Sunday, December 10, 2023
7:30 PM
The series continues on Sunday, December 10, with Trinidad-born trumpeter-percussionist-composer Etienne Charles, who made his Athenaeum debut in 2018. He returns with his Creole Christmas program for the holiday season. Hailed by the New York Times as “an auteur” and by JazzTimes as “a daring improviser who delivers with heart-wrenching lyricism,” according to DownBeat, “Charles delivers his ebullient improvisations with the elegance of a world-class ballet dancer.” He has received critical acclaim for his exciting performances, thrilling compositions, and knack for connecting with audiences worldwide. In October 2022 he had the singular honor of composing and performing San Juan Hill, an original piece for jazz sextet and the New York Philharmonic for the opening night of the newly renovated Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center.
Perhaps more than any other musician of his generation or of Eastern Caribbean origin, Charles brings a careful study of myriad rhythms from the French, Spanish, English, and Dutch–speaking Caribbean to his music. With Creole Christmas, Charles has crafted a program of vividly reimagined holiday songs from Caribbean, American, and European traditions, such as “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” all imbued with a decidedly funky edge and brought to life by the trumpeter’s superb sextet, which features Etienne Charles on trumpet, percussion and vocals, Shenel Johns on vocals; Godwin Louis on sax, Jorge Glem on cuatro, David Williams on bass, and Adriel Brown on drums.
The concerts will be in person at Scripps Research. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.
Masks optional. If you have a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms, please stay home.