St. Lucia Jazz 2010, more than just Jazz

St. Lucia

Some time ago, Iguane Xtet announced a new show for Vieux-Fort on May 04, 2010 at Coconut Bay Resort & Spa as part of the Jazz in the South outfest of St Lucia Jazz. Jazz in the South opened on Sunday, May 02 with a free concert at the Rudy John Beach Park, Laborie with the Wendell Richards Quartet (Mahurney Augier (keyboards), Ron Louis (bass) and drummer Herman Hercules) and Tropix (Michael Seraphine and Shanon Pinel on vocals, Ezra Joseph on bass and keyboardist Shomari Maxwell) of St. Lucia, Dobet Gnahoré, Ivory Coast and Martiniquan band, Bamboolaz. The paid concerts were from May 03 – 05 at Coconut Bay in Vieux Fort.

Jazz in the South has taken on a new image this year with a formula spanning four days including a free beach concert (Sunday, May o2) in the village of Laborie followed by three concerts at the Coconut Bay Resort and Spa, Vieux Fort, May 3, 4 and 5.  The Festival also offered master classes for musicians.

The formula may be new, but the emphasis is still the same, Caribbean Jazz but with a welcome foray into the land of the Metal Zouk of Bamboolaz, the headliners for the May 02 concert.

The program is dedicated to Haiti and the musicians of St. Lucia.

Jazz in the South, autonomous as it is from St. Lucia Jazz, is actually hosted some Haitian Jazz greats in the Mushy Widmaier Sextet – Widmaier is a founder of the group Zéklè and Thurgot Théodat, a saxophonist and composer who has performed elsewhere in the Caribbean,  at the Festival de Jazz de Pointe à Pitre, two years ago.

The Mushy Widmaier Sextet had their play on Monday, May 03.  Opening for Widmaier was the pianist Rhea Drakes Jazz Quartet while Théodat had his say on Wednesday, May 05 with the JATT All-Star Ensemble of Trinidad and Tobago.

Théodat busied himself  with two Master Classes in Vieux Fort and Castries on May 03 and 04.  The first, on May 03, was for music teachers in Vieux Fort; the second was at the School of Music in Castries with members of the school’s Jazz band.  The theme of both these classes was the connection of Haitian Voodoo music to Modern Jazz. (gather.com)

The JATT is a quintet made up of the biggest names in Trinidad Jazz: pianist Clive Zanda, trumpeter Etienne Charles, bassist Douglas Redon and band director, drummer Sean Thomas.

In addition, Jazz in the South staged a collaboration called An tonèl, May 05, between St. Lucian poet, Kendel Hippolyte and the master of Ka, Roger Raspail.  That collaboration was created for Festival Vibrations Caraibes 2008 and was recently reproduced at the L’Artchipel in Guadeloupe.

Four days earlier, on Saturday, May 01, Raspail conducted a two-hour Master Class for the benefit of professional and amateur musicians alike at the Blue Oasis in Vieux Fort.    The class focussed on techniques and methods to Jazz and Afro-Caribbean (Cuban, Guadeloupe Gwoka and Reggae) drumming as well as the history and morphology of the drum. (gather.com)

The other invited guests for Jazz in the South was the guitarist Cameron Pierre Trio, a native of Dominica living in London and the St. Lucians Ricardo François and Emerson Nurse, the leaders of Kléwé (with percussionist Athanasius La Borde and Gene Leon on bass guitar).

St. Lucia Jazz Notes: Jazz in the South

Dominican guitarist Cameron Pierre met St. Lucian opposite number, Ronald Boo Hinkson at Coconut Bay Resort and Spa at “Jazz in the South” on May 03.

This Festival is organized by Labowi Promotions, the same cultural group which has organized the festival for the past twelve years.

The complete program is available on its website at www.labowipromotions.net.

