CaribPR Wire

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. June 7, 2022: One of the Caribbean’s premier artiste, Jamaican-born, Grammy-nominated international musician, Dr. Monty Alexander, CD, will mark National Caribbean American Heritage Month in Washington, D.C., this weekend with his 51^st annual performance at the famed Blues Alley Jazz Club.

Fresh from captivating audiences in France and Japan, Alexander returns to his loyal fan base in Washington, D.C. for a series of thrilling contemporary jazz performances at the iconic Blues Alley. The shows will kick off on Friday, June 9th and continue through Sunday, June 11th, with two shows per night at 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007.

Blues Alley, founded in 1965, is a jazz nightclub in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Musicians who have performed at Blues Alley include Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, John Abercrombie, Tony Bennett, Taj Mahal, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Sarah Vaughan, Grover Washington Jr., Mary Wilson, Nancy Wilson and dozens more.

Dr. Alexander, whose jazz album ‘Love Notes,’ was released last year as his first recording featuring his vocals, will not only mesmerize the audience but also celebrate his recent Order of Jamaica award from the Jamaican government, recognizing his significant contributions to Caribbean American and Jamaican music.

The showtimes for the Blues Alley performances are scheduled at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST, respectively, from June 9th to June 11th. Tickets priced at US$42 can be reserved now by selecting the desired date and time on the Blues Alley website at https://www.bluesalley.com/events.

Reflecting on the upcoming performances, Dr. Alexander, the Caribbean musical genius, shared: “At this special time my desire is to also pay musical tribute to a man with whom I enjoyed a wonderful friendship, fellow Jamaican, Harry Belafonte.” He also expressed his excitement to bring his timeless jazz artistry to the stage once again in the nation’s capital.

After almost six decades since his move from Kingston, Jamaica to the United States, Alexander remains an iconic figure in American jazz, delighting audiences worldwide with his vibrant personality and soulful message. Renowned for his endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, and sophisticated voicings, his performances encompass a repertoire that spans jazz, blues, gospel, calypso, reggae, and the American songbook.

With over 75 recorded albums and being recognized as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Monty Alexander received the Jamaican government’s esteemed Commander in the Order of Distinction in 2000 and the national honor of the Order of Jamaica in 2022 for his exceptional contributions to Jamaican music and his global interpretations of the jazz genre. Furthermore, he was bestowed with an honorary doctorate (DLitt) from the University of The West Indies.

Monty Alexander’s virtuosic piano skills and unique blend of jazz and Caribbean musical influences continue to captivate global audiences. His performances are characterized by infectious energy, soulful improvisation, and an innate sense of groove. Whether interpreting jazz standards, reimagining popular tunes, or showcasing his own compositions, Alexander’s expressive playing leaves an indelible mark on listeners.

In addition to his musical achievements, Monty Alexander proudly represents Jamaican culture worldwide, incorporating the spirit and vibrancy of his homeland into his performances. As an esteemed figure in the jazz world, his music transcends borders and connects people, leaving a lasting impact on all who have the pleasure of experiencing his remarkable talent.

As he approaches his 80th birthday, the jazz maestro continues to tour the world, delighting audiences with his vibrant personality and soulful messages. His latest project, “The Monty Alexander Movie,” a documentary showcasing his life and music, is currently in production in Jamaica, the U.S., and Europe, directed by Academy Award© winning cinematographer Jefferson Miller and veteran filmmaker Arthur Gorson.

For more, visit  him on YouTube or at montyalexander.com. You can also like him on Facebook at facebook.com/officialmontyalexander or keep up to date on his performances on Twitter at @montyHKE.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please see pic for use with this article here:

Dr. Monty Alexander, C.D., O.J. (Hollis King Image)

MEDIA CONTACT:

Felicia J. Persaud

Hard Beat Communications

718-476-3616

[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Tuskegee Airmen ECCTAI President, Gabriel J. Christian, and Keynote Speaker Robert Rashford Bring Caribbean Leaders to Forefront

CaribPR Wire, WASHINGTON, Thursday, June 27, 2019: On December 1, 2018, Gabriel J. Christian, Esq., became the first Caribbean-born President of the Tuskegee Airmen East Coast Chapter.

