Junkanoo Jazz Concert To Debut At Regency Theatre

GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – Conceived less than a year ago, the inaugural Junkanoo Jazz Concert, ‘Through the Music’, will debut at the Regency Theatre in Grand Bahama on March 23,  starting at 6pm.  

Concert Director and Event Producer, Jens Sweeting,  aims to showcase Bahamian talent and artistry through the unique fusion of junkanoo and jazz. “When jazz encounters diverse cultures, those cultures inherently express themselves through the music’” said Sweeting  who has his Master Degree in Music, from Manhattan School of Music in New York.  “This phenomenon gives rise to various jazz sub-genres like Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, Japanese jazz, Ethiopian jazz, and countless other variations. As a jazz musician from The Bahamas, Junkanoo jazz naturally emerged as the fusion of cultural influences.”

 The inspiration behind Junkanoo Jazz is the desire to merge culture and passion, a concept Sweeting believes is a natural manifestation of exposing jazz to diverse cultures.

Sweeting’s band, Forces of Nature, featuring Erica Weir, Dontae Dames, and AJ Francis, will participate alongside local musicians Wannessa Hanna, Zhivargo, and Jade Moya. Guest artists trumpeter Mansa Campbell and saxophonist Gardener Stewart from New Providence will also present original compositions and well-known pieces. 

“The event will serve as a significant platform for individuals to showcase their compositions and share their narratives through music, which is the focal point of the gathering.” Sweeting explained.  “Every featured musical piece will narrate a story, encompassing themes such as nostalgia, tragedy, resilience, overcoming challenges, and love. As the show unfolds, these themes intertwine, with each song paving the way for exploring the next theme.” 

Trumpeter Mansa Campbell is looking forward to the opportunity to showcase this new genre to the Bahamain public. “I’ve heard about Jens for a while, and this is the first time I’m getting to share my music with him. It will be a great opportunity for the Bahamian public to hear what we have to offer and to witness first hand the fusion of Junkanoo and Jazz and expose them to something new. Jazz is not really popular amongst Bahamians, but with the addition of Junkanoo and our stories through music, I’m sure it’s going to connect with them.” 

To enhance the musical performances, the event will also feature a live painting by artist Matthew Wildgoose, interpreting the performance in real-time. The painting will be raffled at the end of the show for a lucky audience member to take home. 

Sweeting envisions turning this showcase into an annual event with hopes of expanding to include more acts, other islands, and eventually international locations. He was quick to thank the sponsors for his inaugural concert, who are helping bring this exciting fusion to the island, including The Bahamas Distilling Company, Pizza Hut, Island Bedding Furniture, Lash & Leisure in New Providence, B&B Galaxy Waste Management, Joyful Morning Coffee Cafe, Remor Media and the Ministry of Tourism. 

“We’re aiming to turn this into a yearly thing. We’ve got two guest artists from New Providence, and we’re really looking forward to possibly hosting similar events there and on other islands like Eleuthera, who have already had a jazz event,” beamed Sweeting. “We’re not putting any caps on our plans, so if we can take this show to other countries, that would be an awesome opportunity, too.”

Tickets for the event are priced at $60 for general admission and $75 for VIP seats, available online at forcesofnatureband.com, in person at Lignum Vitae Market & Café, or by calling 242-804-7777.