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2010 Festival PerformersLocal
International
Subject to change without notice.
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Fab 5, formed in 1970, is Jamaica's pre eminent popular band, whether measured by record sales at home, hits on the charts, frequency of engagements or major awards won over the years. Their twenty-one albums have been as successful as their singles, and their multi-award winning soca album "Yu Safe" was probably the most popular album produced in Jamaica in the decade of the '80s. Their most recent original reggae CD "Dugu-Dugu" once more proves the band’s versatility, while the follow-up to "Fab 5 Live... Part 2" has been outselling the original. A ska album "Fab 5 -- Ska Time" (the bands 21st album) is newly released and has been getting great reviews. The busiest band in Jamaica, Fab 5 are in great demand not only for concerts and dances but also in the studio where they are the leading creators of commercial jingles for radio and television, dominating the airwaves and earning a string of prestigious awards, including four golden microphones. They have been the chosen band for almost every national and state occasion since the mid-1970s. They have taken their authoritative brand of Jamaican music all over the world. They have shared bandstands with many of the great and famous names of modern popular music, including: Ray Charles; Dizzy Gillespie; the Grateful Dead; Rick James; Linda Ronstadt; the Neville Brothers; Roberta Flack; Fats Domino; Peter, Paul & Mary; Joe Jackson; The Chi-Lites; Skeeter Davis (with whom they are currently working on a recording project); the Drifters; Miriam Makeba; Bob Marley; Jimmy Cliff; Marcia Griffiths; John Holt; Freddie McGregor; Judy Mowatt; Ken Booth; Chuck Jackson; The Mighty Sparrow; Aretha Franklin; Gladys Knight; Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes; Jerry Butler; the Manhattans; Ray Goodman & Brown; and the Delphonics. They have performed at the Kool Jazz Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Festival and for Japansplash and have entertained a live audience of one million at an anti.nuclear concert in New York's Central Park. They have triumphed not only with the music of Jamaica but also with their own compositions of soca, the music of the Eastern Caribbean. At different times and in diverse settings, they have enchanted audiences with soul, funky, rock, jazz, disco and classical music. Musicianship, dedication, integrity and discipline are the hallmarks of Fab 5, who have earned and retained the respect of the music industry, critics and general public over the past thirty-one years and are all set for continued success in the future. The band comprises three 1970 foundation members . manager Frankie Campbell (bass); Harold (Jr) Bailey (guitar, flute and saxophone now part-time) and; musical director Grub Cooper (drums and lead vocals), as well as - Sidney Thorpe (keyboards), 1979; Donovan Lee Palmer (Keyboards), 1991; Samuel Grant (trumpet); Romeo Gray (trombone); and Glenroy Samuels (guitar) all 1995. [to top] |
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Kathy Brown, standout Jamaican pianist, jazz instrumentalist and medical doctor, routinely captivates audiences with pleasing jazz arrangements and delightful piano riffs The Aries born musician, who, incidentally, has an academic familiarity with the French language, plays with verve or, as the French says, joie de vivre, with energy and love of life. And the reviews confirm these sentiments. American Christopher Porter, writing in the reputable Jazz Times, described the pianist's 20-minutes performance at Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival 2005. "The multitalented Dr. Kathy Brown, a jazz and reggae pianist, played a really fun but too-short set, mostly consisting of standards such as 'Caravan' and 'Afro Blue'." Two years later, on the same international show, and on a night headlined by American contemporary jazz vibist Roy Ayers, Jamaican Gleaner newspaper writer Adrian Frater noted, "Although not attracting top billing, it was the charismatic and musically charged Dr. Kathy Brown who stole the spotlight as the 2007 Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival ended its two-night stopover at the Half Moon Shopping Centre in Montego Bay." Routing her way to Jamaica's biggest jazz festivals, inclusive of the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival and, more recently, the Port Royal Music Festival, the pulchritudinous pianist made stops at smaller shows and venues, for instance the Jamaica Pegasus' Jazz in the Gardens, and Jazz on the Green series, Red Bones Blues Café, Christopher's Jazz Cafe and other shows repetitively. The jazzy MD's musical journey took her into the operations rooms of some veritable Jamaican recording studios, including Marley's Tuff Gong, where, after a succession of setbacks and a near miscarriage owing to a crashed computer disc, she delivered the labour-intensive first CD aptly named Mission: A Musical Journey. The 9-track CD features clever interpretations of great works of jazz and reggae standards, for example, Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage, and Bob Marley/Peter Tosh's "Get Up, Stand Up". But, it also contains Brown's own compositions, "Mission" and "Latin Groove". Kathy Brown’s CD, according to a Jamaica Gleaner review, captures many of the influences on her personal journey from the classical and folk music she heard at home [in the early days] through to the African and Latin music she reached out and grab from US record stores. Ever since she walked into the Phillip Sherlock Centre for Creative Arts on the University of the West Indies (UWI) campus in Kingston, Jamaica and heard jazz for the first time, and since Jill Gibson, master piano tutor at the Jamaica School of Music, imparted to her the preliminaries of jazz piano, Brown whet her awareness listening intently to Bob James, Joe Sample, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock's earlier works, Chucho Valdes, Monty Alexander, Kenny Barron, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Michel Camilo to name a few influences. Kathy Brown, who founded her jazz band, Kathy Brown & Friends, in March 2002, categorizes her style of music as World [Beat]; music that people anywhere can appreciate. She makes the point, "It is not just jazz, reggae or pure anything, it is true crossover that reaches out to different music style, and [so] people around the world will most certainly appreciate it". Long becoming a staple on the jazz circuit at home, the multi-genre pianist, from the outset, envisioned doing live performances beyond her island shores. "I am more about live performing [and] for this reason I want to take my music outside of Jamaica to places like New York, Canada, Europe, Japan and Africa". That intense yearn