Pure jazz music at Mount Irvine

Starting off the shows on the night of April 22 at the hotel will be Arturo Tappin, celebrated saxophonist from Barbados as well as the Jerry Tilitz Quartet coming out of Germany. Arturo, no stranger to Trinidad and Tobago is known for his dynamic and spirited live performances which have won him fans the world over. He made headway with his debut recording “Strictly Roots Jazz” and then immediately followed up with a stellar performance on his second album entitled, Java, both licensed by Pioneer Records in Japan. His latest CD Inside Out features ten original compositions, all of which exquisitely display a superb blend of mesmerizing melodies and deliciously deep penetrating grooves, encouraging the listener to hold on with anticipation.

Tappin has dazzled audiences at the Soho Jazz Festival, the Bob Marley Birthday Bash and Reggae Sunsplash, as well as headlining Jazz Festivals throughout the Caribbean. He has performed with the legendary Roberta Flack, Hard Bop Trumpeter Red Rodney, Grammy Award winner drummer Roy Haynes and many others. Besides touring Arturo has served as the Musical Director for Eddy Grant as well as recorded with Grammy recipients Ralph MacDonald and the late great Luther Vandross.

Jerry Tilitz’s group comprises Jerry on trombone, Enno Dugnus on keyboard, Dave Bowler on drums with Andre Schulz on bass. Jerry who began his career with Billy Taylor’s Jazzmobile Big Band studied jazz with Jazz Luminaries Lennie Tristano and the influential trombonist Curtis Fuller. He taught jazz theory and analysis at Queensboro College and trombone at The Rotterdam Conservatory and was awarded a grant for composition and performance from the prestigious US National Endowment for The Arts. An American by birth he has also hosted his own radio program in Germany called ‘An American in Hamburg’ and has performed with Horace Parlan, Gerry Mulligan, Tom Harrell, Hank Jones, Roy Eldridge, Randy Brecker, The Johnny Colon Orchestra, Jim McNeely and many, many others. Jerry is no stranger to our shores and has in fact performed at Jazz on the Beach since its inception. Jerry’s quartet will also be performing on the Saturday and Sunday shows on our beach facility.

Also appearing on the weekend shows will be Ronald “Boo” Hinkson an accomplished guitarist from St. Lucia. “Boo” as he is affectionately called was born in St. Lucia and raised on a diet of Davis, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. His talent transcends cultures and sounds, bringing a fresh and innovative blend of jazz and Caribbean music. A gifted composer, producer and heralded guitarist, Boo’s unique approach and versatility enable him to deliver a distinctive signature sound. His musical career began with the Tru-Tones, a group he started in St. Lucia, which commanded stages locally and internationally for two decades. Boo is an exceptionally accomplished musician who has stayed true not only to his jazz roots, but also to his West Indian culture. He couples his appreciation of the old masters with contemporary jazz and Soca in his music and lyrics.

With a track record that includes performances on international stages from the Caribbean to the United States and Europe, Boo has opened for scores of musical greats including Al Jarreau, India Arie and Grover Washington. He has performed with George Benson, Stanley Jordan and many other legends. He has also earned his own half hour music special on BETJ and networks such as BBC and Bravo TV have aired his live performances.

Frequently compared to Kenny Burrell for not only his natural touch on the guitar but also his polished image Boo plays the guitar with fire, soul and passion. His release on Zephryn Records, “Shades” will further showcase his versatility and leave no doubt that Ronald “Boo” Hinkson and group appearing live at Mount Irvine Bay Hotel Jazz on the beach should not be missed.

The line up for the dinner/jazz shows as well as the weekend shows will also feature Gwyn Jay Allen, a natural born entertainer. Gwyn served his musical apprenticeship singing and playing guitar on the train in the United Kingdom and it wasn’t until 1992 that he entered the limelight with a residency at the Park Lane Hilton hotel and later the Dorchester hotel.

Gwyn went on to star as Cab Calloway in the long running smash hit West End Musical The Blues Brothers. Gwyn’s vocals, guitar and percussion have graced tracks recorded by musical giants such as soul diva Diana Ross, reggae artiste Maxi Priest and dance icon Jamiroquai. His musical collaborations have included working with Basement Jaxx who produced his single “I Love U Babe.’ Gwyn has also written and recorded with Latin Jazz supreme Alex Wilson. His first solo album ‘Land of Milk and Money’ was released in 2001 touring and supporting gospel giant Kirk Franklin.

Mimicry is an art form mastered by many but what Gwyn Jay Allen does in his personification of Louis Armstrong, arguably the greatest Jazz figure of all times, exceeds any definition of this art form. Over the years travelling the world together with the appetite of his growing fans, gave Gwyn the reason he needed to pen the musical Sachmo from which his album, I Love Louis was born. He has just returned from his first ‘I Love Louis’ tour of Melbourne, Australia and Malaysia where he received rave reviews. This album features Grammy Award winner trumpeter, Roy Hargrove of Verve Records. Jazzwise magazine describes I Love Louis as “an album you can’t help but fall in love with...”

Complementing the international artistes on the weekend shows will be an impressive local line up of artistes.As before the two shows on the beach will be free of charge.

There will be a charge for the nightly dinner/jazz shows and for those who wish to enjoy the jazz alone at nights a small cover charge will be applied. You are invited to come and experience two enjoyable days and many nights of live instrumental and vocal jazz artistes in a unique beachfront setting as well as up, close and cozy in our restaurants at the Mount Irvine Bay Hotel.