Category: BJS Events

“The sound of the orchestra is one of the most magnificent musical sounds that has ever existed.” – Chick Corea, American jazz and fusion pianist, keyboardist, and composer.

The week of July 1 through 6 was a jazzy week for students at All Saints Primary, Irving Wilson, Workman’s Primary, Cuthbert Moore Primary, and Combermere Secondary when the 1688 Orchestra performed at these schools on their 2013 ‘Fah De Children’ Tour. BJS sponsored transport expenses to the schools and lunch for band.  The Bajan Reporter

‘Fah De Children’ is a project of the 1688 Orchestra and Collective, a big band that includes steel pan. Formed by Barbadian composer and arranger Stefan Walcott, who is the bands artistic director, one of the band’s mandates is to take instrumental performances into spaces where live music is not normally found. In keeping with this mandate, the 1688 Orchestra conducts free concert performances at the island’s schools through the ‘Fah De Children’.

Tours started in 2011 in response to the lack of live instrumental music performances and music within the school system in Barbados.

The aims of the tours are to demonstrate the performance of acoustic instruments; educate student audiences on the important elements of music, melody, harmony, rhythm, and how they work in songs; display creativity through musical improvisation, and sensitize student audiences to the sounds of a large jazz orchestra.

The BJS is an organization of jazz lovers whose primary mandate is to support the development of the jazz art form in Barbados. The BJS sponsorship of the 2013 “Fah De Children” Tour further demonstrates the Society’s commitment to jazz education in Barbados, and follows the March 2013 donation of a bass amplifier to the Barbados Community College’s Music Program. The BJS recently participated in the UNESCO International Jazz Day celebrations with a very successful week of jazz activities and a live jazz concert at Divi Southwinds Resort that was live streamed to 194 countries.

Irving Wilson School - Teacher 'signing' to the students about the music

Celebrate International Jazz Day at the Divi Southwinds Beach Resort with the Barbados Jazz Society  with Steel Pan & Ivory  @ the Divi Southwinds Beach Resort in Barbados at starting at 7pm EST. View our webcast on

BJS joins UNESCO, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the Republic of Turkey, and jazz enthusiasts world-wide.

The concert from Istanbul will be broadcast @ 2pm EST at http://live.jazzday.com – it is also available via the YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/internationaljazzday

‘One Night Only’ was the perfect theme for this magical evening with saxophonist Andre Woodvine. Backed by The Original Unit, Woodvine took jazz patrons into new musical territory with his original compositions — in true Woodvine style, each tune had its own narrative.

Check out the evening with a Woodvine composition – ‘One of our beats is missing’ at http://andrewoodvine.blogspot.com/

The Original Unit was the perfect band for Woodvine’s arrangements –for showcasing his extraordinary ability with the tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, and the flute. The musical creativity of the popular Barbadian trio musicians brought the audience to their feet  . . .

‘One Night Only’ was the first event for 2013 for the Barbados Jazz Society. BJS thanks the Divi Southwinds Resort for partnering in this event.

Read the Natanga Smith review —The Nation February 1, 2013 – “Woodvine and Original Unit rock out in concert . . . and the band played and played”  One Night Only _Andre Woodvine Jan 26_2013

The Barbados Jazz Society partnered with the Barbados Cruising Club to celebrate with jazz pianist Ebe Gilkes on his 81st birthday.