Women in Jazz will take centre stage at the Fiesta Plaza in April, which has become the month synonymous with Jazz in Trinidad and Tobago. Each Saturday in April will feature a different female artiste who will bring their own creativity to the Jazz genre in the most exciting, Al fresco entertainment centre in the Caribbean. Brenda Butler opened the series on Saturday, setting the tone for the third Women in Jazz series. Brenda returned to Trinidad in 1996 after performing in Chili, Brazil and throughout the United States singing in major concert halls to packed audiences.
She also performed in Songbirds Live in 2009 and Jazz Artistes on the Greens 2010. Ava Hutchinson, pianist and singer, returns to the limelight after a short hiatus. She will accompany her renditions on the piano, ably assisted by an all woman instrumental ensemble. Her performance will take place on April 9. On April 16, songbird Vaughnette Bigford, will grace the Fiesta Plaza stage for the first time, bringing a distinct Caribbean flavour to her Jazz pieces. Vaughnette has performed at the Berkelee Summer Concert Series with Ron Reid and Sunsteel and also at the Louis Armstrong birthday jazz concert.
Glenda Collins does her hat-trick in the Women in Jazz series. She is the only performer who has been featured in all three shows. A classically trained opera singer and graduate of Boston University and the Manhattan School of Music, she has successfully been able to blend opera with the elements of jazz, thus creating a style of her own. Bringing down the curtain on the series will be Marsha Charles-Lady Adanna-on April 30. Lady Adanna has graced the stage with artistes like Hugh Masekela, Ophelia Marie, Maxi Priest and the legendary Carol Addison. Hailing from San Fernando, she has been performing jazz since 1989 with the band Kajanze as well as with Carlton "Zanda" Alexander and the Coal Pot band. All shows are free to the public at Fiesta Plaza, but reservations for dining are advised.
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Heathcliff West at 627 Stars (2002)
e-mail: fiestaplaza@movietowne.com