Sweet Southland Vibes November 23, 2015

Left to Right:  Kyle Noel, Charles Ryan, Tinika Davis, Damyon Alexander

Kyle Noel’s set was sweet and intense.  Charles Ryan added just the right treatment on bass and Damyon Alexander’s guitar accompaniment was inventive, relevant and in the true style of kaiso. A perfect match for the kaiso originals and standards Noel performed in his set.

EJC regulars were satisfied with yet another evening of beautiful, thoughtful, well played music.  I was glad to join in the opening piece, Andre Tanker’s Forward Home, listen to his duet with Natasha Joseph on Pan Night and Day and savour his performance of his originals, Swift Breeze, Yard of Love (a dedication to Earl Rodney) and Fly Away (dedicated to the memory of his brother).

This disciple of Earl Rodney represented the four sticks movement well. It was truly a gift to experience a piece of this young musician’s soul.

Thank you Kyle.

Chantal

Week 2 Pan Jazz Lime @The Jazz Studio November 17, 2015

Left to Right: Kyle Noel, Douglas Redon, Chantal Esdelle, Darren Sheppard.

We are all pannists but it was Darren who took the lead on his tenor pan this past Saturday 14th November.  Kyle played drums, Douglas Redon anchored us with his stellar bass playing and I did a pretty decent job on the keys.  We truly enjoyed supporting Darren’s intense, dexterous, powerful playing and ably added to the evening with solos of our own.

A handful of satisfied repeat EJC patrons shared in this experience.  Another opportunity for us to play, experiment and grow.

On Saturday 21st November Kyle Noel will share a few originals and his arrangements of a few Trinidadian classics. The first show is at 7pm and the second at 8.30pm.  Join us at the Jazz Studio, 51 Cornelio Street, Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.  Email <ethnicjazzclub@gmail.com> or call (868) 622-8062.

CE

A Jazz Spot… June 16, 2010

A note about Jazz & Fusion Tuesdays at La Casa de Ibiza, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, and the performance by Michael Germain and Destino Jazz on Tuesday 15th June 2010.

Michael Germain and Fred Absalom of Destino Jazz

Well maybe not just jazz.  Poetry, rock, alternative, calypso, anything live, could easily be found in the Casa de Ibiza’s weekly line up.  The Jazz Fusion Tuesdays, however, have been constant and consistent since February 2010.  The weekly showcase has featured familiar local Trinidadian jazz and fusion groups like Michael Boothman and friends, the Tabanca Blues Band, saxophonist Anthony Woodroffe, Raphael (Russell Durity, Winston Mathew, Wayne Guerra), Moyenne (Chantal Esdelle, Glenford Sobers, Douglas Redon, Donald Noel), vocalists Brenda Butler and Kay Alleyne backed by the likes of Ming, and newer additions to the jazz scene like Blue Culture, Mikhail Salcedo, and Dean Williams. The people who somehow have found out about the event and continue to get information about the line up are slowly beginning to trust that if they want jazz they can find it at Ibiza on Tragarete Road in Port-of-Spain, albeit on a Tuesday night.

Bassist Michael Germain trusted the strength of the Ibiza gig’s regularity when he arranged for his group, Destino Jazz, to perform this past Tuesday 15^th June.  Germain, having served as a perennial side musician for several musicians, most recently Ray Holman and Anne Fridal, formed the group to explore performing and arranging material that interested him.  His group of long-time members of the Trinidadian music scene; Patrick Johnson (keys), Andre Wallace (guitar), Vonrick Mayneard (drums), Billy Wong (percussion, Fred Absalom (sax), and vocalist Naomi, performed some such pieces ranging from Miles Davis’ All Blues to Jobim’s Chega de Saudade to Sade’s Smooth Operator.  Although the performance was not as tight nor the sound and role of each instrument as clear as, I’m sure, the musicians wished it could be, the audience was appreciative of the performance and remained engaged by the groove established by the congas and the bass.  The small audience of a few fellow musicians and close friends created an atmosphere that allowed the band to perform well.