to perform overseas was duly accomplished, and to great success, on August 5, 2007 when the Jamaican jazz pianist gave a scintillating one-hour performance at the Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto, Canada. Undaunted by the events of a maiden overseas performance, and supported by a band only just acquainted with her music, Dr. Kathy Brown entranced the large turn out of West Indians, Canadians and tourists in attendance at the weekend-long Island Soul Festival. There, broadcaster Ken Stowar, host of Global Rhythm on University of Toronto radio station CIUT 89.5 FM, in a live radio broadcast/webcast during the performance, described Kathy Brown's 60-minutes set succinctly, "A wonderful one-hour performance". The CIUT program director added, "Everyone seemed to have been listening very intently... they were paying extra close attention to Dr. Brown". It started at age 5, little Katherine Brown, the daughter of UWI lecturers, was relentlessly deluged with classical and folk music at home in mid-island Jamaica. Then, she was already singing and whistling before tiny fingers pattered the unignorable family piano. "I grew up in a home where the sound of music was ever-present, on tapes, on LPs and you hear your father playing [piano] downstairs, and older sisters were also playing". Almost naturally, the little girl sidled to the piano and began to play by ear even before being signed up for lessons in classical piano. Growing up, that insatiable drive to master the instrument led Brown to pursue music as elective in High School (Jamaica) Ivy League College (USA) and during her medical studies at the University of the West Indies. Quick to differentiate between the medical and music careers, the tenacious keyboard player has definitively defined her music and sound. "My music is definitively a crossover between jazz and indigenous forms of music whether it be reggae, Latin and afro-Brazilian styles". Yet, it is as a consummate jazz pianist, with or without her Friends band, that she shines brightest, evidence by the rave response of the Jamaican audiences and the media. Supplementary to Brown's solo gigs are two constant companions, the Kurzweil K2500X and her Roland KC-500 amplifier that provide musical karma to many a corporate, weddings and other social events. Extra-curricular to making a living as pianist and medical doctor is her multifunctional role as a musician, singer, and arranger with the highly acclaimed University Singers and, simultaneously, training the EQS Baptist choir. Kathy Brown, whose resumé includes sharing the stage with Jamaica's great guitarist Ernest Ranglin, famed trumpeter Mickey Hanson, Japanese multi-reedist Hiroaki Honshuku, and veteran bassist, producer Glen Browne, is an intensely passionate and exceptional jazz pianist who seeks to make her own name outside of homeland Jamaica. Consequently, since Toronto, Kathy Brown's musical journey searches for a pathway to perform in places like New York, Europe, Japan, and Africa, even as the other major Jazz and Music Festivals of the Caribbean (St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, Tobago) remain a destination yet to be traveled. [to top] |
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Feeling the rhythm with each tap, drummer Desi Jones speaks to his audience with each performance. A musical son of Sonny Bradshaw, Jones is also a key member of the popular backing band Skool. Although an expert drummer, Jones began his musical journey with a recorder at the Institute of Jamaica Junior Centre. It was at the centre that he first discovered drums - the conga drums - under the direction of his teachers Mackie Burnette and Mr. Lewis. His love for drumming came from watching other drummers while growing up. "Locally, my mentors were Calvin McKenzie, Tony 'JJ' Smith and Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace. Like most drummers in Jamaica I was also influenced by Sly Dunbar, whom I consider to be the greatest rhythm innovator from Jamaica. While a member of the Salvation Army Kingston Central Corps I was taught the trombone by Bandmaster John Mills. While in the Salvation Army band the young people started a gospel/ pop/reggae band and I became the drumset player," Jones said. However, his biggest break came when he joined forces with trumpeter Sonny Bradshaw. "At CARIFESTA 1976 in Jamaica I was introduced to Mr. Sonny Bradshaw by Dean Fraser. I was playing congas for the Eddie Thomas Dance Group at the festival and the drummer for the Sonny Bradshaw Seven met in an accident. Sonny took the chance and allowed me to play for the band that day. Later in the year I was offered the job and I took it," Jones said. Wide range Musically, Jones' style runs the range of reggae, jazz, Latin and Jamaican traditional beats. It was this diversity that led him to playing with the Skool Band since 1988. Skool has provided backing for numerous artistes, one of the main ones being the legendary Jimmy Cliff with whom they have travelled the world. Jones says that he has toured all continents except for Antarctica, gaining inspiration along the way. "I get inspiration from the knowledge that with just a simple beat I can make people dance. The drums can also make a person's mood change from joy to sadness," he said. With that in mind, Jones strives to continue improving his technique day by day, since music is his passion, having never wanted to pursue another course. According to Jones if you have the passion and drive for music then go for it; strive for the best. Although he has never released a solo album, Jones, say he has "produced, arranged and played on a number of CDs for Mutabaruka, Carlene Davis, Peter Ashbourne, Skool Band and (the album) The Art Of Reggae Drumming". Jamaica Gleaner : Sunday | June 24, 2007 |
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Born on the island of Trinidad in 1983, Etienne Charles defies easy musical categorization. Etienne's musical lineage runs at least four generations deep: His great-grandfather, Clement Monlouis, emigrated to Trinidad from the overseas French department of Martinique bringing his folk music to the village of Mayaro; The young trumpeter's grandfather, Ralph Charles' distinct cuatro style can be heard on the classic folk and calypso recordings of the Growling Tiger; and, Etienne's father, Francis, was a member of Phase II Pan Groove, one of Trinidad's most progressive steel bands and one that Etienne himself would later join. Immersed in his father’s vast record collection, and suffused with the sounds of calypso, steel pan, and African Shango drumming, Etienne imbibed many of the influences that presently constitute the diverse colors of his harmonic palette. An alumnus of the prestigious Juilliard School, Charles has received critical acclaim for his exciting performances, thrilling compositions and a knack for connecting with audiences worldwide.
