“Freedom’s Children: The Celebration” by Reginald Cyntje – a preview

USVI

“Freedom’s Children: The Celebration” by Reginald Cyntje is out. The CD, long-awaited as it is, was released on August 23, 2011. Ten tracks long, this Lenny Robinson production features Amin Gumbs on drums, Herman Burney on bass, Warren Wolf on vibraphone and marimba, Victor Provost on steel pan, Christie Dashiell on vocals, Tosin Aribisala on percussion and vocals, James Richardson on percussion and Reginald Cyntje on trombone.

The trombonist spent his formative years on St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands before moving to mainland USA where he is now based and from where he delivers his debut recording ‘Kickstarted‘ online with donations strictly from his endearing fans.  

Having previewed the tracks several times at Cyntje’s beckoning, my hunch is that “Freedom’s Children” may, to the uninitiated, sound too uncomplicated for the idiom under which it is captioned.  But that would be to miss the thematic point being made on the recording, which is to my way of thinking, an appeal to the souls of our beings, the spirits of our imaginations, more so than ‘merely’ shifting sonic hairs.

And that is why an advanced marketing plan is an imperative.  For to sell a wholesome appreciation for this document by the trombonist, the new leader must, of necessity have us capture and understand what it is that motivated and informed each piece.  Indeed, embedded subliminally betwixt the notes, passages and progressions is a philosophy of life that promotes “commUNITY” and social empowerment across gender and age, constantly driving home the tenets of hope, aspiration, cultural integrity to the impressionable minds – the young at heart.

Herein lies the challenge that Cyntje faces in putting the CD to hand and ear.  I am the first to plead guilty for not knowing what kind of Jazz audience is out there, dollar in hand, ready to pick up Caribbean Jazz fare.  By that, I could not say I am confident I know what percentage of the market is made up of mind-listeners as opposed to ear-and-foot listeners who simply want tuneful melodies to dance to.

The question is, how many of us listen to Jazz like we watch dance, seeking to find meaning from musical gestures and arrangements, choreography and tone…feel?  How many of us would set aside an hour of our lives to digest an album and open up long enough to be moved by it, or not.

Cyntje’s job is to find that slither of an audience wherever it might be. So it is no coincidence that Cyntje and the 21st Century Band, of which he is a member, have returned to their Virgin Islands base often to reach out to the youth with their music.

That is where I have pinpointed the good news, which convinces me that Cyntje gets it.  

Follow him @cyntjemusic and @vimovement in parallel, to internalise the message behind the music.

To bring home the point, Cyntje would say something like:

“There are special moments in life when the unexplainable happens. On May 26, 2011, we experienced this phenomenon.  From the engineers and producer to the musicians, the entire cast used words like spirit, energy, vibe and special to describe the recording session. The spirit walked in the room and inspired the musicians with pure crystal light. (Reverbnation)

Sit back, relax and feel the time change as we experience a new day together.  And if you know someone you think should hear this music, link them up.

As you await your copy of “Freedom’s Children: The Celebration” to arrive in your post office box or your computer, continue listening to the Reverbnation playlist.  Link to it via the cover art image below.  While listening, read the liner notes as you go to appreciate the rationale and inspiration behind the ten compositions.  After all, When you listen to music, don’t you want to know the back story or just imagine whatever comes to mind?

Thank u for supporting the release of my (our) debut album.  Music…Message…Movement.”

Click to play…

Track listing:

1. Children’s Parade
2. Relaxing
3. Sankofa
4. Queen Mary
5. Sweet and Sour
6. Peace and Love
7. Daybreak
8. Freedom’s Children: The Celebration
9. Strollin’
10. Ancestors

(All songs composed by Reginald Cyntje except Queen Mary)

“Freedom’s Children: The Celebration” is available at Amazon, iTunes and CD Baby. Pick up a copy and tell a friend. Now, what do you think of the album and the concept behind the music?  Share your reviews, large or small, in Comments.  Cyntje would like to know how you feel.