For many, the experience of jazz in Tobago doesn't even include the shows at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park. More and more people are heading to Tobago just to spend the weekend at Mt Irvine Beach for what is essentially a jazz cooler fete in a wonderfully chilled out environment.
Jazz on the Beach which was launched nine years ago by a team led by Carl Beaver Henderson and backed by the late owner of the Mt Irvine Hotel, Bob Yorke, is referred to as "the place where you hear the real jazz on jazz weekend." It's a fringe event, but with its popularity growing every year, it is safe to say this event now a mainstream event on Jazz weekend.
It's not hard to see why people love this event, for just $200 you can take your cooler, sit on a lovely beach front and enjoy the artistry of some accomplished musicians.Jazz on The Beach took place on Mt Irvine Beach during the day on Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday show is the more popular and this year, the beach was "ram out" with people and coolers.
There was a brilliant lineup across the two days that included Arthur Marcial, the Tabanca Blues Band, The Alternative String Quartet, Dean Williams Quartet, Cadence and Leston Paul featuring Ajala and Roger George.There is no doubt, however, that the star of both days was the headline act, Arturo Tappin.
Bajan saxophonist Tappin has a loyal and devoted following in T&T. Unsurprisingly as a good looking red man with long dreadlocks and a distinctive handlebar moustache, his most ardent fans are women.Tappin has been appearing at Jazz on the Beach for several years and based on the rousing reception he gets, the fans won't mind if he continues to be a staple at the event.
An Arturo Tappin performance isn't just about a man and his sax. It's about Tappin and his group of talented young musicians and singers having a blast and encouraging the audience to do the same.From the minute they hit the stage in their colourful dashikis, to the end of their performance, the crowd at Mt Irvine sang, danced and clapped with unadulterated joy.
Tappin and his band touched a number of musical genres from jazz to soul to funk to rock and of course soca.There was something for everyone in his set that included Earth, Wind and Fire's Getaway, Michael Jackson's Bad, Good Kisser by Usher and Treasure by Bruno Mars. Tappin's musical muse and mentor is Grover Washington Jr, and this was particularly evident when he had his turn to improvise during his interpretation of John Legend's Red Light Special. Washington had a distinctive way he used to caress the notes that Tappin brought out in this piece.
When the band played the classics Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White by Perez Prado and Betcha By Golly Wow by The Stylistics, as well as Chaka Khan's Thru The Fire, couples started dancing and hugging.But Tappin didn't give them much time to get too groovy, because soon they were rocking out to Bon Jovi's You Give Love A Bad Name.
It was soca, of course, that ended the 75-minute long set, and it was a sight to see the big audience doing the dance to accompany Fadda Fox's tune, Ducking. It was a great segue into Ah Feeling by Lead Pipe and Saddis, a version of which Tappin has made extremely popular. Machel Montano's brass-inspired Like Ah Boss was the finale and of course, Tappin gave Mt Irvine a piece of improvisation that had people wining down like it was a Carnival fete.
At the end of Tappin's set, Jazz on the Beach producer Carl "Beaver" Henderson paid tribute to Bob Yorke, the late owner of Mt Irvine who was the man who gave his backing and encourgement for the Jazz on the Beach over the year. Henderson was joined by Yorke's daughter Jackie who asked the crowd to continue supporting the event.
Tappin also paid Tribute to Yorke, who he said was the reason he was able to first come to T&T and play. In his honour, he played, Soul Station by Hank Mobley.Henderson, who has big plans for Jazz on the Beach in the future said he is aware of the complaints from some patrons about the size of the event. "We are planning to make it better next year," Henderson said. "I can't reveal too much now, but we've realised that people want more space and we also want to offer a wider programme so yes, we are going to make things different!"