Famed Trinidad and Tobago trumpeter Etienne Charles formed his quartet, Traces, out of a 2019 French American Jazz Exchange grant.

It was well reported on and allowed him to write music for a group featuring French cellist and bassist Vincent Segal, Venezuelan cuatro player Jorge Glem and Israeli bassist Or Bareket.

On April 15 and 16 the quartet will perform in two concerts called Etienne Charles and Friends which will be held at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s and Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando respectively.

Etienne Charles and Traces is on tour and recently performed at Faena Theatre, Miami Beach, Florida in the Faena Jazz Series Concert on April 12.

[caption id="attachment_1010808" align="alignnone" width="754"] Clifford Charles -[/caption]

The concert series said of Charles, “A Guggenheim Fellow, in 2022 he received a commission to compose and perform his composition ‘San Juan Hill’ with the New York Philharmonic for the opening of New York’s Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall. A recent addition to the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Charles brings his special project, Traces, to our series.”

Charles said in a WhatsApp conversation that the quartet’s music is acoustic and they play “grooves from around the Caribbean, around South America and around North Africa.”

The jazz band’s new album, also called Traces, will be on sale at the concerts.

It is going to be his first time performing in San Fernando with the band and this is special to him, having spent time there as a child.

“I have strong roots in San Fernando. My mother, aunts and uncles were raised in San Fernando. I spent every August holiday there, growing up as a child in TT.

[caption id="attachment_1010807" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Charmaine Forde -[/caption]

“My grandparents lived there in Mon Repos. I have deep roots in San Fernando so I am really looking forward to bringing this group specifically to TT. Not just in Port of Spain where I normally play but in San Fernando,” he said.

Charles said the audience could look forward to high quality, high energy music.

The shows will also feature singer Charmaine Forde, pannist Dane Gulston, Johanna “D Piano Girl Johanna” Chuckaree and guitarist Clifford Charles.

Charles has a very strong presence on TT’s musical landscape.

[caption id="attachment_1010806" align="alignnone" width="683"] Johanna “D Piano Girl Johanna” Chuckaree -[/caption]

For this Carnival, his band Etienne Charles’ Riddim Brass and Mas was on the road with its Revival presentation.

“In musical years, Etienne Charles, now approaching 40, is a baby but his musical acumen and achievements belie his age. A real "town boy," Charles was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, but has acquired international acclaim as one of the best trumpeters on the planet.

"Charles' career, besides winning multiple awards, has also seen him perform with some of the most acclaimed jazz i