WOODPOSTS
Retro Review: Ericka Ovette at Jazz on the Hill, Virgin Gorda 2009
The diminutive Ericka Ovette presented on stage in a duo setting accompanied by her “musical companion,” guitarist Paul Pieper and resplendent in a flowing black dress accented with a knee-length shawl drooped over the right shoulder.
Hers was a set that those of us who were on the Hill will remember very fondly. Me, make that very, very fondly for I hold a special attraction to Jazz duos of every configuration, let alone the full-proof, tried and true voice and acoustic guitar pairing. Ericka Ovette and Paul Pieper represented the sub-genre with such aplomb, it would be a wonder if there isn’t a clamour by all and sundry for a return engagement real soon.
More here…
VI Jazz bands make it count at NPT Jazz and Blues, November 27 2011
The two foremost Jazz bands in the BVI today, Blue Essence and the Community College’s HLSCC Jazz Band, both led by trumpeter, pianist and orchestral conductor Andre Braithwaite, opened for multi-Grammy winner John Legend on Sunday, November 27.
The HLSCC Jazz Band put on a superlative performance like I have never seen from them…ever. In the case of Blue Essence, compared to my initial exposure to the band two years ago when I was left with an ear ache and was sadly unimpressed, I concluded this night that the boys are a much improved outfit.
More here…
The “Majesty” of Calypso-Jazz by Raf Robertson: CD Review
I take it that Raf’s goal on “Majesty” is to put forward another case for the establishment of a Calypso-Jazz standards songbook. Nothing new here. So what then?
Here is the essential difference in my estimation. “Majesty” is more of a conceptual band record than a vehicle of self-promotion for the leader. The superseding elements, therefore, are the arrangements of the six calypso classics to be found here dispersed as they are with a seminal Clive Zanda contrivance and the leader’s own singular idea about how the two styles fit.
More here…
Shades of Vaughnette…The Experience
The Jazz Singer, Vaughnette Bigford, presented her burgeoning red, black and white fan base assembled at the Naparima Bowl in San Fernando, Trinidad on Saturday, November 12 2011 with a suite of standards taken from the American songbook, complemented with international hits and Caribbean classics. Sitting in rapt attention was the notable scribe and Jazz producer Nigel Campbell and musical icon in his own right, pianist Raf Robertson. Neither of them could contain their admiration for the La Brea girl after the Bowl fell silent that night.
Dominica’s Shades of Green, bring The Jazz to light
Catching up on The Jazz in most Caribbean festivals nowadays can be quite the juggling act. Either it is buried somewhere in the middle of the roster or the bands are “disposed” of at the top of the schedule before the fans start showing up in earnest. In the case of Creole in the Park, the four-day event leading up to Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival, a tidbit of Jazz was slipped in between midday and 05:00 pm on October 25, 2011. The lucky souls were Shades of Green, a Dominican band which has been part of the Jazz revival in the Nature Isle.
Joseph “Macarldie” Nibbs & Shirley Crabbe’s November 12 VI Showcase, an uneven event
Joseph “Macarldie” Nibbs and Friends featuring Shirley Crabbe was a showcase of lows and highs, valleys and peaks, weaknesses and strengths. A times, the band dipped into the pothole that is the bane of many a Caribbean Jazz band, swing. They resurrected themselves off and on when playing to their strengths, Smooth-Jazz and were at their measured best backing Shirley Crabbe. However, I missed the straight up, straightahead underpinning Shirley might have lavished on us had she brought her own band for this date.
View this Woodshed Calendar for details on other select Caribbean Jazz dates. Also, go to the Woodshed Sidebar to link to WEC Facebook Profile for yet more listings.
Arturo Tappin does it, twice, in Maryland and St. Vincent
Fresh from and buoyed by the resounding success of “An Evening of Jazz” at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center of the University of Maryland in September, Barbadian saxophonist Arturo Tappin did it again at The Aquatic Club in Villa, St. Vincent, October 28.
Jerry Gonzalez & Vanessa Rubin star at 5th Pork Pie Hat Jazz Series
The City of Hartford’s “Pork Pie Hat Jazz Series” came bounding back this fall for its fifth season. The series presented Grammy nominated trumpeter Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band, October 21 and the Dezron Douglas Quartet with special guest, vocalist Vanessa Rubin, November 4.
:: DOBET GNAHORÉ, a wonderful experience for the BVI on October 21 2011
:: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellows for 2011 have been named
:: SFJazz Collective tours North America
Thierry Fanfant teaser du nouvel album “Simé Lanmou”
[Join the Listening Party at Woodshed Jazz]
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FLOORBOARDS
…basement Jazz stories
Click and scroll for all Cuba basement Jazz stories still resting on the FloorBoards waiting on the WoodSlaves
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JAZZ IN THE FIRST PERSON
Following are select passages from an extensive essay published in the Jamaica Gleaner on November 29, 2009.
“The Man with the Horn” wore horn-rimmed glasses – A retrospective look at the life and legacy of Sonny Bradshaw”
Sonny Bradshaw according to Herbie Miller:
He was a complete musician who played trumpet, adding its warmer-sounding relative, the flugel horn, in his mature years. He was also a competent pianist and was more than useful playing the bass, drums, organ and trombone. Nevertheless, his playing was without the bravado of either Armstrong or Gillespie…
The full essay here… More First Person accounts here…
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Jazzz Buzzz
May 2010 Jazzz Buzzz: Clifford Charles Smoothjazz Qtet and David Muhammad picked the strings at La Casa de Ibiza on consecutive Tuesdays, May 04 and May 11, 2010.
Theron Shaw Project came back on May 13 with a live performance at The Drink.
Tangora Quintet played Jazz à St Germain des Prés on Sunday, May 16 at 5:00 pm in Place St Germain des Prés. Steeve Delblond hosted Tango in its usual configuration, Mario Canonge at the piano, Eric Vinceno on bass and Francois Laizeau on drums with a guest from Trinidad, Duvonne Stewart on steel pan.
Martinique: Lamentin Jazz Project Festival | Posted by: ivetteromero, repeatingislands.com
The Cultural Office of Lamentin held its 8th edition of the Lamentin Jazz Project Festival May 17 to 22, 2010 with performances and jam sessions, master classes and a lecture/discussion.
Trinidad’s Kay Alleyne LIVE at Jazz & Fusion Tuesdays, La Casa de Ibiza, May 18
click and scroll for details of these and other 2010 Jazzz Buzzz stories
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Retro|Reviews
Mark Lyndersay reviews:
Retro Caribbean Jazz CD Review of ‘University of Calypso’ – Andy Narell and Relator by Mark Lyndersay
Caribbean Jazz CD Review of ‘Under Your Skin’ – Jaine Rogers by Mark Lyndersay
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Woodshed Jazz playlist
Head over to the Woodshed for the Listening Party courtesy of the Virgin Islands Rhythm Section recorded live at the Blue Bay Jazz Festival of 2008 and at Sunset Jazz in Frederiksted, St. Croix.
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