Caribbean Classics

Jazz Week in St. Lucia continues with the Chamber Orchestra performing on the Strip at JQ Mall in Rodney Bay.  Imagine the additional impact of an international draw on a remote island destination. Loudspeakers boom into the night, rental car companies are depleted and the coast highway slows to a crawl.

Due to some small miracle a dozen young performers were able brave traffic and crowds to arrive at the mall Thursday afternoon and entertain locals and tourists alike with classical and contemporary arrangements for string orchestra.  Grace passionately performed a solo piece from the local folk repertoire.

There is something surreal about performing Broadway classics such as Sunrise, Sunset or Somewhere Over the Rainbow in the Caribbean. So far from New York City these songs take on a new significance on a small island where rainbows and sunsets are the main feature.

Another song the students here love to perform is Danny Boy.   A traditional  Irish love song, most often this piece is performed as a slow, mournful ballad.  Ameila conducts the orchestra in a lively, uptempo version.