Haiti Music Collective calls for pledge to musicians – Jazz in the South began May 01

ST. LUCIA

Originally posted on April 15, 2011; update 4 on May 02, 2011 

A number of St. Lucia-based entities have banded together to bring attention to the plight of Haitian musicians who in some cases, have lost homes, equipment, places to play, sources of income, relatives and even hope, no thanks to the January 2010 earthquake that wreaked havoc on the Caribbean island nation.

In May 2010, the St. Lucia School of Music, the Folk Research Centre, the Cultural Development Foundation, Alliance Française and the East Caribbean Collective Organization for Music Rights (ECCO) invited festival and cultural organizers from Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Trinidad and Tobago to a meeting of the Haiti Music Collective, in St. Lucia, at which time a call was made to festivals the world over to book at least one Haitian musician or group in their respective line-ups for 2011. 

The Forum was hosted by St. Lucian Jazz outfit Bluemangó and Labowi Promotions, the organizers of Jazz in the South, part of the St. Lucia Jazz franchise.

The Forum rationalised that Haitian artistes have made a tremendous contribution to Caribbean identity and civilization and so are deserving of the solidarity of Caribbean musicians as they rebuild their music scene and reconstruct their lives.

Labowi Promotions has in fact been supportive of Haitian artistes for over ten years, having had musicians from Haiti at Jazz in the South almost every year since 1997.

For this the 20th anniversary of St. Lucia Jazz, Labowi Promotions welcome the Wéspè Pou Ayiti Project (Haitian trumpeter Jean Caze, St. Lucian pianist/composer and co-founder of Bluemangó  Richard Payne, Guadeloupean drummer Sony Troupé of the Sony Troupé Quartet and member of Trio Laviso) to Coconut Bay Resort and Spa in Vieux Fort on May 01, 2011.

It was announced on Thursday, April 28 that the Wéspè Project, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 30, had to be moved to Sunday, May 01, due to portending inclement weather.  The Project was fitted into the Sunday programme with Andy Narell and Lord Relator’s University of Calypso, Jean Caze, and from Guadeloupe, Trio Laviso and Sonny Troupé, fresh from Jazz de Outre-mer in Paris during which he shared the spotlight with fellow French West Indians, Alain Jean-Marie and Tricia Evy.  There was no indication if St. Lucia’s Rupert Lay would still be part of Jazz in the South.  Lay was originally on the Saturday 30 card.

There were reports Sunday night of incessant rain and flooding in St. Lucia.  However, it appeared there were no plans to disrupt Jazz in the South any more than it already had. Therefore, the St. Lucia School of Music’s Black Antz will open for the Sonny Troupé Quartet and a Collaboration of Jazz in the South Artists at the Rudy John Beach Park, Laborie starting at 03:00 pm on Monday, May 02. 

Wéspè Pou Ayiti Project

The Forum would like to see all Caribbean festivals and events do the same for our neighbours.

(Original Source: caribbeanfestivals.net) 

Now, it is on to St. Lucia Jazz…

St. Lucia Jazz is off and running again.  That sun did not, however, rise in the east; rather it came up on the fringe located to the South of St. Lucia, at Laborie and Vieux Fort.

As reported above, that was not the original plan.  Bad weather forced Jazz in the South to push back its first event on Saturday, April 30 by one day. Thus, their Sunday, May 01 show at the Coconut Bay Resort and Spa in Vieux Fort shared the starting line with Jazz on the Beach, the Beachfront of Royal by Rex, and the Fire Grill Restaurant and Lounge Bar.

An all-St. Lucian lineup led by the premier Lucian saxophonist and Caribbean Jazz icon, Luther Francois, rang in The Jazz at the Jazz on the Beach. Tailing off behind Francois’ conga line were the likes of Blues guitarist Robert ‘Zi’ Taylor among others – Stacy Charles & Phaze Band, 4th World, Pantime Steel Band and Teddyson John.  Luther Francois could be seen again at Carellie Jazz – in the park on May 02.

Over at the Fire Grill on May 01 was the Derek Yard Project together with a lapokabwit (goat skin) drum ensemble. Jazz on the Grill is a three-day fringe event, which ends on May 03.

Move over Derek Yard, Boo Hinkson & Friends will man the Fire Grill on Monday, May 02 from 08:00pm; and Zi & the Vibe Tribe will serve the menu on Tuesday, May 03 at the same time.  Boo Hinkson doubles the fun at J Q Charles Shopping Mall on Tuesday, May 03 during Jazz Rhythms @ Rodney Bay Mall.