In front of a packed audience which included the Prime Minister, Etienne Charles and Friends dug into many forms of music to deliver a blazing show.
With a line-up which included Charmaine Forde, Clifford Charles, Dane Gulston and Johanna “D Piano Girl Johanna” Chuckaree, the audience was moved through musical genres like soca and R&B, all with jazz as their foundation.
On April 15, the quartet performed as Etienne Charles and Friends at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
Spektakula Promotions announced the cancellation of the show at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) on April 16.
The Queen's Hall show was so well subscribed that those attending caused a slight traffic build-up waiting to enter the venue. The parking spaces were quickly filled as a result.
The show began promptly at 7 pm, with D Piano Girl Johanna playing a version of Luis Fonsi’s 2017 Despacito.
[caption id="attachment_1012089" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Pannist Dane Gulston, left, singer Charmaine Forde and Gulston's son Daniel share some time backstage during the Etienne Charles and Friends concert. The show was held on April 15 at Queen's Hall, St Ann's, and featured other musicians such as Johanna "D Piano Girl Johanna" Chuckaree. -[/caption]
She quickly moved into a Machel Montano soca medley which had the audience clapping. She then performed her famous version of Kes’ 2020 hit single Savannah Grass. Some of the audience could be heard softly singing along as she played. When she did an acoustic cover of Nailah Blackman and Skinny Fabulous’ 2023 hit Come Home, she got up from the piano and sang it as well.
The audience eagerly responded when she instructed them to “put their hand in the air” if they believe Trinidad and Tobago is home to amazing musicians. She followed with a mash-up of two of her favourite love songs, Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud and Militant’s Passion, showing how easily soca can fit into any space and role.
[caption id="attachment_1012091" align="aligncenter" width="960"] TT trumpeter Etienne Charles and Traces played some of the pieces that appear on the album also called Traces. - Courtesy Maria Nunes[/caption]
Other performers also did this throughout the evening and especially by Etienne Charles and Traces, his quartet, which was next on stage.
Charles began by telling the audience people were all connected by a groove, and the band began taking on that connected journey by playing a piece which focused on Peruvian music. Charles also used the Peruvian box-shaped percussion instrument, the cajón, during the performance.
He took his audience on a journey from Morocco to TT.
A musical spotlight was put on each player and their respective instrument.
[caption id="attachment_1012090" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Famed TT trumpeter Etienne Charles, right, engages French cellist and bassist Vincent Segal during the Etienne Charles and Friends show, on April 15 at Queen's Hall, St Ann's. - Courtes