Musicians, however, cannot, or rather, should not have to settle for appreciation and good vibes alone, we sometimes require money.  This last requirement is not usually fulfilled on the jazz night at Ibiza.  Occasionally younger artists like Blue Culture, Tony Woodroffe, and Kern Summerville seem to get a large enough audience to give themselves a reasonable honorarium but generally the Ibiza gig is not a financially rewarding one, especially for a six piece band.  This is not surprising since slim returns are usual and even expected by the musicians who perform in and the organizers of on-going jazz gigs in Trinidad and Tobago.  I speak from experience, having organized the Thursday night Jazz and Wine gig at the Kapok hotel for just over two years.  What the organizers of the Ibiza gig, Karl Doyle and Jean Marc Aimey, have managed to provide is a spot, a jazz spot for all musicians, albeit on a hard Tuesday night.  I wonder if it would be any different on a Friday?…

Staying Alive, Jazz night at the We Beat Festival in St. James June 10, 2010

Ray Holman

A few weeks ago the manager of 100.5WMJX, Keith Cadet, mentioned that, because of funding, the organizers of the We Beat Festival in St. James would have to cancel the jazz night.  He also expressed that it was something the radio station could not permit being a jazz, albeit smooth, station based in St. James, Trinidad and Tobago.  He then told me about the station’s action plan.  Simply put they were going to sponsor the jazz night and asked if, as a producer of one of the station’s programmes, I would be willing to perform with my group Moyenne.  Of course I said yes.  WMJX also approached Ray Holman and Jason Dasent to perform with their groups and so, the show went on this past Wednesday 9^th June 2010.

Jason Dasent’s (keys) trio included Richard Millien (drums) and Johann Chuckaree (tenor pan).  Ray Holman’s (double seconds) crew included Michael Germain (bass), Lancelot Nicholls (guitar), Kenneth Clarke (percussion), Joey Samuels (drums), and Ruth Osmon (vocals).  My group Moyenne consisted of myself Chantal Esdelle (keys), Kevin Sobers (tenor pan), Douglas Redon (bass), Darren Sheppard (drums).  The leader of Dasent’s party seemed to be Johann Chuckaree.  They started the programme with a few standards and then included some of Chuckaree’s original compositions.  Each individual was quite skilled and played so that we were reminded of it.  The result was that it was sometimes a bit loud.  I felt that this detracted from one’s ability to appreciate their work but I also feel that this early battle for space in their improvisation will change as the group continues to mature and they begin to listen to each other more.  Ray coolly delivered his usual strong cadre of original pieces and chucked in a Trinidadian standard in the form of Kitchener’s Pan in Harmony, and a U.S one in the form of All Blues.  Ruth Osmon sang the latter, one of two pieces she did with the group.  Moyenne closed the show and while it is wise for me to stay my tongue about our performance since, as I have often confessed, a musician is often their worst critic, I can share some of the comments we received after our performance from members of the audience and fellow musicians; “nice levels”, “melodic”, “you touched my soul”, “where are you playing next?”, and, the ultimate gauge for me, “how much are your Cds?” 🙂

Johann Chuckaree

Ruth Osmon

Ultimately the fact that this show happened is a triumph for Trinidad and Tobago’s musical culture.  We usually reach for the lowest common denominator and omit many offerings in the process.  My intent is to encourage WMJX and We Beat to decide to make this show a permanent fixture in the We Beat programme and to work towards it being sponsored enough to be free, as a community programme should be.

It was a “good” night June 7, 2010

Chantal Esdelle

Theron Shaw

Personal note about our (Chantal Esdelle and Moyenne) performance with Theron Shaw on Sunday 6^th June 2010

First of all I should start by acknowledging that it is almost impossible for a musician to be totally satisfied with her performance or, for that matter, be even mildly pleased.   So for me to notice during and after a performance that my playing has improved and that my approach to improvisation has matured is quite significant.  This awareness was the highlight for me at Moyenne’s performance this past Sunday 6^th June 2010 at the Carlton Savannah because this simple act of appreciating where I am and what I do, with the added elements of several rehearsals and a regular practice schedule, allowed me to enjoy the experience of creating and sharing my music.

The process of sharing began in our Moyenne rehearsals.  The members of Moyenne all signed on to this first concert in the Caribbean Jazz Festival series by giving their time, and resource, which included facilitating access to sound equipment at a ridiculously affordable rate.  Our guest, guitarist Theron Shaw, was just as supportive of the effort and committed to working on the music.  I feel that this all came through in our presentation, especially since we played original music from Terry’s and Moyenne’s independently produced albums.

Producing a concert for yourself or your group, even a cabaret style one, is never easy for an artist; the task should really be handled by someone else.  Sometimes though you have to do it to keep your chops up, keep your music out, and keep your name out there.  So, despite having to be the liaison with the Carlton Savannah food and beverage staff and electrical engineer moments before the show to rectify the blown lights and need for more chairs, the experience is still a rewarding one when you notice that the audience had a good time (evidenced not only by comments but CD sales), people are appreciative of the venue, the venue is appreciative of the business, and you were able to get some recognition and more work.

Kevin Sobers

Douglas Redon

Darren Sheppard