Creole Orchestra is the latest album by Trinidad-born musician Etienne Charles; it was released on June 14, 2024 (Culture Shock Records). It includes one of my favorite pieces from a past collection, “Douens” (from Folklore). Lezlie Harrison (WBGO) describes the album as “an exploration of Caribbean grooves, drawing on Charles’ rich musical heritage from Trinidad & Tobago. With the synergy between Charles’ intricate arrangements and Marie’s captivating vocals, it’s easy to imagine how their long-standing friendship infuses the music with an extra layer of depth and emotion.”
ETIENNE CHARLES: (Trumpet, Percussion, Composer)
Trinidad born Etienne Charles is a performer, composer and storyteller, who is continuously searching for untold stories and sounds with which to tell them.
His lush trumpet sound, varied compositional textures and pulsating percussive grooves enable him to invoke trance, soothing and exciting listeners while referencing touchy and sometimes controversial subjects in his music.
A 2015 Guggenheim Fellow and 2022 Creative Capital Awardee, he researches his compositions by travelling to the regions on which he is focused, meeting with musicians and cultural leaders then observing and participating in rituals to be fully immersed into the cultures that he is studying.
As an Afro-descendant, his work is actively connecting the diaspora and drawing lines to regions at the roots of migrations. Highlighting marginalized communities and engaging with them has been his mission, evident with projects such as Carnival: The Sound of a People Vol. 1, San Jose Suite, Creole Soul, and Folklore.
A firm believer in music and performance as a tool for provoking thought and dialogue, Charles’ themes speak to the status quo while drawing parallels to history. With his latest commissioned project, San Juan Hill, he goes a step further by exploring the storied New York neighborhood to bring the culture of San Juan Hill to the mainstage.
His concerts engage, enlighten, educate and enrich audiences with energized multidisciplinary performance utilizing original composition, thematic improvisation, dance, short films and spoken word to create a holistic experience. [. . .]
He currently serves as Associate Professor of Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami, Patricia L. Frost School of Music.
For more information, see https://www.etiennecharles.com/album?albumId=66 and https://www.etiennecharles.com/about
Read interview by Lezlie Harrison at https://www.wbgo.org/music/2024-06-14/etienne-charles-rene-marie-blend-caribbean-and-big-band-styles-with-creole-orchestra
Creole Orchestra is the latest album by Trinidad-born musician Etienne Charles; it was released on June 14, 2024 (Culture Shock Records). It includes one of my favorite pieces from a past collection, “Douens” (from Folklore). Lezlie Harrison (WBGO) describes the album as “an exploration of Caribbean grooves, drawing on Charles’ rich musical heritage from Trinidad &