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Inducted into the Jamaican Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997, Marjorie Whylie has devoted her life to exploring and expanding on the musical roots of her homeland. Her compositions, which include "Mountain Women," "Ni Woman of Destiny," "I Not I," "Blood Canticles," "Drumscore," "Caribbean Canvas," "The Black Widow," and "Journeys Beyond Survival," are a pastiche of indigenous Jamaican folk, African polyrhythms, European art music, and classic jazz. The one-time acting director of the music department at the University of the West Indies, Whylie is the leader of the National Dance Theatre of Jamaica singers, for whom she arranges song suites and composes interludes and music for dance choreographers. She has worked extensively with artistic director Rex Nettleford, composing and arranging such full-scale masterpieces as "Myal" and "Gerrehbenta." A much-respected musicologist, Whylie has lectured and conducted workshops in England, continental Europe and North America and judged music competitions in the Eastern Caribbean. In addition to performing with the Whylie Wrhythms Band, Whylie continues to play solo piano and sing in prestigious Jamaican hotels. ~ Craig Harris, All Music Guide [ back to top ] |
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Myrna Hague is a singer, actress, journalist, vocalist with the Jamaica Big Band and the Jazzmobile, member of the board of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, past tutor of the Jamaica School of Music and winner of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union Song Festival 1990. Myrna has won the Jamaica Music Industry Award for jazz several times as well as the Jamaica Federation of Musicians Award and Special Merit Award, 1993. Myrna has made numerous television and radio appearances as well as international tours including the Birmingham International Jazz Festival. She has also appeared with Andy Hamilton, Kenny Baker, Ernie Ranglin, Monty Alexander, Branford Marsalis and Dizzy Reece to name a few. Photo by Winston Sill/Freelance photographer [ back to top ] |
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The Antelope Valley Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Lee Matalon, is a tightly rehearsed and swinging band whose talents have been a fixture at the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival for many years. [ back to top ] |
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Joe Sizemore and Friends returns this year for their sixth appearance in the Ocho Rios Jamaica Jazz Festival. Mr. Sizemore's first trip to Jamaica, some thirty years ago, was with one of his student groups, the North Carolina All-Stars, where he met Sonny Bradshaw. They shared ideas on music education, jazz, student travel, and Sonny encouraged Joe to continue in music education. Twenty years later Joe returned to Jamaica to participate in one of Sonny's eight day festivals with his award winning high school jazz ensemble. Mr. Sizemore continues to support Sonny's dream by conducting clinics at the Alpha Boys Home and other school music programs. "I like to bring my professional musician friends and former students to work with young musicians and to entertain our many Jamaican friends and fans. It's always like coming home," says Joe. He often schedules a charity performance at Evita's Italian Restaurant in Ocho Rios to help local school bands. Mr. Sizemore has performed with R&B legends Percy Sledge, Archie Bell, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, to name a few. He has shared the stage with international artist Sonny Bradshaw, Byard Lancaster, Clifford Murphy, Barbara Walker, Ginetta's Vendetta and Jamaica's Fab Five. Joe will return as host for the 2010 Ocho Rios venues with several of his friends and musical guests. Here are a few:
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Jamaican guitarist Seretse Small, in 2007, celebrates 20 year as a professional musician. Music, in general, guitar artistry, in particular, began for him as a student at the Jamaica School of Music later he would attend Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory of Music in the United States. His greatest learning experience, however, comes outside curriculum cutting his teeth in live performances in reggae and jazz. While Seretse spent the past three years on a world tour with Grammy-winning reggae artiste Sean Paul, it is as a jazz guitarist that he made his own name in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. He has performed the major jazz festivals in Jamaica, Grenada and St. Lucia. A Caribbean man indeed, Seretse Small grew up in Jamaica by multi-cultural, artistic parents. Mother Jean Small, a poet, linguist/actress from Guyana, and his father, a musician from Trinidad, both endowed the guitarist with a wealth of Caribbean history to draw on in his music. He was exposed from an early age to a very Africianist perspective, having been grounded among persons, such as poet Michael Smith, legendary guitarist Ernie Ranglin and dub poet Mutabaruka, men who understood art. Listing his main influences as Earl Klugh, George Benson, Van Halen and Al Di Meola, Seretse attested that his mentor Jasper Adams coached him in the music of the greats and in understanding the greatness of the Caribbean people. Initially learning to play the guitar from his father, Seretse claims that it was not his instrument of choice; neither does he see himself as a gifted guitarist. "I tell people I'm not a guitarist, but they think I'm an amazing guitarist," he said. Not only gifted as a guitarist, Seretse has also done extensive teaching, music publishing and storytelling. "I am devoted to communicating the heart and soul of Caribbean people," he said. Seretse sees himself as a griot, a West African term for 'storyteller', hence the name of his publishing house, Griot Music, which he repositioned following the grueling Sean Paul tour. The guitarist realized the potential in starting a music-publishing firm after a stint in the United States. He noted, "The side of publishing I'm concerned with is the creative side, nurturing young persons, developing their songwriting skills, giving these persons a forum through which to express themselves". Not only is Griot Music fulfilling its core functions but also the company was recently elected as the National Coordinator for the Global Battle of the Bands. The guitarist formed his own band, Seretse and the True Democrats - Wendell Lawrence (drums), Karl Gibson (bass), and Ozou'ne (keyboards) and they are presently working on their first album. Back in 2000, however, Seretse Small recorded a one-man, acoustic guitar CD that he aptly titled Silo Sessions, a recording done in a Silo on farm in New York. The high-achiever who has also appeared as a featured artiste on BET Jazz, is currently well away in establishing his own live studio and in addition to hosting his Tuesday Night Live shows at Christopher's Jazz Café, in Kingston, Jamaica he host a live music show on Jamiaca's News Talk 93 FM radio. Seretse Small, amazing jazz guitarist, entrepreneur who captivates audiences with every performance describes his sound as "very sensual, orgasmic and intensely improvisational". [ back to top ] |
