St. Lucia Jazz launches No. 21 (updated with May 05 action)

ST. LUCIA

LAUNCH OF ST. LUCIA JAZZ 2012

Original post, February 08, 2012

Update 2, May 02, 2012

On Thursday, January 26 2012, the twentieth edition of St. Lucia Jazz was launched live on radio and television – for the first time. Stakeholders of the festival gathered ‘in-studio’ at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa and Beach Resort on the Pigeon Island Causeway to await the much-anticipated announcement of the line up for the purportedly pared down event.

As background, St. Lucia Jazz actually started in 1991 as the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, as it was called then. It was – and still is – a marketing ploy to boost tourism in the off-season.

In the ensuing 20 years of its existence, St. Lucia Jazz has become a world-class event that has featured the biggest and heaviest names in Jazz, Cadence, zouk, reggae, pop, R&B and everything in between. Name them and they have been to (Anita Baker, Boys II Men, Kenny G, Rihanna, Santana) and performed at (Boo Hinkson, Luther Francois, Shane Ross, Teddyson John) St. Lucia Jazz.

Speaking at the launch, St. Lucia’s Director of Tourism, Louis Lewis stated that the country has “…every reason to be proud… It has not been an easy road. We have many challenges.”

Referring to the idea of carrying the launch live, the Director of Tourism rationalised that the goal was to “…reach out to people who cannot participate in the Jazz Festival.”

As for the festival, Director Lewis revealed that St. Lucia Jazz has now opted for a wider embrace of the so-called fringe events – he prefers to call them “community events” – by bringing together the ancillary community organisations that have produced those ‘outfests’ at venues in Castries, the East, South and elsewhere on the island under one banner, one festival, St. Lucia Jazz.

This fresh approach comes with some well-needed changes to the format, the point being that St. Lucia Jazz is no longer living up to the original objectives. To address this issue, a different track is proposed, one that focusses on a tighter festival. The result is a reduction in the number of acts to address the problem of the increasing length of the festival days. With shows ending as late as 10:00 pm at the Main Stage on Pigeon Island for instance, it is felt that the character of the national park has been so stultified as to eliminate the lure of a picnic  and the child and elderly-friendly atmosphere  it fosters.

Regarding the so-called Community Events like Jazz on the Square, it was noted that they have steadily outlived their usefulness. Singling out the Derek Walcott Square (Jazz on the Square), complaints abound that it is hot, parking is limited and the businesses in the area have not embraced it. Apparently, the surrounding business houses are harping on the noise and the perceived disruptions to their mercantile activities. So…the action has been moved to Pointe Seraphine just outside central Castries.

The St. Lucia Jazz producers claim to recognise that the Jazz Festival is not living up to the original objectives, hence the formation of a core group of people who were tasked with the responsibility of doing some brainstorming. They have concluded that the Jazz Festival is not living up to the original objectives and that the focus should be on tightening it up. Therefore, the decision was made to reduce the number of acts in part because the increasing length of the festival days has stultified the event.

As an added incentive for patrons interested in attending the weekend of concerts at Pigeon Island National Park and to cater to the high demand for an “up scale” VIP corporate experience that gives patrons a premium view of the stage, a Gold Pass is being reintroduced.

Looking further forward into the future, St. Lucia Jazz believes some bold steps need to be taken if for no other reason but to reinvigorate the festival and transit this marquee event to something that is more truly St. Lucian.

The expectation is that they will continue to enjoy the logistical support of the sponsors, particularly Platinum Sponsor, Digicel, which has just renewed its association with St. Lucia Jazz for a second three-year term. Digicel’s Country Manager for the Eastern Caribbean, Geraldine Pitt, told the launch party that Digicel is “excited to put on a show as never before” this year, stressing that their sponsorship is gratitude for the support of the St. Lucian people to the company. That relationship, she noted, strengthens the company’s resolve “to provide an avenue to market the event throughout the Caribbean… This is the commitment of Digicel!”

The launch was impressively choreographed and MC’d in spirited fashion. However, if I am afforded one pet peeve, it would have to be the appearance of Mervin Wilkinson and 1090 who was a waste of time, playing pop and reggae at the launch of a Jazz Festival.  The chatterboxes on Scruffy TV agree.

