Etienne Charles at Lansing Jazz Fest at

“..Etienne Charles exhibits both an authentic preservation of the music of his native culture of Trinidad as a composer and bandleader, while broadening our scope of understanding through the collaborative sound of American jazz as it meets new colors, new textures, and new motifs across the world. It will certainly bring more of our public into the jazz audience” - Marcus Roberts

“An amazing Trumpet player, and Steel Drum player, and Cuatro player...young Trinidadian who has held onto his heritage” - Monty Alexander

“A daring improviser, Charles also delivers with heart-wrenching lyricism” - Jazz Times...

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“..Etienne Charles exhibits both an authentic preservation of the music of his native culture of Trinidad as a composer and bandleader, while broadening our scope of understanding through the collaborative sound of American jazz as it meets new colors, new textures, and new motifs across the world. It will certainly bring more of our public into the jazz audience” - Marcus Roberts

“An amazing Trumpet player, and Steel Drum player, and Cuatro player...young Trinidadian who has held onto his heritage” - Monty Alexander

“A daring improviser, Charles also delivers with heart-wrenching lyricism” - Jazz Times

“…had strength and a clear, almost classical sense of thematic organization.” - New York Times


Born on the island of Trinidad in 1983, Etienne Charles defies easy musical categorization.

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