It was evident at the recent Carifesta XIV “All Jazzed Up” concert why many consider jazz to be the pinnacle of black music. The night was filled with the mastery of musical geniuses as Caribbean jazz professionals from across the diaspora performed to the delight of local jazz aficionados at the National Academy for Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The evening started slowly but as the hours grew so did the volume and frequency of the applause.  The majesty and diversity of Caribbean jazz musicians produced many jaw-dropping moments as crescendos from tenor pans echoed off the walls and reverberated in the hearts of patrons, and the smooth velvet tones of saxophones brought feelings of romance and nostalgia to the hall. It was a night when sitting at the edge of one’s seat was not uncommon as the metallic intrusive stabs of trumpets and trombones kept patrons in the moment and the beating of tightly tuned drums skins with the crashing of cymbals made one flinch or dance where they sat. Who would forget the brilliant strumming and picking of strings harmonizing with fingers dancing on keyboard keys to rhapsodize the bittersweetness of the dominant 7^th chords; and of course, the articulation of words into songs moving the spirit of the listeners through time and space. Yes! Caribbean jazz, the fusing of American jazz with Caribbean rhythms, was in all its glory.

 

The night’s featured acts

UTT Big Band (Trinidad & Tobago)

 

UTT Big Band is a Jazz Ensemble of The University of Trinidad and Tobago Academy for the Performing Arts consists of students from both the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and the Artist Diploma in Music Performance programs. They set the tone and bar for the night and created high expectations of the following acts.

Kalabash (Canada)

 

Kalabash is a unique contemporary jazz ensemble built around the sound of the steel pan. The blend of reeds and flute with the steel pans gives the group a special sound. The masterful playing of their saxophonist, was indeed delicate as she kept the audience totally engaged throughout her performance.

David Boothman & the Caribbean Renaissance Jazz Ensemble (CR Jazz) (Trinidad and Tobago)

 

CR Jazz is an aggregation of the Caribbean’s finest musicians, composers, and performing artists celebrating the “Caribbean in Us”, the front runner for Caribbean cultural unity and integration.

David Boothman (Founder) is a celebrated artist/musician from Trinidad and Tobago who has been contributing to the arts for over forty-five years. Having performed at much International Jazz and Caribbean music festivals, he was able with his unique keyboard styling to captivate the audience with his Caribbean jazz compositions: “Backyard No Gallery”, “So Dey Say” and “In de Caribbean”; creating instant fans of those hearing him play for the first time.

Gerald Kebreau & friends (Haiti)

 

Gerald Kebreau is a former bass guitarist of the popular Miami-based Haitian Compas music band, “T-Vice”. Led by the magical voice of Alexa Cherelus, the group received a long-standing ovation for their jazzed-up rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud”.

Vaughette Bigford (Trinidad & Tobago)

 

Vaughnette Bigford, a home crowd favorite by jazz followers in Trinidad and Tobago, delighted the audience with her earthy jazz vocals and received warm applause throughout her performance

Ijo (Trinidad & Tobago)

 

Ijo, a recently formed jazz band, is comprised of some of the most in-demand freelance professional musicians in Trinidad and Tobago. With a unique balance of youth and experience, they were able to make their presence felt with their different style of Caribbean vibe.

 

The Kutting Edge band featuring Aubrey “lacu” Samuel (Antigua)

 

Hailing from Antigua, the Kutting Edge band feature Aubrey “Lacu” Samuel was very well received. “Lacu” one of the finest pannist in the Caribbean had the crowd at the edge of their seat throughout his entire performance.

 

Etienne Charles  (Trinidad & Tobago)

 

And lastly, Trumpeter/bandleader Etienne Charles, one of the most compelling and exciting young jazz artists who is taking Caribbean Jazz into groundbreaking new territory. He brought the curtain and the house down with his scintillating performance; the standing ovation he received from the crowd said it all.

 

Check out our “All Jazzed UP” YouTube playlist for more performances.

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