Lifestyle

Giveton Gelin – The Island Dreamer

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Giveton Gelin picked up a trumpet as a little boy and has not put it down since.

Published

11 months ago

June 18, 2023

Jean Joseph

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Giveton Gelin picked up a trumpet as a little boy and has not put it down since.

His early influences came from all around him, especially at home, where he listened to a variety of music, and church, where his mother was heavily involved.

Fast forward to meeting his mentor, bassist Adrian D’aguilar and the story starts to snowball, taking Giveton on a path to meeting and learning from jazz legends like Wynton Marsalis, Barry Harris, and the late Roy Hargrove, among others.

It was by design that he would emerge from such a diverse cultural melting pot, going from Lincoln Boulevard to the Lincoln Center, and in 2020, he released his debut album, True Design.

Though the pandemic slowed him down, he used that time to work on his new project, The Island Dreamer. He says the process helped him realize we are more alike than different.

While his music is a key focus, Giveton also provides opportunities for other musicians to learn and find mentors through his #intheshed program – an online community of dedicated musicians of different skill levels from around the world.