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Mr. Martin began his musical career as a student of the Alpha Boys School. After graduating from Alpha, he joined the Jamaica Military Band where he served for three (3) years, before becoming a member of Carlos Malcolm and the Afro-Jamaica Rhythm Band. Mr. Martin subsequently served for two years with Sonny Bradshaw's Big Band. With this wealth of experience, Mr. Martin went on tour with the Vagabonds to England where he spent several months performing gigs in clubs and theatres. On his return to Jamaica in 1964 he started his own band, Sparrow Martin and the Happenings. He would later start the Alpha Sonics in 1994, as a consequence of his special blend of talent and altruism to provide employment for graduates and Unity Gospel Band in 2006. In the summer months, Mr. Martin tours with the Jamaica All Stars chiefly to Europe. Mr. Martin is a multitalented Musician who plays a range of instruments with equal fervour including the trumpet, drums, keyboard and all percussion instruments. He is currently Band Master/Musical Director at his Alma Mater, Alpha, a tradition upheld by the school to recognize its own by appointing graduates to this position. Mr. Martin has held the position since 1989. [ back to top ] |
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I am a home-grown Canadian, born of West-Indian heritage and my second passion is singing. The church has been my first concert stage and remains an important part of my ministry. I love to sing to all types of audiences and my aim is to draw every single person into each ministry opportunity and performance with honesty, humility and gratitude for each time I am allowed to sing again. I truly love to sing, but it is second to touching the hearts of people as I sing and to have them enter into that place of peace and tranquility and hope that comes when you truly listen and embrace the meaning of the lyrics that are presented in each song. When I love the music and rhythms of some songs and find that some of the lyrics may not be completely appropriate for a certain genre, I simply adapt the lyrics so that the beautiful melodies can be enjoyed and appreciated by all. Singing to all cultures, ages, and to folk in all stages of life and situations has kept me humble and sincere and I love the joy and satisfaction that is shared with me during and after each performance and knowing that the music has touched lives. I aim to keep my interpretation of music unique and specifically tailored to each event and chose to classify my flavour as G U C C C I – Gospel, Urban, Classical, Contemporary, Country and Inspirational and am very pleased to be the recipient of four awards for my vocal presentations and participation in competitions. I have written and co-written some original material and have recorded some of these songs. Jazz has always been an intriguing genre of music for me and I frequently enjoy inserting and delivering some raw jazz interpretations into my repertoire. I love working in studio but I am completely energized by the challenge that is generated during my many live performances. I have a very extensive repertoire and I try to keep on top of what is required to continue singing for a very long time. Musical Awards and Competitions Festivals I have been the special musical guest for several churches in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Florida and New York and at Conferences, Corporate and Private Functions and I have also had the privilege of sharing the stage with groups along with Ron Kenoly, Alvin Slaughter, Carlene Davis , and King Arthur, both nationals from Jamaica. I was also honoured to be the vocalist to serenade Gold Medallist ,Melaine Walker when she was being honoured in Ottawa. [To top] |
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Kingsley Ettienne began his musical career as a child in his native Grenada, singing in church. After seeing the great Jimmy Smith perform, Kingsley was inspired to start playing the Hammond B3 organ and one of the Caribbean's leading talents emerged. [To top] |
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Harold Davis 'moonlights' with music Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer HAROLD DAVIS is to a concert what the composite of a pilot, chief flight attendant and ground staff would be to an aeroplane. From his perch behind the keyboards, normally set up front and right of the band, facing the audience, Davis is as much compere as singer and musician, charting the course of the set, providing in-flight information and keeping the musical passengers happy. In fact, it may be a matter of passing on his own happiness, as before he sings, many times while he sings and definitely after he sings, Harold Davis wears a near beatific smile. And to go with smile and song are often quips that prompt laughter from musicians and spectators alike. He would, apparently, have it no other way. "Me firmly believe music is a communication tool. If you not communicating you not doing anything. If you not changing someone's mind and attitude at a particular moment positively, yu nah do nutten," Davis tells The Sunday Gleaner. His dismissal of the school of thought that the higher a musician is over the heads of the listeners the more elevated his or her status, is not the almost reflexive 'studiration beat education' response of the defiantly unschooled. STARTED AT AGE SEVEN Like his brothers, one older the other younger, and an older sister, Davis started the Royal Music programme at seven years old, doing violin and trumpet along with piano and going up to grade six. And his practical attitude to customer satisfaction should serve him well in his other job, as executive director of the Jamaica Business Development Centre on Camp Road, St. Andrew. "I am good at what I do in the day and I enjoy it. I am blessed to have two strong professional interests that I love. What I love about what I do in the day is that I get to help people develop," Davis said. Even before the night and day jobs, the moonlight and daylight activities respectively, had a comfortable relationship in Davis' life, he was balancing music and academics. Music has been a constant through Harbour View Primary, Excelsior High, EXED (where he also eventually taught maths and biology) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), from which he graduated with an industrial engineering degree in the late 1980s. ARRANGED MUSIC Although the programme was not as structured as it is now, "performing arts were always a big part of EXED life", Davis said, remembering Richard Ffolkes and Derrick Barnett among those who 'passed through' in the earlier days, as well as Ruff Kut band member Nigel Staff, gospel music producer and keyboard player Dennis Rushton and producer Stephen 'Lenky' Marsden among the students when he was a teacher. At one point he was musical arranger for the St. Andrew Folk Singers, founded at EXED. "Right through I have been involved in one group or the other," he said. Music education also continued, as while a student at EXED Davis did Contemporary Jazz and voice training at the School of Music. After a year on the UWI's Mona campus it was off to St. Agustine and more music. "In Trinidad we took the campus music to another level," he said. And, naturally, the beat of the steel pan was added to the reggae of 'yard', the jazz of the School of Music, the reverential music of church and the classical of the Royal Music School training. "Wha! I am a soca baby. You can't go to Trinidad and not absorbed in the soca. I must say that the fast one is not my thing. I like the melodic ones," he said, naming Kitchener, Rudder and Shadow among his favourites. The Trinidad experience came in handy back in Jamaica when, as a part of the band E=MC2, Davis played in the Oakridge Carnival as that wound down in the mid-1990s. Many years earlier, as the 1980s began, he was tapping to a more overtly worshipful beat as part of the Musical Mandate outfit, doing reggae gospel on the United Church circuit all over the island long before rockers were accepted through the Pearly Gates. Jazz became a larger part