Students praise JATT WorkshopSaturday, September 5 2009
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FOLLOWING the recently concluded Jazz Alliance of Trinidad and Tobago (JATT) Summer Holistic Jazz Workshop (www.jazzalliance.org), so pleased were the students that they decided to convey their feelings to Sean Thomas, the man behind the workshop.
Vocalist Bruce Greenidge found that the Summer Holistic Jazz Workshop 2009 was excellent. He said: “I learned so much and now have a greater appreciation for jazz and other forms of music even though I've been singing for over 20 years. The calibre of guest lecturers and performers was of the highest, with persons such as Clive Zanda, Hollis Liverpool, Leroy Clarke, Ann Fridal, Arturo Tappin and Etienne Charles just to name a few.”
He added that the holistic and diverse nature of the workshop is certainly worth mentioning and in addition to jazz, other aspects were spiritual/gospel, calypso, blues, opera, art and poetry, etiquette, steel pan and movies of the jazz masters.
“The 'Common Wealth of Sounds' concert was fantastic, providing an opportunity for us to hear some of the region's best jazz performers. The workshop was truly a wonderful 'listening, learning and playing' experience. My only regret was that I had to miss some of the sessions and that more people did not attend what I consider a world-class jazz workshop,” ended Greenidge.
Lesedi Felix, who plays the piano and is a rapso artiste, extended her kudos to the organisers of the Summer Holistic Jazz Workshop.
“This workshop was not only for me, but for any musician who is committed to music as a career. I am now enlightened to the fact that Jazz is the ultimate musical art form. This programme was well put together and effectively structured. The wealth of information I have gained from this workshop will undoubtedly carry me a long way.”
Felix said she’d learnt proper improvisation techniques, new scale exercises, new scales, wider knowledge on chords, how to build chord extensions, how, where and when to utilise chords, the importance of breathing, vocal exercises and history among many other things.
“Additionally, I learned more about the 12 bar blues, gospel, spirituals, classical, opera and I can now see the link between vocal exercises and playing scales – art and music – tension and release.
Words can't express how this workshop has lifted me professionally as a pianist. Thanks to Sean Thomas, The Jazz Alliance of Trinidad and Tobago, the lecturers, the students and all who made this workshop a success,” said Felix.
