The U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS hosted the Brent Birckhead Quartet in a four-nation Eastern Caribbean tour.
The quartet’s fourth and final stop was in Dominica on April 27, where the ensemble performed during a free public concert at the Arawak House of Culture.
The U.S. Embassy presented the quartet in this series of public concerts to underscore the excellence and diversity of American music and as well highlight Jazz Appreciation Month.
The Quartet’s Eastern Caribbean tour also included performances in Barbados, St. Lucia, and Antigua.
The four award-winning Americans of the quartet include saxophonist Brent Birckhead, pianist, Michael King; percussionist, Carroll Dashiell III; and bassist, Romeir Mendez.
The ensemble thrilled the audience with a program of jazz standards and original compositions. Distinguished guests in attendance included Karen Prevost, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Bernie Stevenson Brooks, Resident Judge; Jacinta David, Chief Cultural Officer, and Simeon Joseph, Senior Education Officer.
When asked what he wanted audiences to remember about him, Birckhead said “Music is a conversation and all students of jazz, myself included, have to learn the language of jazz. It’s just like a child learning to talk. You listened to your parents, your vocabulary grew, and eventually, you were able to express yourself. Music is no different, and we’re here to have a conversation with our audience.”
Yolonda Kerney, Embassy Bridgetown’s Public Affairs Officer and a former Library of Congress music historian, offered her assessment of the quartet: “They are masterful, both technically and artistically, and they are the present and future of jazz. Like so many great artists their music is a reflection of their personalities — individually and as a group. The Birckhead Quartet is confidence without arrogance; commentary without hyperbole; expansion without excess.”
No body comments on excellence – I missed the show but I heard many good reviews coming out of it and what an excellent show it was. why people not commenting – My conclusion is people who went to the show do not frequent DNO or read DNO – or people did not see it fit to comment because it is not something that would attract ignorant writing – in other words it is not beffy or political.
Hats off to the US Embassy and to the musicians – I am hoping we get more of these concerts to come to our shores so that our young musicians can be influenced by real music and not all the noise I hear going around as music.