of Davis' life when he moved to Mandeville in 1988, after returning from Trinidad, and as part of Mandeville Jazz played monthly at Merrymakers (now Fayors Entertainment Centre). On returning to his home city in 1992 and forming E=MC2 "that's when the cabaret career really started", with regular dates at north coast hotels. There was also a trio that played on Wednesdays at the Hilton. Stints in Sweat, playing "for a whole heap of artiste at Sunsplash", with Sonny Bradshaw's Big Band ("Sonny is an excellent teacher") and Errol Lee and the Bare Essentials added to the reggae of 'yard', the jazz of the School of Music, the reverential music of church and the classical of the Royal Music School training. And still, with all this music, it was still a matter of balancing daylight and moonlight, Davis being a full-time musician for only about 18 months after coming back to Kingston from Mandeville. HOUSE-BOUND Another kind of moonlight came into the picture as one millennium slipped into another when Davis found himself house-bound in December, which would normally be the busiest month for a performer. "I said I needed to provide an avenue where I could perform that did not have the pressures of a commercial gig, an avenue where you can perform and relax and jam with your brethrens," he said. A call to Ed Gallimore secured a frontyard venue and 'Moonlighting' was born. Among those on that first concert were John Jones, Marjorie Whylie, Leonie Forbes, Pat Gooden, Christine Fisher, Myrna Hague, Ian Hird and, of course, Davis. The response at the "very impromptu" concert was tremendous and it became an every other month affair, held on the Sunday closest to when the moon made a full target for the howls encouraged throughout the night by (who else?) Harold Davis. "Because of the relaxed atmosphere you got the best performances," Davis said. A full moon also brought on a full heart and, as the event grew, "we decided to do something more with it". The performers chose a charity and donations were made from money given voluntarily by audience members at the free event. The Red Cross, Optimist Club and Music Department at the Salvation Army School for the Blind were among the recipients. "As it grew costs were incurred. We decided to charge, make it more formal, make it more structured," he said. One thing which did not change, though, as the concert series stopped roaming from various frontyards at settled at Devon House's east lawn, was the standard of performance. "One thing we maintain at 'Moonlighting', the quality of the entertainment has to be at a certain level," Davis said. The first trip to the new venue was in late 2002 and on May 14 'Moonlighting' returned there, beginning a four-concert stint across the island with concerts in Mandeville, Montego Bay and, in December, back in Kingston again. The charity effort this time is establishing music therapy in various institutions. GREW UP IN THE CHURCH Harold Davis, who despite being on the first of the Jamaica Pegasus' 'Jazz In The Gardens' series, still does not consider himself a jazz musician, has some musical treatment to adminster to himself, a refresher of sorts at the School of Music a distinct possibility. "The things I would like to hear myself play, I don't hear them yet," he said. There is one place, though, where the music goes to a higher audience. "I grew up in the church and my mother still gets me to play (at St. Boniface Anglican, Harbour View) every Sunday. It is still a very, very important part of my life," Harold Davis said. [To top] |
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Saxophonist Tony Greene's life has been one long musical journey which started at the Alpha Boys' School in 1971. That journey continued in 1990 when he made the decision to make a solo run on his trusty horn. The result was his first album, "Grooving Sax", followed by "Mean Greene" in 1995. With these 2 albums, Greene stayed close to home with instrumental, reggae-type songs. In 2000, Greene went to his roots for a more rounded sound on his third album, "Square from Cuba". This one has a strong Latin feel as can be heard on Greene's covers of classics like "Papa Love Mambo" and "La Bostella". But, Green is quick to point out, "It still has a reggae flavour, it can be marketed anywhere". Soon after completing his successful CD, "Square from Cuba", Tony Greene turned his efforts to recording his fourth - a 13-track Christmas reggae album, "Blessed", which was released in October, 2001. His fifth album, "Evolution", was released in March 2003. Of the 14 tracks, 4 are Tony Greene-originals. In his liner notes, Bunny Goodison writes, "..." Evolution" features the exquisite and lyrical saxophone stylings of Mr.Tony Greene..." Greene's eclectic taste should come as no surprize. He learned the musical ropes at the Alpha Boys' School, an institution that blessed Jamaica music with fellow hornsmen Tommy McCook and Don Drummond. Greene developed his horn technique during a six-year stint in the Jamaica Military Band while in the military. Upon joining the Bare Essentials Band, Greene immediately embraced the pop culture, before moving on to the jazz-based Sonny Bradshaw Seven After a stint with Bradshaw, Greene again switched gears to the roots movement when he signed up with the Roots Radics unti who were then backing a rising singer named Gregory Isaacs. As part of singer, the late Dennis Brown's official band, Greene has helped to break reggae in areas where the music was unknown. But, it was with Lloyd Parkes and We The People Band that Greene had made the most impact, until he departed in May, 2001 to pursue his full-time solo career. Commencing in 1976, Greene continued to find time to record with a number of leading reggae artists including the renowned Riddim Twins, Sly and Robbie, on whose Grammy-winning "Friends" album he played; Gregory Isaacs; the late Dennis Brown; Jimmy Cliff; Sugar Minott and Freddie McGregor - just to name a few. Tony has shared the stage, providing musical accompaniment, with international artistes, including Aretha Franlin, Lou Rawls and Gladys Knight & The Pips. He has showcased his atistry from Norway to Africa and from the United States to Japan Today, Tony Greene, along with Mallory Williams, and other musicians, is reaping success on his own as the Tony Greene Quartet. [To top] |
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Mary Isaacs, a native Jamaican, has had a single dream since childhood – to sing her island’s unique music on stages across the world. [To top] |
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Mickey Hanson's accomplished music career spans the past four decades. A self-taught musician, he learned to play the trumpet at the age of 16, and soon attracted the attention of the popular bands that were playing the live music circuit during the sixties. Hanson took to the stage with the Presidents (1963-67) and the Cascades (1967-70) before spending several years (1973-1977) under the tutelage of the great American composer, arranger and trombone player Melba Liston at the Jamaica School of Music. His talent earned him a place by her side as a colleague on her tour of schools, colleges and university music departments in Pennsylvania and New York in 1975. On his return to Jamaica, Hanson took a five-year stint at Kingston’s New Kingston hotel which he credits as the genesis of his solo career. Between 1979 and 1984, he and the Caribs band kept the city's nigh crowd jumping at the Johnkanoo Lounge, then Kingston's premier night club. As his success with the public grew, his fans called for recordings from the much-loved trumpet player and Hanson's recording career began. His first venture into the studio in 1985 produced a popular