Famous Jazz Musician, Ravi Coltrane, was in Anguilla this week and on Wednesday conducted a workshop. Students from the general music class of Forms 1 and 2 of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School Campus B, together with students who are in the choirs or bands from Campus A, were in attendance at the Teachers’ Resource Centre. Also present were teachers of music, professional musicians and others interested in music.

L-R: Ravi Coltrane and Fitzroy Tomlinson

The workshop was organized by the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) and the Music Department of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School. It was sponsored by the BET network. Principal of the school, Darwin Hazell, thanked all concerned with the organization and described Coltrane’s life and work to the students. Coltrane is a tenor and soprano saxophonist, bandleader and composer who has fronted a variety of jazz line-ups, recorded three albums as leader, worked as a sideman for jazz luminaries and founded an independent record label.

Coltrane spoke to the students about his life and asked questions about their interest in music. He said that he started playing at the age of twelve but never intended it to be his life’s work. He went to college to study jazz at the age of 21 and from then music has been the centre of his life and activities.
Following the talk and questions from the audience some of the students, together with Lennox Vanterpool and Mitch Hazell, played various pieces with Coltrane while some of the students sang. Denecia Niles gave the vote of thanks to BET, ATB and the Music Department of the school.

Students at Music Workshop

The jazz workshop was initiated by BET which also sponsored the visit of Ravi Coltrane. Other sponsors are CuisinArt and American Airlines/American Eagle. Coltrane arrived in Anguilla on April 12 and leaves on April 15. Whilst here BET is filming the preview show for the Tranquility Jazz Festival to be held from November 9-13, and the workshop is to be included in this film which will be aired starting in June.

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