Port of Spain, here comes The Jazz Singer Vaughnette Bigford (updated)

Trinidad

makeover 1, November 15  2009

by Production One, edited by Israel

Southerner Vaughnette Bigford was the fifth Songbird in the series SONGBIRDS…live at Aura Restaurant & Bar on Wednesday, November 04 2009.  Bigford continues the trend of talented female singers showcasing their talent at this unique production, bringing her smoky Jazz tinged voice to Port of Spain.

Since her debut in 2004, Bigford’s rich, earthy Jazz vocals have been making audiences sit up and take notice – and she’s been developing quite a fan club too!  She is recognised for her haunting delivery of some of the most timeless Jazz standards and confesses that when she discovered Jazz, she knew she had found a “home“.

Hailing from South Trinidad, Bigford’s professional entry onto the Jazz circuit came at the 2004 Steelpan & Jazz Festival (formerly Pan Royale) as guest vocalist with Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and Phase II Pan Groove.

For three consecutive years, she graced the stage at the San Fernando Jazz Festival, appearing with Carlton Alexander’s Coalpot Band.

Bigford has trained and continues to perfect her craft with some of the finest local and foreign vocal coaches and musicians.  That list includes Cristiana Balbosa and Jessel Murray (Trinidad), Jazz legend Dr. Barry Harris, Hank Jones and vocalist Sheila Jordan.  She continues to work with the esteemed Ms. Donna Mc Elroy, a Professor at the Berklee College of Music Voice Department.

Closer to home, Vaughnette has worked with some of Trinidad and Tobago’s most celebrated Jazz musicians: Carlton Zanda, Theron Shaw, Raf Robertson and Ray Holman. Topping her list of most noteworthy performances to date is her smoldering centre-stage solo act at the YWCA’s “Sisters in Song” – a Caribbean Jazz concert featuring local greats like Mavis John and Chantal Esdelle – Jazz Artists on the Greens in March, 2008 and her role as guest vocalist to the band Earthsound at Ryles Jazz Club in Boston in June 2009.

Bigford remains an active member of the US-based International Women in Jazz.  She is also a student of Berklee music online and was one of the few Caribbean nationals to be awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music Summer Performance Program in 2008.

SONGBIRDS…live featuring Vaughnette Bigford, Wednesday, November 04, 2009 @ AURA Restaurant & Bar, 51 Cipriani Blvd, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.  Behind Bigford was guitarist Theron Shaw, bassist Douglas Reddon and percussionist Modupe Folasade Onilu.  Note that Bigford shed the trap drums for this date.

Vaughnette Bigford:

Wanna hear some Brazilian, Columbian, French music…check me out at Aura…music for all races and cultures.

(Follow the image link for a Facebook concert review by Brenda B Butler)

For more of Vaughnette, go to  http://www.vaughnettebigford.com or http://www.myspace.com/vaughnettebigford.

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