Was Llettesha Sylvester strong, weak or indifferent at Jazz Artists on the Greens 2012?

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Jazz Artists on the Greens 2012, March 24: Act 2

Llettesha Sylvester

Sylvester: lead vocals

Dion Nora and Joshua Caines: keyboards

Alpha Simpson: drums

Kevon La Fleur: bass

Aneesa Paul and Nisa Nora: backup vocals

There is no greater challenge for a young singer than to follow a veteran pianist onto the big stage, any big stage. But that is precisely what Llettesha Sylvester faced on the evening of March 24 at Jazz on the Greens, the 10th edition. Llettesha took to the stage on the heels of a thumping performance by Carlton “Zanda” Alexander & The Coalpot Band.

LLETTESHA Sylvester at JAOTG (courtesy Production One Ltd.)

Llettesha exhibited no signs of intimidation at having Zanda & The Coalpot Band open for her, which is how it worked out. She struts to stage front in her flowing yellow gown chanting Lauryn Hill’s “Ready or Not (here I come).” We were ready alright. Zanda infectious had made sure of that.

Some may frown on Smooth or Nu-Jazz or Neo-Soul, call it what you will. But try hitting Anita Baker’s notes on a bad day. If you’re not prepared, you will fall flat. Llettesha was not about to be done in on the night. Her voice, though somewhat raspy on “Sweet Love,” was well delivered. However, this seemed to be just a glimpse into her talent. I sensed there was more rice and beans in her arsenal than what was evident two songs into her set.

As it turned out, Llettesha did have more to give. Somehow, her voice cleared up on Hill’s “It Hurts So Bad” and Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” and her vocals were all the better for it.

However, Llettesha could have benefited from more bouyant backup vocals. It would be difficult for me to say whether the backup singers were just not up to it or that the miking was inadequate. I suspect it was the latter. But whatever the cause, Aneesa Paul and Nisa Nora were not in harmony with each other and the lack of unison and synchrony caused their output to suffered badly.

Llettesha powered on, making light of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and Chrisette Michelle’s “Be Ok” – a Nu-Jazz piece with a straightahead bridge – and “Fragile,” the notes becoming increasingly easier to navigate. Paul and Nora came into their own too.

With the package coming together, Llettesha braved Alicia Key’s “Unthinkable,” which is not an easy song to sing by any measure. She then capped her hour on stage with Jilll Scott’s big hit, “One is The Magic Number.” These two songs, taken together, defined Llettesha Sylvester on the evening of March 24 at Jazz Artists on the Greens. They convinced me that although the singer did not take a job above her pay scale, the suite of songs being somewhat of a vocal challenge, she came close to doing just that.

I was also concerned that by sticking basically to one tempo throughout her hour on stage, there was none of the emotional ebb and flow that a festival crowd yearns for. Nor were there sufficient solo spaces worked into the repertoire, the kind of thing that builds intensity, exhibits musicianship, fosters interaction and perhaps encourages spontaneous improvisation, which is after all an essential credo of a Jazz gig. Joshua Caines (keyboards), Alpha Simpson (drums) and Kevon La Fleur (bass) could have done well with a bit of stretching.

I do not fear contradiction when I say that Llettesha obviously loves Lauryn Hill and Chrisette Michelle; she sang a total of four songs between them. No doubt, her guts guided her on that route. Her head ought to have prevailed in pointing her towards material more suited to her range. 

The comment was made afterwards by someone who shall remain anonymous that “…as an artiste, you need to be yourself as much as possible even in your repertoire.” Then he added, Llettesha ” …didn’t do herself any favours….” He and I are in agreement though that Llettesha does possess talent and that the potential is there. And I am mindful that she is primarily a Classical singer who is in the process of developing her Jazz sensibilities. Still, Llettesha Sylvester did not quite conquer her repertoire as convincingly as she might have done on another good day. Hence, my verdict is that she might have done better to go with her head than her heart in choosing the songs she would present at The Greens.

Nevertheless, I do commend Production One for putting Llettesha on the JAOTG stage this year. In doing so, a talent has been further exposed and nurtured. Who knows, in a few years’ time, they can make the boast that Llettesha Sylvester got her big break at Jazz Artists on the Greens, the 10th edition. That is what it’s all about, isn’t it?

Llettesha and band (courtesy Production One)

 

Related article

• Carlton “Zanda” Alexander stirred the Coalpot at JAOTG, Trinidad, March 24 2012 (woodshedec.wordpress.com)

JAZZIN’ for St. Lucia – KysoFusion and Makadanm

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Trinidadian multi-instrumentalist Michael Boothman added another title to his hat, that of philanthropist, when he and his band, Boothman’s KysoFusion put on a benefit concert on November 28 to aid the island of St. Lucia recently devastated by floods and landslides brought on by Hurricane Tomas.

The 2010 Caribbean Jazz Fusion Concert, held at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain , Trinidad on November 28, also featured Biguine-Jazz band Makadanm out of Martinique.

Boothman was inspired to commit part proceeds from the concert to St. Lucia by virtue of his long-standing relationship with St. Lucia Jazz and the people of St. Lucia.