single release, Kyu Sakamoto's Sukiyaki. This was followed by releases of Stevie Wonder's Harmor Love, Prez Prado's Mambo classic Patricia and fellow Jamaican Glen Brownie's Love Song. All enjoyed respectable success on the charts and served to establish Hanson as a name on the Jamaican music scene. He has performed and recorded with Jamaica's own legend Bob Marley, at a time when the 'Gong' was just beginning to surface as a force in the music world. The occasion was the only Jamaican appearance by Michael Jackson, who at the time was still performing as a member of the Jackson Five. Hanson also became a regular in the recording sessions of other established artists; Bob Marley, (Survival album); Myrna Hague, (Send in the Clowns); Louise Bennett, (Miss Lou); Skatalites, (Last of the Great Guns); Fabulous Five (On the album Yu Safe!, which won a Jammy in 1986, the top award in Jamaica's music industry). He was featured on the re-banding CD of the legendary Skatalites, although he was not an original member. Other bands included the Caribs, the Sonny Bradshaw Seven, the Big Band, the Mutual Life Players, Cedric Brooks' Divine Light of Saba and the Ritz All Star Group. His concert work includes appearances with the Shortwood 30 voice choir. Hanson's career took another leap forward with the completion of his first album "For The Love of It", which features his own distinctive interpretation of Jamaican Standards. "For the Love of It" enjoyed success both locally and overseas, and won two Jammy awards for best produced and arranged album. The album also encouraged a wide cross section of instrumentalists locally to produce albums as a result of its success. His talent and standard of excellence were recognised as he was a specially invited guest on the Prime Ministers' Independence Gala at Jamaica House. In 2004, his peers recognised his achievement by awarding him with the Jamaica Federation of Musicians Union Special Award in 2004 for "Outstanding contribution to the development of the Jamaican Music Industry." [To top] |
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Ouida – a native of Jamaica, lived in the Netherlands for 13 years. While there, she performed as a percussionist, dancer and did some acting in a number of theatre groups. She also taught workshops and private classes in West African drumming and dance for adults and children throughout The Netherlands. A performer in tap dancing, she co-choreographed and performed with a number of groups. In 1998 she formed together with 2 special women, Betsaida 'Chino' Frederick (Curacao)and Milou Veling (Nederland) the group 'Ma Drumz' and performed vocals, built rhythms and made compositions together with the ladies. She has graced most major stages in several cities in Holland and toured throughout Europe playing at various festivals on the continent. A graduate of Campion College, Ouida's qualifications has been obtained from Music School Amsterdam Holland, Amsterdam Dance Centre (ADC) Holland, Toko Tap studio Amsterdam, Holland, and most recently from The Edna Manley School of Visual and Peforming Arts – School of Music. She studied in Holland intensively with the legendary Arafan Toure' of Les ballets des Africains fame, Ali Ndiaye Rose son of the legendary Dou Dou Ndiaye Rose as well as countless master drummers from Guinea, Senegal and Mali. Her most rigorous training was accompanying several master drummers for various advanced African dance classes. Since her return to Jamaica in 2003, Ouida has formed her own Tap dance school (Jamaica tap). Along with running her school, she choreographed Tap for The Cathy Levy players. She has also performed with the L'acadco Dance Company as a Drummer and Dancer. She now heads the Drum Department at the Utech Centre for the Arts as well as Lecturing in West African Drumming and Congas at the Edna Manley Collage for the Visual and Performing Arts, School of Music. She is also a personal trainer and the resident aerobics instructor at Afya Yoga studio in Kingston. In 2005 thanks to the Iconic Mr. Sonny Bradshaw she played at the launch of the Ocho Rios Jazz festival and in 2006 performed with her band Cacique as the opening act for a major Ernie Ranglin show at The Caves in Negril. She also in 2006 was a guest artist playing percussion with Seretse Small and the True Democrats and Jesus Fuentes, International Cuban saxophonist at The Jazz in the Gardens at the Pegasus. There she also gave a stunning tap dance performance. She is also a member of The Sonny Bradshaw Jazz Mobile playing a Monthly free concert and is also the percussionist of The Jamaica big band jazz orchestra. Ouida recently returned from Curacao where she did some work in the studio with international artist Fridi Martina For her cd 'In good company'. Ouida is as well involved with two inner city projects, the NHT Performing Arts for Community Development project and the Jamaica Social Investment Inner City Project, taking the uplifting drums and small percussion rhythm experience into the volatile communities of Kingston. Ouida is a freelance instrumentalist who can also be booked for solo performances. [To top] |
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 Ginetta's Vendetta
Meet Ginetta, trumpeter extroidinaire, vocalist, composer & bandleader who's one of the brightest stars on the scene today. Ginetta has studied and played most styles of music ranging from classical, jazz, blues & pop to cumbia, Salsa, merengue & funk! She is an alumni of North Texas State University, one of the best jazz programs in the country & has also been taught by trumpet masters Marky Markowitz, Spanky Davis, Ted Curson, Howard McGhee and Allan Colin, to name a few. She has worked alongside many other greats too numerous to mention, which has given her priceless experience both on & off the road. Her "Sideman" work has taken her international with latin music being the bulk of her gigs in the early part of her career, including a tour thru Puerto Rico & parts of South America. A 2 year stint at the biggest russian club in NYC "The National" was followed by 3 more years on the road w/ the show band "Waterfront" covering the casino & hotel circuit. Blues was also a defining factor in her musical education & for years she played with the legendary "Holmes Brothers" both locally and on a east Coast tour thru New England & Nova Scotia. She was also a steady sideman w/ Blues great Albert Collins whenever he played in New York City. Her love for Island music, Compa and Calpso, led her to play with Haitian super-band "Phantom" in and around New York and New England plus a tour through Martinique and Guaduloupe. Working with her female horn section "Amazon Brass" she was in Trinidad and Tobago for the entire Carnival season. Her need to lead a band,sing & play her own compositions was the reason for the rise of "Ginetta's Vendetta". Formed 10 years ago, the band is comprised of the basic "power trio" of guitar, bass & drums. Playing only the funkiest versions of the jazz classics & singing her danceable originals Ginetta commands any stage w/her signature pocket-trumpet, sultry vocals & her special brand of high-octane entertainment! Having played the International Jazz Fest in Jamaica, 2004 , 2005, 2006 & 2007 she was the toast of the festival each time. (See article "Sex and The Trumpet" at www.Jamaica-Gleaner.com , june 21) Her band has graced many stages in 2007 from Salt Lake City, Utah to the Gainesville Florida Juneteenth Festival, from the Cherokee Nation Casino in Oklahoma to opening night at The Prishtina Jazz Festival in Kosovo & numerous cities in between! Go to "Jamaica Observer" link for another great write-up! She is a multidimensional entertainer with a limitless supply of energy and versatility. As Ginetta herself says, "With my horn as my passport, there’s nowhere I can’t go." www.ginettasvendetta.com [To top] |
