November 2008 Buzzz: Cameron Pierre adds the spice of Jazz to DA’s WCMF

The World Creole Music Festival is the Commonwealth of Dominica’s premier music event in the calendar year.  Every year for the last thirteen years, the WCMF has brought together, on one stage, the top-most Konpas, Cadence-Lypso, Zouk, Bouyon, Soukous, Reggae and Calypso and all the derivative sub-genres.

These sub-styles have sometimes fused elements of Jazz into any of the foundation musics. Dominica’s Michele Henderson has done that with Cadence and Zouk.  Now, the creator of Bouyon Music and the force behind the immensely successful WCK Band, Cornell ‘Fingers’ Phillip, has entered the fray.

Eight years in the making, Phillip debuted the end product in this year’s twelfth edition of the WCMF at the Windsor Park Stadium in Roseau on closing night, November 02, 2008.

The music he performed live is captured on Philip’s first solo CD entitled ‘Interpretations.’  But on this night, Phillip commissioned a female singer, a pan player and a Jazz guitarist, all Dominicans, to present his interpretations of the WCK Bouyou cut “Balance Batty,” renamed “Balancé” on the CD; an original composition called “Fading Away” by Joy Stoutt, a back-up singer for Michele Henderson with embellishments by pan man Arthurton Martin; and the Jazz gem “River Breeze” featuring ace British-based guitarist Cameron Pierre.