My name is Minchie Israel. My artistic background rests in theatre and radio broadcasting, more specifically Jazz radio. I did a bit of acting as well as writing and directing for the stage before dropping out upon leaving the Caribbean region a few moons ago.
By that time, Jazz and other improvisations had become the theme of my life outside of work. I continue to study the history of Jazz to this day and listen to little else. Jazz is what excites the pants off me and that is never going to change.
I still maintain an interest in theatre, but alas there is hardly any of it where I now reside in the northern West Indian sunshine. Yes, I am back in the Caribbean.
28 responses so far ↓
Patrice // June 1, 2007 at 6:45 pm
I hope this is Minchie’s contact address. We met at Jazz on the Hill at St.Mary’s and we did not get a chance to connect with you in Tortola. I would like to send you Arturo’s Cd that you requested but I do no have your contact information. Please e-mail me so I can make contact.
Victor Christian // July 19, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Hi
I came across your blog and was wandring if you could help me? I’m not sure what Caribbean island you hail from? I am a UK based jazz piano player and am thinking of relocating to the caribbean somewhere to play some jazz? My dad was Jamiacan and my mum is English and we come from Liverpool, home of the Beatles? I have to play piano now full on and am tired of the jazz scene in Liverpool and want to play with some people from my father’s part of the world for a change! Maybe you could hook me up with some Caribbean jazzers who need a piano player and give me some advice on renting a nice property while I’m over there. I might even stay for good if I can play and the locals appreciate me?!
Thanks for reading this
Victor Christian - vgfchristian@hotmail.com
Israel // July 19, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Thanks for your comment Victor. I can guide you on this, but I need something more to work with. I have listed some questions that I have already e-mailed to you at your hotmail address. Of course, if you prefer, we could have an open dialogue on this forum.
Vaughnette Bigford // November 5, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I’ve been leaving comments but could someone shed some light on who exactly the Woodshed Entertainment Collective is? and which country the organization is from. I’d love to get some more info and have my fellow musicians log on.
Israel // November 5, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Vaughnette, since you have “called me out,” here goes. WEC was conceptualised to create a forum for us Jazz buffs and performers to share our knowledge of and experience with Jazz in the Caribbean.
It is, therefore, a loose social network of fans and musicians who are integral to the Jazz music industry in our region. They are the ones who come to this site. We do not always communicate in Comments though. We also correspond by e-mail and telephone.
The ultimate goal is to make this blog the meeting place where anyone who wants to know about what is happening (who is performing where and when) can click on for that information.
The next step is the creation of a community of Jazz writers - who could be anyone - to feed this forum not only with performance dates, but timely reviews as well. This is what I am currently working on behind the scenes.
In time the “Collective” will become a formal promotions agency to create regular performance opportunities throughout the Caribbean.
In short, Vaughnette, I want to see a Caribbean circuit that will make it possible for you as a Jazz musician to be booked on a string of dates rather than for the one-off appearance.
This is but one part of the picture. The “WEC Concept” is broader still. However, it is parked on a password protected website that I only make accessible to individuals who are seriously interested.
Now since you have brought this up, I believe that it is time for me to publish that Concept.
It was written in the late 1990’s while I was still resident in Dominica. I moved to the British Virgin Islands in 1998 to take up a position with the VI Government. Consequently, I operate out of Tortola.
Vaughnette Bigford // November 6, 2007 at 7:06 am
Ok
Check out my website please, see if you you can determine that I am as “serious” as a heart attack. After that you can contact me and we can forge a way forward for me to be part of this.
Israel // November 6, 2007 at 11:21 am
I have started to peruse your site, which has left a fine first impression with me.
I can tell that you are a dedicated artiste. Just don’t get so serious and stop the “ticker” dead.
You will need that “heart” to convey those lyrics. Catch my drift?
Anyway, I will reach you by e-mail in the coming days.
Vaughnette Bigford // November 6, 2007 at 1:58 pm
ah hear yuh, thanks a lot
Vaughnette Bigford // November 20, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Okay, so how was Anguilla?
Vaughnette Bigford // November 20, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Hey
I was featured in a really cool article done by the Trinidad Express Women Magazine, you can check it out.
Israel // November 20, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I am one up on you Vaughnette. I got the article already, but quite by accident. I received an e-mail alert about another article in the Express and just happened to see a headline about a “Jazz Singer” at the bottom of the page.
As you would expect, I could not help myself; I opened it up and - lo and behold - the article was about you. Imagine my surprise - my pleasant surprise.
I have since read it and intend to carry it on the Frontpage as I would any Jazz artist who is profiled in the media. This will be special because I will be writing about someone I am already aware of.
I was really touched to see that you have not only been out there on the Jazz scene in Trinidad, though limited, but that you are being noticed enough to be profiled in the Express. That is hugh.
Congratulations. Now how about that CD?
