JAZZ NOTES My Review of Tobago Jazz

By John Gill


One of the incidents that left a sour note in the mouths of patrons at the “Tobago Jazz Experience” was the absence of Bunji Garlin and the Asylum at the Friday night show. Many locals and foreigners who attended were looking forward to the performance of our latest and probably, our most successful cultural ambassador, to date.

Why did it happen, I’m not fully apprised of all the details, but from what I’ve been able to understand, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA)  did not provide Bunji Garlin with adequate accommodation for the band, and so they left the island.  Many people are saying our local artistes need to be treated with the same respect we treat the foreign artistes who perform at our shows. There is the saying “Charity begins at home” and so some rationalise that we, therefore, need to treat our own as well or even better than those who come here. Apparently this is the treatment Bunji and his band are also demanding.  Are they wrong to make such demand?  While I do agree that it is something to be looked at, I sometimes wonder if our artistes have earned the right to equal “billing” and equal treatment as foreign acts that come here.

The absence of Bunji Garlin and the Asylum, however, was not the only sour note of what was expected to be a weekend filled with positive expectations. The weekend began with great expectations, the first being a performance by John Legend.

Expectations were very high for the Friday night show and as was confirmed by the fact that the show was sold out long in advance.  It was clear that the organisers were not adequately prepared for the throngs of people who descended on Pigeon Point Heritage Park, Tobago. I was one of those many folks who, because of the unavailability of the promised shuttles, had to foot it to the venue from Milford Road. Those who chose to wait on shuttles made it to the venue either just moments before John Legend’s set or while he was well into it. This, of course, was after sitting in lengthy traffic jams.  I was lucky enough, having left our accommodation at just after 7pm, sitting in traffic jams for approximately two hours, and the very long walk, to the venue to arrive at Heritage Park when Brandy was half way into her set.

Brandy’s performances on Friday was quite good, John Legend’s was awesome. Just a man and his piano, he sang many of his hits to the delight of the very large crowd who showed their appreciation after each song, and even sang along to many of them.

All was not lost though, the weekend was not only filled with sour notes.  There were  the high points as well.  Jazz on the Beach, one of the saving graces of the weekend, as described by a satisfied patron, “It was like Panorama semi-finals on the beach”. That was the level of vibe and enjoyment had by all who attended. I must give kudos to The Mount Irvine Bay Hotel and Golf Club, Laura Cozier, Carlos Dillon and the events co-ordinator Carl “Beaver” Henderson for a very well-produced event. This particular event featured mainly local acts, the likes of, Francis Prime, Theron Shaw, Vaughnette Bigford, Anthony Woodroffe Jr., Arturo Tappin and many more.

I think Jazz on the Beach was the highlight of the weekend for many who made the trip to Tobago from all over the Caribbean. One of the other things about this event that the main stage at Pigeon Point organisers can learn from the Mt. Irvine organisers, is the choice of DJ to fill the spaces between the acts and entertain the crowd. The DJ at the Mt. Irvine event, Mr Curtis Popplewell fully understood the occasion and chose appropriate selections to create the “Right Vibe”. Something the Dj or Djs that played at Pigeon Point lacked.

On a sweet note, I was particularly impressed with Tobago born, Europe-based songstress Sharon Phillip.  Her set immediately preceded that of the main act of Sunday evening, Earth Wind & Fire, and her performance set the stage for the main event as she literally “Wowed” the Pigeon Point audience and they showed their appreciation with loud cheers.

Another sweet note of the Tobago Jazz Experience was the offering of the elements, Earth Wind & Fire. This group delivered as they always do. From their first note, this veteran group, playing concerts for over forty-two years, had most of the approximately 7,000 plus patrons on their feet for all of their one hour plus set. When they struck what appeared to be their last note, many of those present roared with satisfaction. Then when they struck up again for what was to be their closing number, the crowd roared again.

At the end of their set, as people began pouring out of the venue, the absence of shuttles didn’t seem to bother most folks,  like me, I guess being fully satisfied they had no problem walking all the way out, the music of the “Elements” still ringing in their ears.

So at the end of it all my Tobago Jazz Experience, on a scale of one to ten, I would put it at a six.  Many areas  need improvement, the venue being one of them. I have heard some say that the Plymouth venue might be a more suitable one and should be reconsidered by the organisers.

All in all though, I enjoyed my experience and if only for the opportunity to be a part of the Mt. Irvine “Jazz on the Beach”, I will be present next time around. I am hearing talk of Bruno Mars for next year’s main stage, if the organisers accomplish this, they can again expect numbers similar to those of this year. My hope is that they are better prepared than they were this year for the number of people  this artiste is likely to attract so that the “Tobago Jazz Experience” will gain the longevity and success of the other Caribbean Jazz offerings.
Long live “The Tobago Jazz Experience”!!!