Tuesday June 2, 2015

Barbadian Saxophonist Joseph Callender took the audience ‘On the Other Side’ at his recent sunset concert at Frank Collymore Hall.

‘On the Other Side’ showcased Joseph’s amazing talents on the sax as he dazzled the audience with his original compositions and familiar covers, including made famous by Earth, Wind and Fire.

Backing Joseph were some of Barbados’ finest musicians from the 1688 Collective. Stefan Walcott on the 9′ Steinway, Petra Welch on drums, Jewel Morris on electric bass, with Mario Porchetta on percussion. The brass section with Mylon Clarke on tenor sax, Kewku Jelani on trumpet and Keron Prescod on trombone was the perfect compliment to Joseph’s alto sax and flute. For many, the highlight was Joseph’s duo with veteran Jazz pianist Ebe Gilkes on My One and Only Love

Thank you to all patrons who contributed very generously to support Joseph’s studies at Humber College.

Contributions to the Joseph Leo Callender Education Fund, Scotiabank, Rockley Branch, Account #810149, continue to be gratefully accepted.

You will not want to miss this jazz evening . . .

Canadian Jazz pianist Steve Koven is back in Barbados to perform with friends from the local jazz community. Tuesday February 17 Steve performs at Lobster Alive with the Roger Gittens Quartet. Jazz time 7pm. Reservations are a must!

Steve Koven is a composer, performer, producer and educator. In 1993 Steve established the Steve Koven Trio. The Steve Koven Trio performed in Barbados at The Waterfront Cafe. Steve has performed solo for audiences at the Frank Collymore Hall and done gigs with local musicians at many of the jazz venues in the island.

Aside from performing world wide with his trio, Steve also performs solo piano concerts throughout North America, Europe and the Caribbean. Dozens of Koven’s compositions have been licensed for national and international film and television productions. As an educator, Steve has been teaching in the Faculty of Music at York University since 2003, teaching Contemporary Improvisation and Jazz Piano. In addition, Koven also teaches Music at Toronto’s Centennial College. He holds a Masters in Music Composition and has presented master classes and clinics in Barbados, China, Japan, Colombia, The Bahamas and Mexico. Steve lives in Toronto with his wife Lee-Anne.

Neil Newton is a bass player, sound engineer, arranger and composer with a unique sound. His superior grooveability and amazing attention to tone and texture make him one of the most respected bass players in Barbados. He has played with notable artists and musicians such as Arturo Tappin, Kite, Stefan Walcott and Eddie Bullen, at local, regional and international events and festivals.

He joined with long time friends and colleagues David Carnegie and Stefan Walcott to form The Original Unit, a jazz trio that combined elements of Caribbean music, straight-ahead jazz, soul, electronica and free improvisation.

Neil continues to be very busy and much in demand; he can be seen playing at various events in a range of musical genres.

Don’t miss Neil and The Original Unit at Scoopie’s Jazz Club. Friday January 30 One night only

Naniki Barbados Music Festival presents . . .

Jazz in the City@ Frank Collymore Hall 

The 4th annual Honey Jazz concert takes place on Saturday, January 24 at Frank Collymore Hall.

The January concert is a fundraiser for the developmental Honey Jam program which provides performance, networking, mentoring and educational opportunities to young artists in Barbados.

An elegant evening of stellar live performances, the concert will feature some of the local vocalists from the popular Honey Jam show including Honey Jam Alumni: Gigi Ma’at, Rhesa Garnes, Debbie Reifer, Faith Callender, Ieashia Browne, Christina Dottin, Tionne Hernandez, Karina Goodridge, Jai Josee &Rhea Layne along with guests Kellie Cadogan, Lana Kirton with very special guest UK artist Heather Small of the group M People.

Share the appreciation of jazz with a new generation. Sponsor tickets for music students who may not be able to afford to attend this show. Support the Honey Jazz student ticket drive.

Please click on this link to see Honey Jazz highlights from their last concert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI9R-I_T83U

Support the Honey Jazz student ticket drive with your sponsorship of a ticket @ $50 each. Give the gift of jazz appreciation to the young generation.

For more information contact honeyjambarbados@gmail.com

January 27, 2014

“Jazz is about being in the moment”  Herbie Hancock

January is traditionally jazz month in Barbados.  BJS applauds Naniki Caribbean Jazz Safari and Honey Jazz 2014 for maintaining the tradition for keeping jazz alive in Barbados.

Tom Hinds of Naniki Caribbean Jazz Safari, brought jazz patrons 6 days of exciting jazz music with a Jazz Adventure in Barbados 2014 at Sea Rocks Dome, Harrison’s Cave, and the Naniki Amphitheatre. This thrilling jazz journey, now in its second year, included Barbados own, saxophonist Arturo Tappin, The Oscar Peterson Legacy Trio, Randy Weston, Mary Wilson of the Supremes in The Story of Lena Horn, and more at http://www.nanikicaribbeanjazzsafari.com/barbados-line-up/

Honey Jazz . . . ladies sing the blues promised an evening of sweet jazz and did not disappoint. Backed by musicians from the 1688 Collective, the ladies gave the audience just a taste of their amazing potential. View highlights from the show at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI9R-I_T83U.

Produced by Ebonnie Rowe, the Honey Jazz concert is a spin-off of Honey Jam Barbados, and a fundraiser for an artist development program that offers mentoring, educational, and showcasing opportunities for young female artists. www.honeyjambarbados.com

“People have taken time out of their day and spent their money to come sit down at a concert. And it’s jazz music-it’s not easy for them to get to it. I don’t want them ever to feel that I’m taking their presence lightly.” Wynton Marsalis

* Post prepared by Susan E. Bain