I thoroughly enjoyed the Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival. I was very much impressed that the festival organisers featured their music students on a side stage at the main venue and at the Out-fests. The kids had done a summer workshop with some of the professionals who returned for the fest.
In addition, the producers put together an all-star Anguillian band to open up for the headliners on each night. They were the real deal.
Further, they had Mike Phillips stay one extra day on the island to appear with a teenage quartet. That was held at a Jazz Club on the beach. How cool was that eh?
Now, mind you, I am not referring to students who are even ready for the big time or the main stage. These kids were just being exposed to the big guns without the intimidation; that was all that mattered to me.
Finally, they brought in some of the “best of” from neighbouring St. Maarten to do a jam session on the said beach. It was fantastic given all the sit-ins.
I will be reviewing the entire festival in detail, complete with photos, before long.
Vaughnette // November 21, 2007 at 7:23 am
Well you aint easy. You are on the ball man. Shucks, Anguilla sounds like it was great. I definitely have to try to make it next year. Glad to hear that they featured the younger ones, that is such a great approach.
The CD, THE CD, THE CD? I have a concept and I have the songs all chosen, Im looking at my options for arrangers.
Glad to hear your comments.
Israel // November 21, 2007 at 7:23 pm
What is your timeline for the CD’s release? And what Jazz style(s) do you propose to concentrate on?
Vaughnette // November 22, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I want my first CD to be well loved standards that are re-arranged. I love the oldies. I want to start working full force on it by January,.
Vaughnette // December 10, 2007 at 11:12 am
how are things? havent heard you in a while.
Israel // December 10, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Sorry. Somehow, I completely missed your comment of November 22. I know what happened: I had 1 comment pending my approval and did not notice yours when it was logged in.
It would be great if you use the standards to set your benchmark. But be sure to throw in an original (with or without a collaborator) or two, if you could, to at least hint that you have writing capabilities.
And please stay away from the sequencers and drum machines. You need live sticks on drum heads for authenticity.
Vaughnette // December 17, 2007 at 11:11 am
Drum machines are not an option for me. Good to hear someone shares my point of view.
Israel // December 17, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Now, do not misunderstand me. I am not a Luddite. I am not averse to electronics, just not to the exclusion of a human drummer and certainly not in the context of Jazz standards.
Vaughnette // January 7, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Hey pal
Good News. A new jazz club has opened in Port of Spain. It is great. Live music, great ambience.
Vaughnette // January 7, 2008 at 2:30 pm
The name is Satchmos. The staff are all named after jazz legends like Billie Holiday and Monk. A great place for musicians and lovers of jazz to hang out.
Israel // January 7, 2008 at 9:58 pm
That is really cool.
Oh how I wish that Vaughnette would check out that club, if she hasn’t already, and submit regular posts with her thoughts, pictures, artist line-ups and reviews etc. that I can put up on the front page.
And wait, wait, wait…I would so love it if she would also send me links of reviews or other stories on the club as published by Jazz journalists in the local media.
Say you will take me up on this.
Vaughnette // January 11, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Okay, okay, ah feeling guilty. I really should share the wonders of Satchmos with all the readers. I will head over there with my camera next time and give you as much information as I can. “Not too sure about the reviews and the “jazz journalists”, but I will try to facilitate it.
You’re good at working on people’s conscience Israel.
Israel // January 11, 2008 at 10:59 pm
You’re being too hard on me now Vaughnette.
The bit about the Jazz journalists has to do with online media reports that you happen to come across.
And concerning the Jazz club, I can tell you that there is a lot of interest in the Trinidad and Tobago Jazz scene. I can tell from the search terms that visitors use to get to the blog.
But yeah girl, write me something. But if you do not want to actually script the article, then just send me the information and your impressions along with the photos and I can put it together.
Deal?
Vaughnette // January 12, 2008 at 10:57 am
No problemo. I’ll do that. I know that Clive Zanda was on last night, I’ll keep you informed.
By the way, Im heading off to New York in April for the International Women in Jazz Festival. I’ve sent off an application to be part of the concert series. Even if I’m not selected I will still be going to take part in the workshops and stuff. Wish me luck………..
Israel // January 12, 2008 at 11:30 am
Guess what? Just this morning, I visited the IWJ website to see what’s up. Some coincidence eh? I hope they do put you on the line up. But if not, the networking you can do at the workshops will be just as fruitful.
Vaughnette // January 13, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Correct, the ladies are all so cool. Do you have any female musicians who are members?
Israel // January 14, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I take it you mean female musicians that I know about. Well, only two, Sheila Jordan and Judy Silvano.
Vaughnette // January 14, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Cool man, I did some workshops with Sheila, 79 and still as vivacious as ever, Im hoping to hook up with her when I go up but she is working on a recording with the greatest pianist Steve Kuhn, so I dont know how her timing will go. Her last duo CD with Cameron Brown on bass is a must have.
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