Jazz in the South 2010: from 2 to 5 May, 2010, Laborie Beach and Coconut Bay Resort and Spa in Vieux Fort. (adapted from Jazz in the South – unvéritable festival de jazz caribéen)

St. Lucia Jazz Notes: Soufriere Creole Jazz

Soufriere Creole Jazz took place at the Mini-Stadium in South St. Lucia on Friday, April 30.   The Main act: Jeff Joseph and Grammacks of Dominica, for two nights.  Also performing at Soufriere Jazz was Cuba’s Klimax, which according to the official Klimax website, is one of the “most sophisticated and original of timba bands…created by Giraldo Piloto.”

St. Lucia Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet told Helen FM 100 it was a “very, very good decision to bring Grammacks to Soufriere Creole Jazz.”  He also promised to take the founding members of Soufriere Creole Jazz to Dominica to learn from World Creole Music Festival.  For his part, Jeff Joseph of Grammacks said that “Playing Sulfur Springs is like magic…It was a nice show…It was a pleasure…Just tremendous…People really enjoyed it.”

Soufriere Creole Jazz continued on Saturday, May 01 and concluded on May 02.

St. Lucia Jazz Notes: Jazz on the Square, the Derek Walcott Square

The Main Jazz acts: Michael Boothman & Kaiso Fusion on May 03; the St Lucia School of Music Jazz Band, Macadam and Cuba’s Klimax on May 04; and Freewinds Band featuring Carmel and Dominican songstress, Michelle Henderson on May 05.

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The St Lucia School of Music Jazz Band gave Charlie Parker a confusing calypso/soca treatment, did a fair Tarrus Riley, some Big Band Swing, bass heavy Funk and salsa.  The St. Lucia School of Music has in excess of 300 students with about 70 of them studying woodwind instruments.  The School of Music has about 40 children from the Primary schools according to Ryan, the Coordinator of the Woodwind section.

Macadam from Martinique livened up the Square doing traditional Beguine-Jazz.

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Cuban salsa band Klimax was making its second appearance at St. Lucia Jazz in two years.

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St. Lucia Jazz Notes: Jazz on the Pier

The NDC (St. Lucia’s National Development Corporation) produced “Jazz on the Pier” at Duty Free Pointe Seraphine just outside Castries central on May 04.  The Main Jazz acts: Red Clay featuring vocalist Kellie Cadogan of Barbados and Trinidad born, St. Lucia resident, Ovid Alexis Rhapsody Band.

“Jazz on the Pier” is dedicated, as it has been since 2004, to showcasing home-grown St. Lucian talent during St. Lucia Jazz.  It was usually on the last Friday before the Main Stage events of St. Lucia Jazz.  However, Tuesday, May 04, 2010 is the new date for the event.

The official launch of “Jazz on the Pier” was on Tuesday, April 20.

Referring once again to Iguane Xtet, we found them before St. Lucia Jazz at Habitation Birloton (April 17) and Coco Grill, Bouillante, Guadeloupe on April 30; and after the festival, Xtet will be at Green K’fé, Deschaies (May 08) and then at leMarboeuf, La Retraite, Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe. (Source: artistdata)

Speaking of St. Lucia Jazz, the line-up has an expected fare of international and Caribbean heavy-hitters.   In regards to the Caribbean contingent earmarked for this year’s 19th edition of the festival that runs from May 01-09, there is the Saint Lucia School of Music Jazz Band (Black Ants), a group of young and gifted music students whose repertoire consists of, among other styles, swing and bossa-nova; St. Lucia’s Monty Maxwell and guitarist Harvey Millar; and pannist Allison Marquis at the Gaiety on Rodney Bay, Thursday 06; Teddyson John of St. Lucia at Pigeon Island National Landmark, Friday 07;  Cubans “Eliades Ochoa” and “Amadito Valdés”, stars from Buena Vista Social Club, guitar hero Ronald “Boo” Hinkson and friends featuring Tempest and Claudia Edward, May 08; and St. Lucian six string bluesman Carl Gustave on finale night, May 09, 2010. (Sources: caribbeannetnews, stluciajazz.org)

St. Lucia Jazz Notes: Fond D’Or Jazz, May 01

The theme for Fond D’Or Jazz is “A decade of music, a blend of cultures”

Main Acts for Fond D’Or Jazz: Shane Ross, Ronald ‘Boo’ Hinkson…

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Arturo Tappin…

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and the Kings of Cadence from Dominica, Midnight Groovers (slide to 05:20:00 for Groovers video).

