rustik Tavern, its mother restaurant and bar, on 471 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn, NY in the heart of Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill.

According to Executive Producer of PPI, Elona Dotson, “We have some well known [sic] and some up and coming jazz artists participating in this series…” of JaZz Live, which concludes on October 18, 2012.

Rustik owner Frantz Metallus boasts, “… Rustik will have great music to add to its great food and bar, offered with great presentation and service.  It’s going to be good times at Rustik this summer!” No doubt, Eddy Bourjolly (guitar), Gashford Guillaume (drums), Gene Torres (bass), Ted Cruz (piano) & Jean Mary Brignol (Haitian drums) – proved him right on Thursday, July 19.

Also in New York, at Zinc Bar in Greenwich Village, New York NY 10012 (82 West 3rd Street btw Thompson & Sullivan) on Thursday was John Benitez Timba Zinco. This boy from Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico carries the weight of a great deal of experience garnered from his associations with the likes of Tito Puente, Michel Camilo, Dave Valentin, Eddie Palmieri, David Sanchez, Danilo Perez, Chucho Valdez, Dave Samuels and Mongo Santamaria.

John Benitez

Benitez talks about his music thus: “For me it’s all the same, one great dance music… [All] the Caribbean, South America and New Orleans are but an extension of African music, music with that special bounce…” Bet Zinc Bar is still bouncing and giddy from the aftershocks from this bass-man called John Benitez.

And oh, did I say that John Benitez was on the Zinc Bar stage on Wednesday as well. This time he was a side-man to Manuel Valera. Billboard magazine predicts that Valera is “destined to play a role in the future of jazz.” Only 22 years old, this contemporary Modern Jazz pianist from Cuba has undertaken already undertaken Solo Piano Concerts, in the Jazz Piano Trio format, and leads the Cuban Jazz Ensemble called “The New Cuban Express” and a Large ensemble which features a Jazz Quartet plus Woodwinds and Strings.

John Benitez joined forces with Yosvany Terry (Alto sax and Chekere), Mike Moreno (Guitar), Ludwig Afonso (Drums), Samuel Torres (Percussion) and Valera (Piano) to form the Manuel Valera New Cuban Express for Wednesday’s Zinc Bar engagement.

USVI pannist Victor Provost was on show on the 19th too, at Rosslyn Farmer’s Market in Rosslyn, VA.

On the cusp of the weekend, Friday 20, Cuban trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval showed up at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport, MA. A protégé of the legendary Jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval is one of the most celebrated artists of our day, having won 4 Grammy Awards, 6 Billboard Awards, and an Emmy Award to go with that. Here in the Caribbean, read St. Maarten, Connis Vanterpool and Friends and Mosaic were all in Karakter, the Karakter club that is.

Rewind to Tuesday, July 17 for saxophonist Jesse Ryan’s engagement at La Casa de Ibiza, Trinidad and Tobago. Telling the tale as usual was Nigel Campbell:

“Jesse, ably supported by Theron Shaw [guitar], David Richards [drums], and Rodney Alexander [bass], plays with the maturity and age of a Coleman Hawkins. With David and Rodney swinging and Theron showcasing his chops to his younger musician friends, the quartet fills the empty space with echoes of an era and an aesthetic of a storied 52nd street after hours club. 

Jesse’s composition “Por Fe” begins with a tricky rhythm. And by switching time signatures to segue into a languid melody and harmonic piece, David Richards is allowed to play the “rhythmatist.” All good. Solos shared by Jesse and Theron.

Jesse plays Stevie’s “You Are The Sunshine of my Life” without making it sound like smooth jazz. He achieves this by stretching the melody in a joyride of “consonant dissonance” on the alto sax. 

With a swinging 3/4 rhythm, David Richards’ “3 Blues and 4 Cents” percolates with incandescent joy. Jesse, Theron and Rodney make the music jump up. I can see bodies in motion with this song.

Audiences in TT are a unique lot though, when you think of it. The artiste must face down an empty room at the start of his set, but gain the confidence of patrons wandering in throughout the set. It’s really a hard road to tread as a local jazz musician.

The risk a musician takes with a young audience by introducing unknown originals would be lauded in metropolitan spaces. In the TT space in 2012, a maturity has happened. Karl Doyle with his Jazz Quarters is building a new jazz audience that musicians would be wont to cultivate with new material from an expanding local canon. 

Jesse obviously has specific ideas as this band ventures into a jazz realm not heard in TT by modern jazz bands. This young man has progressed as an improviser and an interpreter of the American jazz songbook.“

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The weekend of July 13-15, 2012 – a sampling of Caribbean Jazz from the Woodshed

Giving thanks for the weekend was Cuban pianist Hilario Durán, a two-time Juno award winner, whose job of play brought him to the Pan American Latin Jazz festival at Mel Lastman Square, North York, Toronto on July 14. This festival is organized by the Hispanic Canadian Arts and Culture Association “…to highlight Hispanic culture and music in the GTA,” in the words of Festival artistic director Carlos Bastidas.

Courtney Pine, Europa

Late Saturday night, East Caribbean time, the Pavilion Theater, Worthing, England received Courtney Pine OBE, back home from the St. Kitts Music Festival, at the end of June. Pine is touring with his quartet to promote Europa, a vehicle for his second instrument, if you will, the bass clarinet.

Yet another Cuban, Yosvany Terry, represented Caribbean Jazz this weekend, not in Canada or Britain, but at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) at The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden in New York.

Terry, an alto and soprano saxophonist who plays the chekeré too, was selected for MoMA Event: Jazz at Lincoln Center Concert I on July 15 because of the emphasis he places on adventurous contemporary original works. Terry and his band – brother Yunior on bass; Jonathan Finlayson, trumpet; Osmany Paredes, piano; and Obed Calvaire, drums – is one of two leading Jazz groups invited to perform “New Music for New York” in tandem with The Juilliard School of Music and Lincoln Center over four evenings. Yosvany Terry fuses the traditional sounds of his native Cuba with fiery post-bop innovation and sophisticated harmonies. Terry is now a resident of New York City.

The Museum of Modern Art established Summergarden in 1971 intent on presenting Jazz and Classical music in the Sculpture Garden every year at this time.

In Chicago, it was not so much a question of Caribbean Jazz being showcased as much as a Caribbean Jazz artist, Dion Parson, going on show with the Steve Turre Quartet.  USVI drummer Parson, fresh from headlining at Jazz at Lincoln Center with his own 21st Century Band sat in with Turre’s Quartet at the Jazz Showcase in the Windy City from Thursday July 12 – 15, 2012.

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