Etienne Charles and Creole Soul
Vermont Jazz Center
Saturday, September 21, 2024
7:30 PM
Trinidad-born trumpet star Etienne Charles’ performances incorporate songs & rituals of the Caribbean carnival that influenced him to pursue music: danceable, percussive & with captivating melodic lines.
He is a Guggenheim Fellow, a 2022 Creative Capital Awardee, & a recipient of a Lincoln Center Millennial Swing Award, a Caribbean Heritage Trailblazer Award & a CMA New Works Grant.
Charles has released ten highly acclaimed albums as a leader; his most recent, Creole Orchestra, features vocalist René Marie.
He has performed/recorded with luminaries including Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Monty Alexander, Maria Schneider, the Count Basie Orchestra & Roberta Flack. He is a dedicated educator & professor at the Frost School of Music.
In his compositions, Charles investigates the real-life connections between music and ritual. In a promo video for his San Jose Suite, he explains this naturally inspiring fusion: “We went to not only be with the people, but to partake in their rituals; to learn about why the rituals happen so that we know why things are in the music… Then we can use that music with knowledge & respect to the ritual & the traditions, & make the music lively.”
Etienne Charles: Trumpet & Percussion
Godwin Louis: Alto Sax
Axel Tosca: Piano
Alex Wintz: Guitar
Alexander Toth: Bass
Harvel Nakundi: Drums
Sponsored by Beth Raffeld & Philip Khoury, &
Dave Ellis & Ann Greenawalt, & Ellis Music.
