Caribbean and Latin Jazz at the 10th Annual Barbados Jazz Festival - Part Two

Feature by William Farrington & Jefferson Jackman

  
   
The opening night's performance took place in the lush gardens of Sunbury House, a meticulously restored 300-year old plantation house, home to a historic collection of Barbadian Mahogany furniture.  On the opening night bill were two groups from Cuba.    
   

 

Fusion Sonero featuring [L to R] vocalist Anaisa Yarima, Salazar Turcas, Alexander Sanchez Martin, and flautist and bandleader Angel Salazar Reyes - Photo by Jefferson Jackman

  
   
First was a quartet led by the pianist Ernan Lopez-Nussa, known for his work with vocalist Sylvio Rodriguez.  The story his music told was rooted in Cuban rhythms, and inspired by listening to the recordings of Keith Jarrett, Oscar Peterson, the great Chucho Valdes and in particular Gil Evans. His intensely introspective style was balanced onstage by the showmanship of Don Terry Poncho on shekere and percussion. Completing the quartet were Oliver Valdes on bass and Jorge Reyes on drums.  The set began with a traditional danzon, moved into extended compositions based in cha-cha-cha and rhumba rhythms and also included the standard Bye Bye Blackbird before ending.   
   

Serafin Wilson Garcia on Vocals - Photo by Jefferson Jackman

 Angel Salazar Turcas on Vocals and Piano - Photo by Jefferson Jackman

 

  
Nussa was followed by Fusion Sonero, a traditional group from Santiago de Cuba led by composer and flautist Angel Salazar Reyes that featured his son Angel Salazar Turcas on piano and vocals and his daughter Anaisa Salazar Turcas on vocals.  Fusion Sonero, making their first international appearance, performed unadulterated Cubano and Afro-Cubano musicincluding mambo, son and rhumba.  In this music, the African and European roots were clearer yet the combination was uniquely Cuban.  
   

 

Fusion Sonero

  
The open air ampitheatre at Heritage Park was the site of the 'Best of Barbados' event the next night.  The innovative park lies amidst the sugar cane fields of St. Phillip.  The park includes a century old factory that houses a museum preserving the history of rum making and a modern distillery produces Four Square Rum from the surrounding cane.  The much anticipated event offered a chance to hear some of Barbados' most exciting musicians.  
 

     

  Artists left to right: Andre Woodvine on sax, James Lovell on drums, Andre Daniels on keyboards and Dave Wolcott on pan
   
Brought together in the first group were keyboard player Andre Daniels, saxophonist Andre Woodvine, James Lovell on drums, Dave Wolcott playing the steel pan drums and Rickey Aimee on bass.  Each of these musicians leads their own groups in addition to this special combo.   Woodvine premiered his  'Some Assembly Required' which as it's title implies, incorporated improvisation into it's composition.  James Lovell also contributed a piece titled "Like a sprooge' as did Rickey Aimey from his new release. The steel pan provided an compelling dimension to the music one that my ear had a problem sorting out.  
   

 
   Musicians left to right: Andre Daniels, Andre Woodvine, James Lovell, Rickey Aimey and Dave Wolcott
   
Asked about it's role in the Jazz context Andre Woodvine offered a musician's insights "I find the steel pan generally being used as a melodic instrument in jazz. There seems to be a tendency to have melodies played by both steel pan and sax at the same time either in harmony or unison.  Thinking about it, I don't think that I've heard steel pan being used in the same way that vibes or marimba are used in jazz  i.e. not only as a melodic voice but also as a rhythmic voice more in the rhythm section than out front. I wonder if the overtones of the steel pan are not as kind as those of the vibes/marimba family? Steel pans are notorious for cutting through any ensemble!

Andre Woodvine

  
   
It's interesting as a sax player to play with a pan player - I have to remember that they can't 'bend' notes".   
   

 

Rickey Aimey and Dave Wolcott

  
   
The second band was a group of veteran musicians assembled for the Best of Barbados event, several of whom had headlined in previous Jazz festivals.  The band members were Ian Alleyne on guitar, Eugene Barkley on Bass, David Burnett on drums, Andre Ford on pan and Miles Robertson on keyboards.  They approached the project with an energetic enthusiasm drawing on Caribbean roots music and improvisational jazz.  The concert began with an loosely composed jam and it continued with the energy of a jam session which the musicians clearly enjoyed.  The audience responded with enthusiasm in kind.  
   

Eugene Barkley on Bass

 Ian Alleyne on guitar
     

David Burnett on drums

Andre Ford on pan
   

 

Miles Robertson on keyboards

  
   

 

The music had the heat of a late night jam session a strong rhythm section and impassioned solos

  
   
After the concerts, there was plenty more music for Jazz lovers in clubs like Time Out at the gap, the Waterfront Cafe, and The Carenage Jazz Club an exciting new addition to Bridgetown nightlife which featured  Michael Boothman of Trinidad at it's premiere weekend.  Herbie Marshall the extraordinary guitarist from Guyana seemed to be everywhere sitting in with the Errol Bradshaw Project at Weiser's Beach Bar and popping later with Joseph Diamond's Smooth/Latin Jazz trio.  The St. Lucian guitarists, Carl Gustave and Michael Marciano, made an appearance at the Waterfront Cafe in Bridgetown.  
   

 

James Lovell on drumkit at The Waterfront Cafe, one of the premier nightspots that supports local musicians and artists, located at the Carenage in downtown Bridgetown

  
   

Herbie Marshall on guitar from Guyana.  His playing interprets the music from sources of Jimi Hendricks to Bob Marley.  Seeing what he can do with the guitar is an experience that left a lasting impression.  Here performing at Weiser's Beach Bar, but he can be seen at Georgetown's Sidewalk Cafe where he has a regular gig.

  
   

   
   

 

Mario Porchetta on percussion

  
   

 

 Errol Bradshaw runs the house band at the Waterfront Cafe in Bridgetown.  The group performs with many visiting artists.   We caught him here at Jazz on the Beach at Weiser's Beach Bar

  
   

 
   
   

Herbie Marshall playing at Time Out at The Gap sitting in with the Joseph Diamond Trio, a Smooth Latin Jazz group from New York that was in Barbados for the Jazz Fest

The Joseph Diamond Trio with Herbie Marshall
   
 

The Joseph Diamond Trio with Herbie Marshall