VINCI Jazz & Cocktail Concert returns in spirit of Juneteenth, Caribbean-American Heritage Month

After a four-year hiatus, the annual Jazz & Cocktail Concert organized by the Brooklyn-based Vincentian-American National Charities, Inc. (VINCI) returned on Jun. 11 in the spirit of Juneteenth, Caribbean-American Heritage Month and pre-Father’s Day celebrations.

According to Enisha Fern Dopwell — VINCI’s public relations officer and coordinator of the “successful event,” at the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center, on Prospect Place in Brooklyn — the show was graced with the performance of Frankie McIntosh, one of the Caribbean’s pre-eminent musical arrangers.

Vincentian-born McIntosh, on keyboards, and his Friends International included Trinidadian pannist Garvin Blake, Brooklyn-based drummer Damon Duwhite and Guyanese bassist Max Gouveia, with appearances by singer and song writer Abena Amory, daughter of celebrated Vincentian soprano Erlene Williams-King.

“Abena was remarkable. There was no rehearsal with her before the show,” McIntosh told Caribbean Life afterwards. “She forwarded part of her repertoire beforehand. I selected the songs that would go best with our group’s instrumentation, and scored the music for those.

“The band members read the charts at sight,” he added. “Abena came to the stage and sang — not a hitch.”

Abena Amory gives “Your Love.” Photo by Nelson A. King

Amory – also the daughter of the late, former Nevis Premier Vance Amory – song, to wide acclaim, Nora Jones’s “Don’t Know Why”, Billy Ocean’s “Suddenly” and her original “Your Love.”

“It was an honor and privilege to be able to perform with the legend, the great Frankie McIntosh, and his band,” Amory said. “I had a wonderful time. It warmed my heart to feel the love and support from the audience.”

McIntosh noted that the acts which followed — all youngsters — were “tremendously talented.”

Trinidadian DoMo on pan. Photo by Nelson A. King

They included Trinidadian-American pannist DoMo (“The Jack of All Trades”) and Vincentian-American brothers Noel, Oneal and Mikel Haye.

“I enjoyed their performances immensely and even thought privately that it would have been regrettable had we robbed them of that opportunity by using their time to play our second set,” McIntosh said.

He said his group was grateful to former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador to Cuba, Dexter Rose, Dopwell’s cousin and radio host of “Jazz Tropical” on NBC SVG 705 Radio.

McIntosh said Rose, the leader of a musical group by the same name (“Jazz Tropical”), had suggested the idea of a “Jazz Dinner” and recommended his group to Dopwell.

Rose — who was in Brooklyn as a judge for the preliminary judging the night before of the Dynamite Calypso Tent for Vincy Mas 2023 and attended the event – said the show as “an amazing idea,” adding that he looks forward to seeing “more of this.”

“There’s a lot of talent in the Diaspora — quality talent for quality public,” he said.

Appreciative audience, with former Speaker of the House of Assembly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jomo Thomas, left, front table, taking in the jazz music. Photo by Nelson A. King

Dopwell said the audience was “well entertained” and “constantly showed appreciation for the performers by applauding after each and every piece.

“The choice of music performed had balanced and harmonious phrases,” she said. “The melodies were elegant and soothing, which made the audience very impressed.

“It was interesting to see the diversification in the pieces of music performed by all,” Dopwell added. “An enjoyable Sunday evening was felt by all in attendance. Diverse jazz music, respectable audience, all-inclusive appetizers and drinks complimented the entire evening.”

In the spirit of Father’s Day, she said VINCI was “honored” to acknowledge Haywood Thomas, 97, “one of the most senior supporters in our community.”

“Vincentian-American Independent National Charities, Inc. would like to thank everyone who contributed, donated and attended our Jazz & Cocktail event,” Dopwell said.

McIntosh said the Jazz and Cocktail Concert was “a success on several levels.”

“It was the first in a long while that I had been privileged with the opportunity not only to share the same space with so many other Vincentians but to perform for them as well – the next best thing to being home for carnival,” he said.