One other name for Fond D’Or Jazz is that of Linda ‘Chocolate’ Berthier with a fusion of Jazz, Reggae and Dancehall, and gospel.

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St. Lucia Jazz Notes: Jazz on the Grill, the Fire Grill Restaurant, Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, May 02-06

Then there was “Jazz on the Grill,” Fire Grill Restaurant, Rodney Bay, with Rob Zi Taylor Sound of St Lucia Sax, May 6, 2010.

St. Lucia Jazz Notes: Jazz on the Edge, The Edge Restaurant, Rodney Bay Marina, Gros Islet, May 04-06

Rob Zi Taylor moved over to the The Edge Restaurant, Rodney Bay Marina for “Jazz on the Edge,” May 6, 6:15pm.  (Fire Grill is at 08:00pm)

The Edge Restaurant welcomed St. Lucian saxophonist Barbara Cadet on May 4, 2010.

St. Lucia Jazz Notes: Carolie Jazz, May 07

Another Jazz event during St. Lucia Jazz was “Carolie Jazz.”  Appearing at Carolie Jazz was be St. Lucian, John Polius’ Cosmic Rhythm and brothers Ricardo and Luther Francois with separate bands.

Cosmic Rhythm is a band started by St. Lucian, John Polius while in Italy.  The unit comprises of three Italians and three  Lucians and a Japanese.  However, the Italians (or some of them anyway) cannot make it to St. Lucia  for the festival and will be replaced by local Lucian artists.

St. Lucia Jazz Notes: Main Stage, Pigeon Island National Landmark, May 05-09

Monty Maxwell (Jazz/Blues guitar) teamed up with Harvey Millar (guitar) and Allison Marquis (pan) for an all St. Lucian band, Troisem (3M) on May 06 at the Gaiety on Rodney Bay.

“Millar’s musical style is highly percussive and rhythmic reflecting the combined influences of Bebop, Caribbean idioms…hip hop.” (St. Lucia Jazz website)

19-year old Stacey Charles of  theTempest crew led by Ronald Boo Hinkson will be at St. Lucia Jazz. TEMPEST, featuring Stacey, Zionami, Cylva J and Alpha, will be hosted by Boo Hinkson for his first St. Lucia Jazz set, May 08.  Then Boo goes solo, performing music from his forthcoming CD, on the second set.

The CD tentatively entitled “Shades” follows his ’95 solo debut of “Alive and Well,” “Beyond,” (’03) & “Urban Drift” (’06).  It features Emerson Nurse on keyboards (St. Lucia), Arturo Tappin on Sax (Barbados), and vocals by Stacey Charles (SLU), Baltimore native Tracy Hamlin, Sean Paul (JA) and Teddyson John (SLU).  The CD was expected to be released in the second week of May, before the end of St. Lucia Jazz 2010.

Charles is the one who did the St. Lucia Jazz theme “Come for the Jazz, Stay for the Cricket.”

Stacey Iman Charles has a new song on Boo Hinkson’s upcoming release.  The track features Sean Paul.

Carl Gustave did some “high-energy” tracks from his CD’s “Too Hard” and “Searchin’ ” on the Main Stage at St. Lucia Jazz, Sun., May 09.

Additional resource: LIME Strengthens its Support to St Lucia Jazz | by carpetmagazine.net

Once again LIME is stepping up to the plate and providing support to St Lucia Jazz.

For the 19th year in a row the company is providing sponsorship support to the premier entertainment event in St Lucia and the Caribbean.