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Lila (LEE-LAH), the essence of love, good, creativity, strength, and imagination. Lila is a seasoned, professional multi-instrumentalist whose dedication to her craft is shown through her musical expression, compositions, and enthusiastic performances. Her primary instrument is the violin and her mastery of the instrument's intricacies gives her the innate ability to touch the heart, soul, and spirit of her listeners. While at Georgetown University, Lila was selected out of a nationwide audition to participate in the New York String Seminar Orchestra, where she had the opportunity to be mentored by Maestro Emeritus Alexander Schneider and Maestro Isaac Stern. Through consortium, she went on to become a founding member of The Howard University String Quartet, and a student at The Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. After participating in classical performances at Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center, Lila felt a strong desire to explore different musical genres including jazz, blues, rock, reggae, soul, Afro-Cuban, Latin, and hip-hop. Following numerous musical achievements, Lila returned to Washington, DC where she founded her first performing arts company through which she made the performing arts accessible and affordable to children from underserved communities in the greater Washington area. In 2001, she relocated her performing arts company to her hometown of Memphis, TN, partnered with The Memphis Area Youth Association, and began training students in the Whitehaven area through donated space inside of Bishop Byrne High School. Within months, Lila's students were coming to Whitehaven from areas as far as Bartlett, Germantown, Midtown, East Memphis, Hickory Hill, West Memphis, Arkansas, and Southaven, Mississippi. Within the last two years, Lila has performed in numerous venues locally and nationally including the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, Downtown Alive Fall Concert Series, Court Square Summer Music Series, Hattiloo Theater Block Party, Orleans Restaurant, The Women's Foundation of Memphis Annual Luncheon, Hard Rock Café Memphis, The Levitt Shell at Overton Park, Cossitt Library Lunchtime Music Series, The Ornamental Metal Museum, The California Music Fest, and The Organization of Black Airline Pilots Convention in Atlanta. She was also featured in SKIRT Magazine in the "Women to Watch" issue and invited to perform at the Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival. Currently, Lila's outreach teaching programs thrive in the heart of the artistically underserved communities of Memphis. She strives hard to fulfill her mission of exposing young people to the arts who would not otherwise have access to music and dance education. In doing so, Lila has created numerous life-changing performance opportunities for her students. She and her students have presented over 20 recitals and performances. They have also accepted invitations and performed at The Whitehaven Jazz Festival, The Marvin Gaye Tribute at The Gibson Guitar Lounge, The Marvin Gaye Tribute at The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at The National Civil Rights Museum, The Cooper-Young Festival, The "Generation Next" Youth Music Festival at Handy Park on Beale Street and at Hard Rock Cafe Memphis, Disney's A Christmas Carol promotional train tour stop in Memphis, and numerous community performances at libraries, nursing homes, and children's events. At present, Lila is a newly appointed Board Member of The Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission and was named by The Memphis Chamber of Commerce's Memphis Crossroads magazine as one of twenty artists who are defining Memphis. Her most recent performances include The Checkerboard Lounge Jam Session in Chicago, IL and The Featured Opening Act of The National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards honoring Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Mrs. Myrlie Evers-Williams. Lila believes that "image is everything" and through music, we can embrace and appreciate the sharing of diverse cultures. She has formed a classical quintet with some of her advanced students who give an exciting approach to classical music. Lila and her student ensemble have a wealth of performing experience, an outstanding stage presence, and a captivating repertoire of music that they present to audiences. Released earlier this year, The Blue Violin, her first CD, has received rave reviews. [To top] |
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"In a world of pretenders, Carmen Lundy is a genuine Jazz Singer" Carmen Lundy began her professional career as a jazz vocalist and composer when there were very few young, gifted and aspiring jazz vocalists on the horizon. Three decades later, Ms. Lundy is celebrated throughout the world for her vocal artistry and is highly regarded for her jazz innovation. Her contribution of over 50 self-penned compositions now comprises the New Jazz Songbook. Having recorded eleven albums as a leader, Carmen has also performed and recorded with such musicians as brother and bassist Curtis Lundy, Ray Barretto, Kenny Barron, Bruce Hornsby, Mulgrew Miller, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kip Hanrahan, Bobby Watson, Courtney Pine, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Cobb, Ron Carter, Marian McPartland, Regina Carter, Steve Turre, Geri Allen, Robert Glasper and the late Kenny Kirkland. Carmen Lundy's work as a vocalist and composer has been critically acclaimed by The New York Times, The Village Voice, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, as well as numerous foreign publications. As a composer, Ms. Lundy's catalogue numbers over sixty published songs, one of the few jazz vocalists in history to accomplish such a distinction, and has led to the first publication of the Carmen Lundy Songbook (2007). Her songs have been recorded by such artists as Kenny Barron ("Quiet Times"), Ernie Watts ("At The End Of My Rope"), and Straight Ahead ("Never Gonna Let You Go"). A native of Miami, Florida, Carmen Lundy's path to being one of today's most talented, respected and sophisticated jazz singers began at age six, with her first piano lessons. Deeply inspired by her mother, Oveida, who was then lead singer in the gospel group The Apostolic Singers, Carmen joined her church's junior choir. A passion for music was instilled for life, and it was with total determination that young Carmen began her professional career performing at local high schools as part of the vocal duo "Steph and Tret." It was soon after that she made her first recording, The Price Of Silence, while still in her teens. Ms. Lundy attended The University Of Miami as an Opera major, but soon discovered that jazz was where her talent really shined. She later graduated with a degree in Studio Music and Jazz - one of the first singers to do so. After working steadily at jazz clubs in Miami and traveling to Europe and North Africa with the University of Miami Big Band in 1977, Lundy moved to New York City in the spring of '78. She immediately began working in jazz circles throughout the Tri-State area, and from Harlem to Greenwich Village, and quickly impressed the notoriously critical jazz cognoscenti and audiences alike. Esteemed critic Gary Giddins stated (in 1983), "Jazz singing stopped regenerating itself about 20 years ago, and it's not hard to see why, so it's with some trepidation that I call your attention to an authentic young jazz singer named Carmen Lundy - she's got it all." Armed with a devoted following and critical kudos, the uncompromising Ms. Lundy continued to make waves, not just in North America, but in Asia and throughout the UK and Europe. Teaching, too, is an important activity for Ms Lundy; she's given Master Classes in Australia, Denmark, Russia, Japan, Switzerland, New York, Washington, D.C., Northern California, and Los Angeles. Since its inception in 1998, Lundy has and continues to participate in Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Program at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as Resident Clinician and guest artist. She has also worked with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz as guest artist and clinician. [To top] |
