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The International Arts Alliance of Trinidad and Tobago brings together Jazz and Calypso Greats in the US.
The International Arts Alliance of Trinidad and Tobago brings together Jazz and Calypso Greats in the US.
Date Posted: September 16 2011
Written By: Chicago Jazz
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The International Arts Alliance (www.internationalartsalliance.org) of Trinidad and Tobago has taken the initiative of bringing Lord Superior, Calypso Rose and Lightning George to Minneapolis, Chicago and Baton Rouge this September. In Minneapolis they attended the Midwest Arts Conference. In Chicago they will perform at the World Music Festival and in Baton Rouge they will participate in the South Arts Conference. The annual Midwest and South arts conferences bring together artists, producers, agents, managers and service organizations dedicated to the arts. The connections made at these conferences will lay the groundwork for a grand US tour of Trinidad and Tobago artists in 2012 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence.
Lightning George has brought together luminaries of jazz and calypso from Chicago and Trinidad to present an unforgettable show to US audiences. Willie Pickens is Chicago’s piano jazz icon. Celebrated musicians from across the country have sought out Willie’s heaven storming sound. He has worked with Clark Terry, Joe Henderson, Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Eddie Harris and more. Willie taught in the Chicago Public Schools for over 40 years. He now is an associate professor at the NIU School of Music teaching jazz piano. Willie has received numerous awards for his contribution to Chicago jazz. He says his greatest achievement is passing on the legacy of great jazz to his students. Although Willie has never played calypso, his musical skill came thru and he was strumming his own version of calypso with ease and grace.
Two more Chicago jazz legends, Robert Shy on drums and Orbert Davis on trumpet joined Lightning in Minnesota for a taste of pan jazz. Robert Shy has been a drummer on the Chicago jazz scene (and internationally) for the past quarter century. He has played/recorded with many famous jazz grests along the way such as Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Richie Cole, Von Freeman, Larry Gray, Willie Pickens, Jodie Christian, John Whitfield and Art Hoyle, just to mention a few. Trumpeter, composer Orbert Davis is co-founder, conductor and artistic director of Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, a 55+ piece jazz-symphonic orchestra dedicated to multi-genre projects. Orbert is also clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and winner of the 1995 Cognac Hennessy National Jazz Search. Orbert was chosen one of Chicago Tribune’s “1995 Arts People of the Year” Chicago Magazine named him Y2K Best Trumpeter in Chicago and Chicagoan of the Year for 2002..
In Minneapolis the show opened with some sweet solo pan tunes from Trinidadian Lightning George. He demonstrated the versatility of this instrument playing originals and classic calypsos. Willie, Robert and Ron then joined Lightning with “Ask me now” by Thelonious Monk and the popular tune “Lulu’s back in Town”. Chicago jazz musicians have given Lightning the name Thelonius Clyde because of his love of playing and learning more Monk tunes. He just can’t get enough Monk! Lord Superior then came on stage with his guitar, accompanied by Lightning on congas and Ron on bass he presented some of his classic calypsos including “Black Coffee in the White House” which brought down the house of the American audience. Willie and Robert then joined in with Superior’s tune “Trinidad Carnival”. The audience sang along with the chorus “you haven’t been to Carnival if you haven’t been to Trinidad”.
Orbert Davis then joined the group for a jazz jam. They started with “A Train” and rode it at bullet speed. You can catch a video of this ride at www.youtube.com/mrslightning. They ended the set with jazzalypso playing Kitch’s tune “Old Lady”. A snippet of this can also be seen on youtube. Willie Pickens shares the same birthdate, April 18, as Kitchener. He was a natural with Kitch’s music and looks forward to learning more tunes.
Calypso Rose will join this group to perform at the World Music Festival on September 21 in Chicago and the South Arts Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 22. Look for more to follow about these events.
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