An evening of Caribbean jazz fusion music is being planned for June 19, when the TriniJazz Project presents its first concert and CD release at the Little Carib Theatre in Woodbrook, starting at 8 pm.
Produced by Michael Low Chew Tung—leader of long-standing fusion band élan parlé—the Project brings together some of T&T’s most sought-after musicians.
A release from the organisers said the involvement of artistes such as Vaughnette Bigford (vocals), Dean Williams (guitar), Anthony “Tony Paul” Woodroffe Jr (saxophone/flute), Rodney Alexander (bass) and Modupe Onilu (percussion) indicates that Trini jazz music is once again poised to take off into even greater heights.
Since producing his first album project in 2001, Low Chew Tung, aka Ming, has continued to delve into the endeavour quite consistently. This is not surprising, given that the first album, Kindred Spirits, went on to cop two wins at the 2002 New York Sunshine Music Awards.
As someone who is known to support the possibilities of local music and the potential of the growing industry, Low Chew Tung seized the opportunity earlier this year to record five of his musician colleagues.
Asked how the idea for the TriniJazz Project came about, the popular keyboardist said: “I found myself performing very often with my colleagues, both at home and abroad and discovered that a few of them didn’t have any of their self-composed material recorded and available for others to experience, enjoy…and to purchase”, he said.
“We agreed then to give it a try, and come Thursday we’ll be launching the CD comprising mostly original compositions and a couple re-interpretations of local classics.”
For local Caribbean jazz music lovers the list of musicians on the TriniJazz Project reads like a veritable who’s who on the circuit, requiring little introduction.
Each one of the five stands out as having distinguished themselves performing at festivals such as Jazz Artists on the Greens, Tobago Jazz Experience and the Steelpan and Jazz Festival to name a few.
Their combined talents on the recording, bolstered by the élan parlé rhythm section (with Mikhail Salcedo on steel pan), speak volumes for an anticipated soul-stirring live concert at the Little Carib Theatre, the organisers said.
The TriniJazz Project concert and CD launch takes place at the Little Carib Theatre on June 19. Showtime is 8 pm and complimentary cocktails will be served from 7.15 pm. Tickets are $100 and available at the Little Carib Box Office. For more information, call: 746-3956 or e-mail: parlemusik@gmail.com.