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Pamela Williams: Dubbed "the Saxtress" after the title of her debut record, Pamela Williams is undoubtedly, one of the most popular performers on today's smooth jazz With a move over to Shanachie Entertainment in 2003, Pam began to hit new heights! The Perfect Love hit #5 on Billboard while the 2005 Sweet Saxations CD reached #4. In 2006, Pamela recorded her 6th CD, Elixir, a release that proved to be Williams' highest placing project to this point in her career as it reached the #3 position .In 2007 Pam recorded her seventh cd, The Look of Love, a collection celebrating the music of Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, & Hal David. www.pamelawilliamsthesaxtress.com [To top] |
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Ronald "Boo" Hinkson's talent transcends cultures and sounds, bringing a fresh and innovative blend of jazz and Caribbean music. A gifted composer, producer, and heralded guitarist, Boo's unique approach and versatility enable him to deliver a distinctive signature sound. Born in St. Lucia and raised on a diet of Ellington, Davis, and Coltrane, Boo's name is synonymous with St. Lucian music. His mother, who was also an accomplished guitarist, was his first teacher. His musical career began with the Tru-Tones, a group he started in St Lucia, who commanded stages locally and internationally for two decades. So much so in fact, that their eclectic blends of Caribbean and pop rhythms garnered them an appearance at Superbowl XIII. Today, he is an exceptionally accomplished musician who has stayed true not only to his Jazz roots, but also to his West Indian culture. Boo couples his appreciation of the old masters, with Contemporary Jazz, and Soca in his music and lyrics; and as a result his popularity has continued to spread. His Zephryn Records debut CD entitled "Beyond" is a testament to his growth as a musician and as a composer. It is a rich, emotive and warm collection of contemporary and straight ahead Jazz tunes delivered with his own unique Caribbean flair. With solid guest appearances from Arturro Tapin, "Pieces Of A Dream" vocalist Tracy Hamlin, and other surprises, "Beyond" is a well rounded musical gem. Boo's talent and presence are revealed in each track, bringing about a renaissance to romance. It is a true highlight of his versatility as a musician. With a performance track record that includes international stages from the Caribbean, to the U.S. and Europe, Boo has opened for scores of musical greats including Al Jarreau, India Arie, and Grover Washington. He was recently featured at a state function for former President Bill Clinton. His music has been showcased on the day-time television show "One Life to Live." He has been featured in a 1/2 hour music special on BETJ, and networks like BBC, and Bravo TV have also aired his live performances. Stanley Jordan describes Boo "as a genuinely gifted and accomplished musician." George Benson praises his technical prowess and improvisation. Ronnie Laws has described his playing as "extremely soulful and intense." Frequently compared to Kenny Burrel for not only his natural touch on the guitar but also his polished image, Boo plays the guitar with fire, soul, and astuteness. His upcoming follow up release on Zephryn Records, "Shades", will further showcase his versatility and leaves no doubt that Boo Hinkson is here to stay! [To top]
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IDRIS ACKAMOOR is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, tap dancer, actor, director, and producer. He is the Founder and Executive/Co-Artistic Director of the San Francisco performance company Cultural Odyssey. Idris' primary instrument is the alto saxophone and his playing style seeks to process the masterful jazz tradition of the instrument into a personal vocabulary characterized by extended range, brilliant technique, pure tonal quality, circular breathing, and individual expression. Idris has rightfully been in the spotlight of late thanks to the awesome collection of his material released on the Japanese EM label (The Music of Idris Ackamoor 1971 - 2004) as well as the renewed interest in his 1970's legendary band, "The Pyramids". IKEF Records of Chicago has just released all three Pyramids' albums on vinyl including "Lalibela" (1973), "King of Kings" (1974), and "Birth/Speed/Merging" (1976). In the spring of 2010 IKEF will release a CD box set of all three albums. In 2004 Idris released his third CD entitled, "Homage to Cuba". In 1999 Idris released his second jazz CD entitled, "Centurian" and in 1998 he recorded and released his first CD entitled "Portrait". Idris has performed with tenor saxophonists Chico Freeman and John Tchicai, percussionist Don Moye of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, the Cecil Taylor Orchestra at the 1995 San Francisco Jazz Festival, bass player Wilber Morris, the late alto player Charles Tyler and guitarist Vernon Reid. In 2001 the Idris Ackamoor Ensemble toured Europe performing at the Nurenburg International Jazz Festival, as well as other clubs in Austria, Germany, and Holland. During the 90's he was a regular at the Ocho Rios Jamaica Jazz Festival (1993-98), performed and taught at the Rotterdam International Jazz Festival in Holland (1993), and toured Europe performing in Austria, Germany and Holland in a jazz duet with pianist Hakim Mohammed (1994). During the summer of 1996 Idris toured Japan performing his unique act of playing saxophone and tap dancing simultaneously. During the early 80's Idris' jazz band was first invited to perform at European jazz festivals such as The Moers New Music Festival, and the Nuremberg International Jazz Festival in Germany, the Groningen Jazz Marathon in Holland, and the Niclesdorf Jazz Festival in Austria. One of Idris' most influential teachers was piano virtuoso, Cecil Taylor. He studied music performance and composition with Mr. Taylor as a student at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio where he graduated in 1973 receiving a B.A. in Music. During his studies at Antioch, Idris took a year leave of this country in order to seek out his artistic freedom. Arriving in Paris, France with the idea of forming a musical group, he was co-founder of the black music ensemble, The Pyramids, which released 3 albums and received international acclaim. Idris has also studied tap dance with the legendary rhythm dancer Al Robinson and many others. Mr. Ackamoor has received many awards for his work including a GOLDIE Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Most recently he received a Meet The Composer and American Composers Forum grant for composing new music, and a San Francisco Arts Commission Individual Artists Commission. [To top]
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Kathy Brown
Ettienne Charles
Myrna Hague
Joe Sizemore
Harold Davis 
Tony Greene
Mary Isaacs-Black
Mickey Hanson 
Ouida
Lila 
Carmen Lundy
Pamela Williams
Ronald 'Boo' Hinkson 
Idris Ackamoor