New York Times
You may have heard that it’s hard for a jazz musician to find respect beyond what seems like a fixed number of close followers and students. Musicians can ignore that situation, or respond to it. Etienne Charles’s new recording, “Creole Soul,” on his label Culture Shock Music, is a smart response.
He’s a trumpeter from Trinidad who studied music at Florida State University and Juilliard, and his three previous albums have moved from informed and flexible post-’80s mainstream jazz, connected to the work of Wynton Marsalis and Marcus Roberts, toward Antillean rhythm and song, especially calypso. But his music is also moving from study toward entertainment, and he’s learned and evolved a lot while still young. On Tuesday night, for his recording-release show at Le Poisson Rouge, he played the first notes of the set at the of age of 29 and the last at 30.
There’s not a lot of furrowed-brow music on “Creole Soul.” It adds denser rhythm and slicker pop dynamics; there are fewer moments concerned with showing off jazz-school chops. It’s easy to listen to. It could and should extend his appeal to listeners who like R&B or various adult-contemporary offshoots of jazz. But it’s also intellectually sound, going deeper into Mr. Charles’s basic interest, which is the affinities between Caribbean music and music from the American South, New Orleans jazz in particular. It doesn’t feel too academic or too grasping, overscripted or shallow. He’s got it about as right as he can.
Replies
Very enjoyable jazz album.
Etienne Charles is an impressive young talent, and having seen him on those on line carnival and panorama broadcasts, a very personable young fellow.
The album features Etienne's clean clear trumpet stylings over a variety of Caribbean influenced jazz rhythms.
Well done!