Now for the line up

OPENING: April 30: Mindoo Phillip

Moon River Jazz: (Canaries)

Tuesday, May o1: Ronald Tulle Jazz Project

JAZZ IN THE SOUTH (Labowi Promotions)

April 28: Coconut Bay Resort & Spa: Sisterhood (Barbara Cadet), Loula Trio featuring Ricardo Francois |April 29: Black Antz Jazz Combo, Rupert Lay Quartet, Etienne Charles

Tuesday May 01: Rudy John Beach Park – Cameron Pierre (Dominica/UK) featuring Fred Nicholas (Dominica) Ricardo Francois, Emerson Nurse (both St. Lucia); Miki Telephe (Martinique); Alibi (St. Lucia) featuring Richard Payne, Teddyson John and Francis John; Loula Trio featuring Ricardo Francois; Laborie Steel Pan Project (St. Lucia)

Thursday, May 03: Saint Lucia School of Music, Castries, 4pm – 7pm - Master class with Cameron Pierre, UK-based Dominican guitarist, a stalwart of the British jazz scene since the 1980s, who recently released his fourth CD, ‘Radio Jumbo’.  

Friday, May 04: Independence Square, Vieux Fort - Mushy Widmaier (Haiti); Alchimik’s (Guadeloupe) Cancelled; Sisterhood (St. Lucia)

Sunday, May 06: Coconut Bay Resort & Spa, Gil Tony’k (Martinique) featuring Tony Chasseur and Gilles Voyer; Sakésho with Andy Narell (US), Mario Canonge (Martinique), Michel Alibo (Guadeloupe) and Gregory Louis; Rupert Lay Qtet (St. Lucia); Black Antz Jazz Combo (St. Lucia)

Ocean Club Jazz: (Ocean Club, Rodney Bay, May 02-07)

Wednesday, May 02: St. Lucia School of Music Sextet

Thursday, May 03: Emerson Nurse Quintet

Friday, May 04: Carl Gustave Band

Fond D’Or Jazz: (Dennery)

Saturday May 05: Fond D’Or Nature & Heritage Park – Exile One, Arturo Tappin, Boo Hinkson, Derek Yarde Project

WATERSIDE JAZZ (Caribbean Events at Duty Free Pointe Seraphine, May 07, May 09, May 11)

Monday May 07:  - Clifford Charles, Frantz Laurac Quartet, Alibi featuring Richard Payne

Friday May 11: Nicholas Brancker

MAINSTAGE: (May 09-13)

Wednesday, May 09: Gaiety on Rodney Bay – Ronald “Boo” Hinkson

Thursday, May 10: Gaiety – Luther Francois followed by Mario Canonge

Friday, May 11: Main Stage, Pigeon Island National Landmark – Derek Yarde Project ‘DYP” – En Kweyol

Saturday, May 12: Pigeon Island National Landmark – Alison Marquis Nonet featuring Andy Narell

Sunday, May 13: all-star cast of Richard Payne (St. Lucia), Joel Widmaier and Jean Caze (Haiti), Sonny Troupe (Guadeloupe) and of the The Wespe Pour Ayiti Project; Hugh Masekela

Jazz on the Grill: (Fire Grill and Lounge Bar, Rodney Bay, May 07-09, May 11, May 14)

Monday, May 07: St. Lucia School of Music

Tuesday, May 08: Rob Zii & The Vibe Tribe

Wednesday, May 09: Carl Gustave & BMF Band

Friday, May 11: Luther Francois, Emerson Nurse Band

Monday, May 14: The Encore (Jam Session)

JAZZY RHYTHMZ: (JQ Rodney Bay Mall, May 07-11, May 14)

Tuesday, May 08: Boo Hinkson and Friends

TEA TIME JAZZ: (La Place Carenage, May 09-10)

Wednesday, May 09 – The Black Antz Combo

Jazz on the Bay: (Rodney Bay, May 04)

CARELLIE JAZZ, May 01: Carellie Park – Sisterhood, Ricardo “Ricky” Francois, Royal St. Lucia Police Band, Cornell Phillip

 

Her Favorite Shade of Yellow by Victor Provost – The Preamble

Ah, what a relief…a CD by a Caribbean Jazz artist that swings, I mean swings and swings really hard, straight up and straight ahead – no chaser. Not to discount any of the recorded works by Caribbean artists in the most recent past especially, I have longed to hear an attempt by anyone of our artists to place and pit our music against the gold standards of Jazz – Classic Jazz.

Check 1 for “Her Favorite Shade of Yellow” by pannist Victor Provost for he has.

There is the issue of  the rank and file unrecorded Jazz artists and upstarts from the English-speaking West Indies, not given to tackling Classic Jazz standards, Indeed they avoid it, opting to record strictly original material  that is more Smooth than edgy and familiar covers of sub-regional composers. Though commendable, this approach rarely succeeds in attracting critical acclaim beyond the white sands and pellucid waters of our tropical borders.

Some have baulked at my kind of thinking. I am nevertheless throwing out this challenge to the aficionados who do to think Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles, arguably the most prominent upstart from our neck of the woods today. He surveys the compositional minefield of traditional folkloric tales and Calypso and has excelled beyond all conceivable expectations. Add to that Charles’ involvement with Jacques Schwarz Bart’s Voodoo-Jazz Racine experiment.

