ARTISTS APPEARING IN "JAZZ ARTISTS ON THE GREENS 2008": www.jaotg.org

Bellita y JazzTumbatá

Lilia Expósito Pino (a.k.a. Bellita) is a rarity in the male-dominated Cuban-jazz movement. A successful female bandleader and top instrumentalist schooled in the "Nova Trove" movement of the 60's and 70's, she combines a driving, sparkling keyboard style with funky vocal unisons à la Tania Maria, delivered with Afro-Cuban sensuality. Bellita and her group JazzTumbatá have performed at festivals around the world in the Americas and the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. The group released their debut CD BELLITA Y JAZZTUMBATA in 1999.

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Canefire

CaneFire is a high-energy Caribbean music experience that features the steelpan (steel drum) in a way you've never heard it before. The original compositions of pianist and bandleader Jeremy Ledbetter combine Trinidadian calypso with Latin rhythms, jazz, and blues to create a unique, exciting new sound. CaneFire premiered at Toronto's Lula Lounge in May 2005, and has since performed at various jazz festivals in canada and the Caribbean. Caribbean jazz with FIRE!

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élan parlé

élan parlé is a Trinidad-based music ensemble that blends Caribbean rhythms with global music influences to create Caribbean/World fusion. Using freewheeling improvisation over carefully crafted compositions, élan parlé brings a contemporary jazz perspective to the musical and cultural traditions of Trinidad and Tobago.Formed in 2000, élan parlé has proven itself to be Trinidad's finest musical aggregate. After eight years, six CDs, numerous jazz festival appearances, glowing press reviews and music awards, the band shows no signs of slowing down. A new CD plus DVD project is in the works to be released in the first quarter of 2009.

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Mungal Patasar & Pantar

Mungal Patasar: "I am a musician of the world, India is my memory, Trinidad and Tobago the ground under my feet, Europe my door to the world, my music is a gift that belongs to everyone." The band Mungal Patasar and Pantar was founded in 1994. Prior to this, Mungal was well known for his experiments with Indian Classical Music, Calypso and Jazz. After completing studies, Mungal continued on the path of fusion music. In 1996 he recorded his first album Nirvana. This CD caught the notice of Virgin Records, France. He was then signed his second album Dreadlocks (2001). 2005 saw the release of their third album, Calabasse Café. A live CD followed in 2008.

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