LIME is sponsoring five of the St Lucia Jazz side events – Jazz on the Square, Tea Time Jazz, Jazz on the Pier, Jazz in the South and a brand new event created to add a new brand of entertainment to the St Lucia Jazz season, Caribbean Divas…

Carib Jazz in focus at Festival îloJazz, Guadeloupe & Le Festival Caraibes Vibrations, Paris

France

Guadeloupe

After thirteen years, “Jazz à Pointe-à-Pitre, Carrefour des Musiques Créoles” has been  re-branded as “Festival îloJazz, Carrefour des Musiques Créoles.” The name change became necessary in order to facilitate the decentralisation of this December event from Pointe-à-Pitre to Abymes in Guadeloupe.

The prime schedule was from December 10-13, but the action really began on December 03 with a CD launch on L’Université à Fouillole campus and the screening and discussion on December 07 of an Alexander Lourie documentary about pianist Alain Jean-Marie (bananier bleu profile) called “Alain la parole” (Alain’s Word).

In justifying the title of the festival, the Caribbean was well represented by Alain Jean-Marie, Alchimik and Fal Frett, not forgetting Magic Malik, a native son of Guadeloupe whose music could not be more diverse after his many forays in and outside of the Jazz idiom.

Alain Jean-Marie performed “Gwadarama” in cahoots with Marcel Falla (bass), Raymond Grégo (drums) and Roger Raspail (percussion) on Sunday, December 13  2009 at Place de la Victoire.

The Latin side of that show was illustrated by flautist Dave Valentin.  Valentin was accompanied by Roger Lane Ameen (piano),  Lincoln Goines (bass), Richard Flores, Richard Michael Bonilla and William Francis O’Conell.

The headliner was Jazz-Rock fusionist, Roy Ayers (vibes).  His backup band was Troy Miller on drums, Mark Adams on bass, Donald Nicks (keyboards) and Raedford Gaskins on saxes.

The multi-talented Mokhtar Samba, former drummer of Ultramarine, finally got to perform his music in Guadeloupe on Friday, December 11 at Parvis du Centre Culturel de Sonis, Abymes.  This show was a must-see.  Trio Alchimik (MySpace) with Jean-Michel Lesdel, Raymond d’Huy and Grégo opened for Samba.

The festival continued for a second day, Saturday, December 12 at Bourg des Abymes where the Bernard Brothers, Jacky and Alex, Luther François, Guillaume Bernard, Micky Télèphe and Renée Capitaine came together under the Fal Frett banner. (Source: bananierbleu.com)

Another festival which closed on Sunday, December 13, the same day as Festival îlo Jazz, is Le Festival Caraibes Vibrations 2009 in Paris, France.  Unlike Festival îlo, this was not strictly a Jazz Festival, unless of course one takes into consideration that Gwo Ka is being morphed all the more into the Jazz side of the music business and that Dub Poetry is all about improvisations and rhythms.

Anyway, Vibration Caraibes is actually a Festival of Contemporary Arts of the Americas and the Caribbean.  As such, there were helpings of Gwo ka Gnawa Jazz, Dub Poetry, Literary Readings, Photography and Video Art and screenings of ethnographic documentaries.

The musical component featured the deeply rooted Martinican percussionist and banjo player Kali and his guest Manu Dibango, special festival guest Valerie Louri and international Jazz pianist Randy Weston.

In regards to the Afro Drums Poetry section of the programme on December 06, Guadeloupean saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart and Schwarz-Bart’s electric and acoustic guitarist Hervé Samb accompanied the poet Simone Schwarz-Bart (who, by the way, appeared on her son’s Abyss CD to voice track number 8 that bears her first name).

Simone & J.S-Bart (sax) at Vibrations Caraibe '09

On the Dub Poetry side of things, there was the Dede St. Prix Dub Poets, that was St. Prix and Orlando Poleo with Brother Resistance and Mutaburaka.

So that was Le Festival Vibrations Caraibes 2009 from December 04-13, 2009.  Click on images above for full photo albums.