COPA Airlines has partnered with Bonny Alves and Charmaine Blackman of Signal Productions for the staging of the 3rd annual Emancipation Jazz and Soul Concert billed for August 23, 2015 at the Georgetown Club.Copa Airlines has provided tickets to transport saxophonist Courtney Fadlin to Guyana from New York for the event.

At a media briefing yesterday at Copa Airlines head office at 212 Camp Street, Georgetown, Bonny Alves, the organiser said that the event will feature jazz and soul music from talented and gifted performers from here as well as from overseas.

He said that during the Emancipation observances in August all things African are featured locally and he wanted to do much more to highlight the celebration.
Therefore, he extended the boundary three years ago by inviting accomplished entertainers to perform locally.

Alves said that present in Guyana for the event will be trumpeter Sean Taylor and saxophonist Courtney Fadlin, accompanied by local singer Melissa Vandeyar, Lindener Quincy Lacon and of course Charmaine Blackman.

Sean Taylor told the press conference that he is American-born with Jamaican parents and lives in New York and it is his very first time in Guyana.

He added that when he heard of the jazz and soul concert he knew he had to be here for the event. He is an entertainer who not only plays an instrument, but is also a singer and dancer. Taylor is aiming to restore respect to instrumental music.

Meanwhile, inspired by his father, Jethro Fadlin Sr., (an acclaimed musician in the Caribbean) as a young boy Courtney would watch his father at various performances.

It wasn’t too long after his tutelage began. Courtney also credits Grover Washington Jr. as one of his major influences. This path eventually took him to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and by 1999 he completed his degree programme (saxophone performance) there. Flute, sax and clarinet are Courtney’s instruments of choice presently, however piano and steelpan (aka steel drums) are part of his musical background.

He is very passionate about music and is hoping to revive instrumental music here next year for youths as an after-school activity.

Charmaine Blackman thanked the many sponsors including the Department of Culture and Copa Airlines and belted out a sample of one of the songs she will sing at the upcoming event, which was well received yesterday morning.

Nadine Oudkerk, Copa Airlines Sales Manager based in Guyana, said, “We are pleased to sponsor Courtney Fadlin’s trip to the 3rd annual Emancipation concert to be held in Georgetown. We are always seeking opportunities like this to support cultural preservation, expression and integration.”

The Jazz & Soul Concert focuses on the contribution of a number of Black artistes in the genres of Jazz and Soul Music. Tributes will be paid to the likes of Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Sam Cook, and King Curtis, among others.

The presentations will have a bias towards the saxophone; also remembering the great contributions of Guyanese saxophonists Count Profitt, Deuce Jeffery, James Smartt, Roddie Fraser and Harry Whittaker.

According to the promoters, the show promises to be bigger than previously held as once again sensational Guyanese saxophonist Courtney Fadlin will grace the stage, and a new feature will be added in American R&B recording artiste and musician Sean Taylor, along with a constellation of top Guyanese artistes including bassist George Reid on drums and Pan Michael Smith, keyboards Trevor John, Singers: Charmaine Blackman, Bonny Alves, Dawn Edwards, Compton Magus Leacock, Melissa Vandeyar, Eze Rockcliffe, Devon Denny and EGO. Saxophonists: Roger Dyal, Roy Stewart, Desmond Atwell, Keith Campbell and Aubrey ‘Fingers’ Roberts.

Tickets are being sold at $2,000 and can be obtained from Blackman and/or Alves directly, or at the gate and the event starts at 18:00hrs.