Reviews  

CARIBBEAN JAZZ ON THE MOVE Look out, Monty Alexander. There's a new contender on the horizon for a crown the Jamaican keyboard maestro has worn for a long, long time - king of the Caribbean jazz piano. It wouldn't be fair to describe Jazzique Chiverton as a new kid on the block. He's been a core member of the vibrant St. Kitts and Nevis music scene for the past 15 years, as producer, arranger, band leader and studio keyboard wizard. But Queen-Sugar is his first solo CD. And it's an auspicious debut. A musical tribute to his beloved home, Queen-Sugar is as laid-back and relaxed as our beautiful islands. It takes you from a jazzy afternoon stroll in St. Kitts' historic capital of Basseterre to a reggaesque "lime" - the local expression for hanging out and partying - at Sunshine's on Pinney's Beach in Nevis, with musical stops at Brimstone Hill, Gingerland and Turtle Beach thrown in. There's even little Mozart to relax with on the beach.

Previews 1 Island Morning 2 Alla Turga 3 Liamigua Border Line 4 Turtle Beach 5 Afternoon in Basseterre 6 The Shack Shack Tree 7 Killer Bee Sunshine 8 Community 9 Chicken Stone 10 Gingerland 11 Brimstone Hill 12 Hollis

Jazzique, whose influences include Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Chick Corea and Ramsey Lewis, is at home with all shades of jazz, but to my ears the standout tracks on Queen-Sugar are the reggae-jazz numbers.