featuring
TRINIDAD BACCHANAL ALL-STARS
feat. AJALA  &  BROWNMAN
Wed Aug 31, 2005
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St. West   |   416-588-0307  |   $15   |   9:30pm   |   doors 8:00pm

Forty-three years ago, on Aug 31, 1962 the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago became independent within the British Commonwealth.

On Wed Aug 31, 2005 multi-award-winning Trinidadian jazz trumpeter BROWNMAN ALI will lead the TRINIDAD BACCHANAL ALL-STARS highlighted by steel pan virtuoso MARK MOSCA in a night of jump-up music to celebrate and commemorate this historic date. Legendary Trinidadian calypsonian AJALA - in Toronto to record his new release - will join the Bacchanalists lending his vocal prowess to the festivities.

The All-stars are a collective of the top Trinidadian and Caribbean musicians in the city performing inspired and energized modern genre-twisting forms of island music - mixing jazz and urban ideologies with Calypso, Reggae, Soca, Rapso & Chutney.

It's been 43 years since Trinidad became independant - expect to hear some of that 43 years of musical evolution this evening!

A night not soon to be forgotten filled with many surprise guests!

 
TRINIDAD BACCHANAL ALL-STARS
featuring AJALA & BROWNMAN

Ajala - vocals (Trinidad - Calypsonian giant)
Mark Mosca - steel pan (Trinidad - from Canefire)
Brownman - trumpet / musical director (Trinidad - from Cruzao)
Marcus Ali - alto sax (Trinidad - from Marron Matizado)
Enlight - rapper (Trinidad - from Gruvasylum)
DJ S-LUV - turntablist (Trinidad - from Pocket Dwellers)
Derek Thorne - percussion (Trinidad - from Moka)
Eddie Bullen - keyboards (Grenada - Juno winning producer)
Dane Wedderburn - bass (Jamaica - from Chiva)
Larnell Lewis - drums (St. Kitts - from Jully Black)

Ajala
Hear a sample
of Ajala's "Horse" (MP3) from "Carnival 3"

Ajala means"dedicated to God" and has Spanish, French and Yoruba resonances, reflecting his Trinidadian Heritage. 

Born in 1961 in San Juan, Trinidad, Ajala Draws on deep spiritual reserves for his music and motivation as spirituality has always been an active part of his Music. He grew up with his grandmother, a staunch Baptist in the Orisha tradition and Ajala was often found beating drums at Shango Fest.  His Singing Career began as a member of a Traditional Indian singing group. In 1974, he joined Night Wind Rebellions for five years before joining top local band Kalyan.

In 1980, he formed his own band, Metropolitan Superstars, but by 1981 was one of the four vocalists in the popular band Fireflight.  In 1988 he would help form the much celebrated Trinidadian group Taxi. 

In 1989, he went to New York to join the band Axis and has worked with Keith Diamond, Micheal Bolton, James Ingram and Paul Pesco (Chaka Khan and Madonna's Lead Guitarist).

An often called upon Calyposonian recording entity he has appeared on countless calypso compilations some of which are listed below:

Carnival 95
Pure Soca
Rangkang Katang
Caribbean Party Rhythms
JW Calypsoca Hits '96 Vol. 1
JW Raggasoca Hits '96 Vol. 2
Pure Soca 2
Caribbean Party Rhythms 2
Exceptional Carnival Release
Hot Soca
Ultimate Jump Up
Caribbean Party Rhythms 3
Hot Carnival Vibes '98
Rough Guide To Calypso & Soca
Island Jamz 2000
Soca Cynergy
JW Calypsoca 2000
Trinidad Hot Times
Calypso Heat
Best of Caribbean Party Rhythms Volume 1
Calypso Hit Parade Vol.1

Full discography

Brownman
Hear a sample
of Brownman's solo on "Knight Muisc" (MP3)

Born on the small Caribbean island of Trinidad, schooled in New York and now based in Toronto,  Brownman Ali is one of the most decorated and in demand, young jazz studio trumpet players in the country.  At the age of 25, he is also an accomplished composer/arranger and the recipient of the 2002 Canadian National Jazz Award (NJA) for "Jazz Composer of the Year" amongst a long list of accolades.

Considered by Canada's jazz elite to be at the forefront of modern jazz improvisation and evolution he is a much sought after performer, already having performed every major Jazz Festival and Latin venue in Canada as both leader and sideman, toured both this country and the U.S. extensively, and was recently asked to again return to represent Canada at the upcoming Havana Jazz Festival, Cuba in Dec '05.

Currently signed to the prestigious Canadian jazz label Justin Time Records label Brownman is one of the first calls for not only jazz and urban recording sessions (having affiliations at both SONY & UNIVERSAL Recording Studios), but also appears in the horn sections of countless latin groups.  His recording credits sit at just under over 150 CDs (many nominated for Junos) and he is currently composing and arranging actively for 6 groups of his own, all of which have gained critical acclaim in their own diverse idioms.

Please visit brownman.com for more information.

Awards
+ 2001 CRUZAO winner of the coveted Montreal Jazz Festival's "Grand Prix du Jazz" award 
+ 2001 CRUZAO awarded the CBC Galaxie "Rising Star" Award 
+ 2002 National Jazz Award nominee for "Jazz Trumpet Player of the Year" 
+ 2002, 2003, 2004 CRUZAO nominated at NJAs for "Electric Jazz Group of the Year" 
+ 2002 National Jazz Award winner for "Canadian Jazz Composer of the Year" 
+ 2004 CRUZAO an Independant Music Award nominee for "Alternative Latin Group of the Year"
+ 2004 MARRON MATIZADO awarded the SilverSPOT for "Best Toronto Salsa Band"