Pick up the gauntlet and think Shirley Crabbe, a daughter of the British Virgin Islands, based in the US. Largely unknown at home (pun intended) in the Caribbean Sea, her debut album “Home” is trending stealthily upwards since its release in late 2011 to the point where it is being featured in the March issue of the acclaimed Down Beat magazine.

For perspective, think of Andy Narell, an American cum honorary Trinidadian whose solo work in the sphere of Calypso-Jazz and his collaborations, particularly with Mario Canonge, that have extended the range of the pan as a lead instrument from Calypso to French Caribbean rhythms and sensibilities. 

One horn, one voice, one pan…and another pan, Victor Provost’s.

Check 2 for “Her Favorite Shade of Yellow” by USVI’s own Victor Provost!

Go back in time to find yet more fine examples of Caribbean Jazz artists swinging their butts off or concocting fresh approaches to syncopation. The examples abound. The few I have given are not necessarily representative.

As for the Pan…the Steel Pan…the Steel Drum – call it what you will – it might be synonymous with calypso and light-weight tropical fare to some, and rightly so. But do not call on Victor Provost to perpetuate this stereotype for he is past that. He has in his debut CD “Her Favorite Shade of Yellow” mastered two originals, six standards and a reinterpretation of Bob Marley – with a walking bass line and then some .” It is not until track 8 that Provost even touches The Calypso, and that is it.

Mark you, if I were to ask Victor about that (and I will), he would probably say that “Her Favorite Shade of Yellow” was not a deliberate attempt to distance himself from Calypso-Jazz.  Rather, his song choices afford the steel drum a credible chance of garnering desperately needed prominence in the competitive Jazz market. Or is acceptance the word?

I’ve picked up the glove here, taken my challenge. That is what I think.  What do YOU think?

Paquito D’Rivera’s name graces Telluride Jazz Celebration this weekend (updated, August 07)

CUBA

The lineup for the 35th Annual Telluride Jazz Celebration, August 5-7, includes the esteemed Paquito D’Rivera whose life and career are a tribute to the many aspects of his talent – Latin, Jazz, Classical, Funk and beyond.

As Guest of Honor, Paquito D’Rivera, who has received ten Grammy Awards and numerous honours throughout his career, is performing with several artists, including harpist Edmar Castaneda, and in a special Jazz After Dark show with the Alex Brown Quartet – that includes the pianist’s brother, Zac on bass – which was held at the Elks Park Rainier Free Stage.

D’Rivera’s name graces the Telluride Town Park stage where Brown and Castaneda performed afternoon shows on August 05 before D’Rivera joined Brown’s quartet for their 09:00 pm set on the Rainier Free Stage.

D’Rivera appeared the next day, August 06, at his namesake Paquito D’Rivera Town Park Stage. Switching roles, the leader had a guest of his own in pannist Andy Narell all lined up for the late-afternoon card.

Notwithstanding internet connectivity difficulties, I caught the show very much on time.  Paquito D’Rivera’s guest, pannist Andy Narell was playing solo pan.  The leader joined Narell for a Classical conversation; the friendship between the two was palpable.

D’Rivera then played a Bossa tribute to Dizzy ‘Berks’ Gillespie at the top of his set. On this offering, D’Rivera’s clarinet was paired with the flugel horn. This segued to a bit of call and response with D’Rivera quoting the hook for “Salt Peanuts” and the crowd doing the rest vocally.

Prelude No. 3 was a tango, which for D’Rivera was reminiscent of Dizzy. D’Rivera introduced this piece as a reminder of Dizzy’s love for and appreciation of the music of “illegal aliens.” Of course, he was kidding, but it is true to say that Dizzy was a champion of extra-American music styles, foremost among which were those from Cuba and Latin America

In between, D’Rivera added a couple of Bebop covers, all with the Dizzy ‘Berks’ Gillespie’ signature over them.

Finally, D’Rivera introduced two young musicians, vocalist Veronica Swift and guitarist Ben Cruz, whom he met during the festival’s welcome party. They navigated their way through a pseudo-latin version of “All The Things You Are” (D’Rivera called it “All The Things WE Are”) and…and, well, “Bebop,” with an admonishment to his guests not to upstage him – and I would add, pan man Narell as well. (Israel, taken from live feed – Telluride)

While in Telluride, the Guest of Honor makes himself available for a Sunday, August 07 panel discussion at the No Wasted Notes Free Stage at Elks Park.

Headlining the Annual Telluride Jazz Celebration are Allen Toussaint and Rita Coolidge on the Sunday, Taylor Hicks and The Little Memphis Blues Orchestra on the Saturday and Tower of Power on opening night, Friday, August 05, 2011.

Additional Sources: Watch Newspapers, Telluride Jazz Celebration schedule