The concept of the Caribbean Jazz Fusion Concert is being expanded into a first of its kind Caribbean Jazz, Food and Wine/Spirits Festival tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2011. (Source: Jazz takes on Martiniquan twist)

The Blackberry Bro, Nigel Campbell was at the Caribbean Jazz Fusion Concert and filed this report on the KysoFusion segment of the concert:

After Makadanm had taken flight with their French Caribbean beguine, Michael Boothman’s KysoFusion hooked up and with our Songbird, Nisa Nora on the vocals, did “Saying it with Music,” a remake of a 1970s Boothman classic.  Much was expected from Nisa because you know the lady can sing.  And she delivered the goods.

Then KysoFusion played “Maya Mosquito” – never sounds old; the hallmark of great song-writing.

But as Boothman pulled out those kaisojazz gems and classics out of his creative bag, the crowd began to dwindle.  That’s disrespect.

“Jump to It,” another classic co-written with percussionist Ralph MacDonald, was a loss for those people who left, and worse yet, those who were not there to witness the man Boothman playing with a band for the first time in a while, by his own admission.

KysoFusion closed its set with a cover of a Roger Boothman composition (the Boothman Brothers are an institution in Trinidad) and a Michael Boothman original entitled “A Brighter Day.”  This song was dedicated, quite appropriately, to St. Lucia, that she may see a brighter day after the scourge of Hurricane Tomas weeks ago.

However, the fun was not yet over for Makadanm was invited back on stage for a last jam with KysoFusion. They came out with Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain” with Makadanm’s vocalist doing a creole rap over the melody.

Fun Caribbean Jazz.   I love it!

SONGBIRD NISA NORA draws her audience in

Trinidad and Tobago

SONGBIRD, NISA NORA continued the 2010 edition of SONGBIRDS…live™, the concert series produced by Production One Ltd., featuring new Caribbean female vocalists, at Sky View Lounge, Cascadia Hotel, 67 Ariapita Road, St. Anns, on Wednesday 04, August from 8:00 pm.

Trinidad & Tobago’s greatly acclaimed Gospel Recording Artiste NISA NORA was introduced to the music fraternity as Genisa St.Hillaire years ago.  Having performed both on-stage and in-studio as a top go-to backing vocalist/arranger for many of the nation’s premiere artistes, she now brings her brand front and center.  July 1 2010 marked the official release of her debut single; “Breathe”, off her soon to be released album THAT NAME.

Grounded in the Christian faith since birth, Nisa sings music that is positive and inspiring.  As part of the locally famed Love Link International Chorale, Nisa has shared the stage with the Grammy winning CeCe Winans and Yolanda Adams and performed live background vocals for both local and international recording artistes such as Ron Kenoly, Russell Léonce, Rizon, Luckey, Ruth Osman, Papa San and others.  Her great vocals have also landed her supporting roles on the Trinidad Theatre stage as Dinah in Glenda McSween-Collens’ Jazz Musical SWING OUT LIVE and as Moses’ wife, Zipporah, in the Raymond Choo Kong directed EGYPT’S CROWNED PRINCE in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

She has worked with arguably the very best gospel music producers the region has to offer like Cleon Richardson, Clint DeCoteau and now Dion Nora of Sweet Production Studios where she recorded her entire debut project.  With her debut single “Breathe” already receiving fair play on national radio, Nisa says of her immediate album venture, “It’s ready, set, go.”  For many, this moment is long overdue and as one well-respected local music producer and activist writes on her page about “Breathe” (her single), “I’m very impressed with both the Artiste and the Production of this Track.  Perfect example of quality local content.”

An artist well worth the wait if you’ve followed her; or well worth your time if you’re contemplating hearing or seeing her live.  Nisa Nora starts her career as she perpetuates the very high musical standard she was born into.

Production One Ltd. continues in 2010 the performance showcase for the female voice that began last year. SONGBIRDS…live™ features, from June to December on the first Wednesday of the month, some of the most notable upcoming and unheralded female voices in contemporary music in Trinidad and Tobago with an ear turned to Jazz and World Music.  These smaller productions serve as a platform for the recording of the singers and their performances. The musical range, from world, Jazz to neo-soul to quiet storm, places SONGBIRDS…live™ in a position far separate from the plethora of jazz gigs popping up around the city of Port of Spain.

Gary Cardinez, writing in the Trinidad Express Newspapers (online edition), drew a comparison of sorts between SONGBIRDS…live featuring Glenda Collens, in July, and SONGBIRDS…live featuring Nisa Nora.  Cardinez observed that both these artistes sang Jill Scott’s “Golden” and “Long Walk.”  But that was where the comparison ended.

Cardinez explained that Nora divided her sets into two stylistic parts with the second one being in the gospel vein – gospel being the genre in which Nora’s singing is rooted – adding that “Nora draws her audience into her performance, talking and singing and sometimes playing the keyboard.”

In that light, Nora did “Breathe,” of course, following that up with “Journey/Magnify,” “Always,” “Joy,” “Lord We Need Your Love,” “That Name” and “Running Back/Breathe.” The balance of Nora’s first set was “Officially Missing You,” “Love is You,” “What To do,” “Diary,” “Déjà Vu,” “A Woman’s Worth” and a duet of Richard Nappy Meyers’ “Old Time Days” with her sister Reisha St. Hilaire Williams who joined her on stage just for that.