Antigua and Martinique in the mood for Jazz

Originally Posted on December 01, 2009

Antigua and Barbuda

Martinique

Andy Narell and Relator have really been making the rounds in support of “University of Calypso.” This is the phenomenal CD of classic lyrical calypso compositions tailor-made for Jazz interpretations.  The album was designed as a tribute to Lord Kitchener, but Narell and Relator also paid homage to other storytellers, some of them of considerable popular standing, others like Spider from the Commonwealth of Dominica with cult status only.

Most recently, Narell and Relator brought the “University” to Pan Jazz UK on November 08, 2009 and the students of the Martinique Jazz Festival 2009 on Thursday, November 27.  They played the MJF on the heels of Guadeloupean saxophonist, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, whose night was Wednesday, November 26 and preceded Martinique pianist, Ronald Tulle, on Saturday, November 28.

But on Sunday, November 29, Narell and Relator stood alone at the top of the heap when they did a repeat performance of “University” in Antigua and Barbuda.  The occasion was the “Moods of Pan Festival” (MOP), an event organized by the Gemonites Steel Orchestra of A&B.  The festival was scaled down to a one night affair due to a drought in sponsorship funding this year

By the way, MOP was not just about steel pan music.  Storyteller, Paul Keens-Douglas was on hand to split the pan fans in stitches.

Meanwhile, Martinique lit up with the sound of Jazz music on November 26, 2009 when musicians from France, the United States, Benin, Trinidad and Tobago and the French West Indies were dispersed around the island for what has become the longest running Jazz Festival in the Caribbean, which is the Martinique Jazz Festival.

The center of the action is the CMAC (Centre Martiniquais d’Action Culturelle) in Fort-de-France.  However, there is an outfest at various locations across the country, in St. Anne, St. Marie, Lamentin, Riviere Salee, Sainte Luce and La Pagerie Museum in Trois Ilets.

MARTINIQUE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2009
du mercredi 25 novembre au dimanche 06 décembre

Martinique Jazz Festival 2009
Concerts à l’Atrium, 20h

Jeudi 26 novembre
Jacques Coursil (Martinique)
Jacques Schwarz-Bart (Guadeloupe / Etats-Unis)

Vendredi 27 Novembre
Jacky Terrasson Trio (France / Etats-Unis)
Andy Narell and Relator (Etats-Unis / Trinidad)

Samedi 28 Novembre
Ronald Tulle (Martinique)
Rhoda Scott Ladies Quartet (Etats-Unis / France)

Décentralisation
Samedi 28 Novembre – 20h

Rest Le Petitbonum, Carbet

César Swing (Jaa manouche)

Dimanche 29 Novembre – 16h
Sainte-Anne – Bourg
Insuler (Martinique)
Kriyolio (Guadeloupe)

Sainte-Marie – 16h30

Centre culturel de Fonds Saint-Jacques

Eric Ildefonse (Martinique)
César Swing (France) – Jazz manouche

Mercredi 2 décembre – 19h
Lamentin – Centre culturel de Basse-Gondeau
Barbara Cadet (Sainte-Lucie)

Jeudi 3 décembre
Lionel Loueke (Bénin – Etats-Unis)
Malia (Malawi – Europe)

Jeudi 3 décembre – 19h
Rivière Salée – Centre culturel du bourg
Barbara Cadet (Sainte-Lucie)

Prêcheur – Espace Samboura – 19h30
Meddy Gerville (Réunion)

Vendredi 4 décembre
Aléliwon (Martinique)
Elisabeth Kontomanou Quintet (Guinée – Europe)

Vendredi 4 décembre – 20h

Sainte-Luce – Bourg

Barbara Cadet (Sainte-Lucie)

Samedi 5 Décembre
Meddy Gerville (Réunion)
Kenny Baron Trio (Etats-Unis)

Dimanche 6 Décembre – Pagerie des Trois-Ilets – 16h
Caraib To Jazz (Martinique / Guadeloupe)
Terri Lyne Carrington (Etats-Unis)
Eddie Palmieri (Puerto Rico / Etats-Unis)

Master-class
Jacques Coursil
Jacky Terrasson
Luther François
Jesus Fuentes
Terri-Lyne Carrington

More here