This summer, Christian led the Tuskegee Airmen by organizing and hosting a historic fundraising event which featured two prominent Caribbean nationals during its 2019 Tuskegee Youth In Aviation Breakfast Fundraiser on May 25th in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

The theme for this year’s fundraiser event was ‘Honoring the Legacy of Excellence’ as featured on CBS News (WUSA9) in Washington, D.C. The full news feature is available on CBS online at https://on.wusa9.com/2J9tIzi.

The East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc,. (ECCTAI), is the largest and most active chapter in the national organization and brings together — in the spirit of friendship and goodwill — all who share in the aspirations and successes of the men and women who pioneered military aviation in the Tuskegee Airmen; a group of Black military pilots who fought in World War II.

As the newly elected President of ECCTAI, Gabriel J. Christian, a native islander from The Commonwealth of Dominica, is the first Caribbean-born President to serve in this role. Keeping the legacy of his father, Wendell McKenzie Christian, who was a British Army World War II veteran.

Christian is an attorney, an author, and a long-standing and active volunteer member of ECCTAI for over a decade whilst also serving as Lead Counsel at his Bowie-based law practice: The Maryland Law Offices of Gabriel J. Christian & Associates. Having been raised by a decorated fireman father and a dutiful mother who impressed upon him the importance of civil services, Christian seeks to preserve the legacy of the proud Tuskegee Airmen. “Their successes expanded the bounds of freedom and equality for all people, at home and abroad.”

The event’s keynote speaker, Jamaican-native islander, Robert Rashford, is an internationally known aerospace engineer who makes tools for use in outer space. His wide-ranging work has earned him many awards. This includes four awards from NASA for his work on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite and the Hubble Space Telescope. He also received an award for Excellence in Science and Technology from the Institute of Caribbean Studies.

Today, he says to young people: “Expect challenges in your life; if you have no challenges, you do not live- use each one to motivate you to achieve great things.”

Rashford’s stellar accomplishments and focus on encouraging today’s youth to challenge themselves made him the ideal choice for Keynote during the event. “At a time when space exploration is key to the survival of our species, our scholarship program helps fund activities that promote aerospace and youth leadership development, especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” said Christian.

ECCTAI is dedicated to fostering recognition of and preserving the history of Black achievements in aviation, and to inspiring and motivating young men and women toward endeavors in aviation and aerospace careers.

For more on ECCTAI and to start making a difference, log on to http://ecctai.org/.

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REFERENCES

CaribNation TV News Feature of Tuskegee Airmen Youth in Aviation Event

https://youtu.be/FfEpsDuvWS0

CBS News Feature of Tuskegee Airmen

https://on.wusa9.com/2J9tIzi

https://www.wusa9.com/video/opinion/editorials/off-script/tuskegee-airmen-work-to-get-teens-interested-in-aviation-stem/65-cb75b160-7da0-4ad4-8644-48731dfbefa6

Tuskegee Airmen Photo Gallery

https://ecctai.smugmug.com/2019-ECCTAI-YOUTH-RECOGNITION-BREAKFAST-FUNDRAISER/

Tuskegee Airmen ECCTAI – President’s Message

http://ecctai.org/presidents-message

Robert Rashford Bio

http://icons.niherst.gov.tt/icon/robert-rashford-ci1/

Wendell M. Christian Obituary

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=wendell-m-christian&pid=154037173

PRESS CONTACT:

Above Prestige Public Relations

Office: 202-670-6489

Email: [email protected]

www.AbovePrestigePR.com

CaribPR Wire, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Feb. 24, 2010: Carib ID, the movement founded in 2008 by Felicia Persaud to get Caribbean nationals accurately counted in the U.S., gained a promotional shot in the arm on Wednesday as the Associated Press turned its spotlight on the organization.

Persaud has been working diligently to encourage the Caribbean communities to become accurately counted by the Census through a push for a Caribbean origin category on future census forms and a write in campaign for 2010.

For this current U.S. Census, CaribID is urging all Caribbean nationals and those with Caribbean ancestry to fill out the form and ensure they tick their race but to write their nationality or ancestry as well on the line under “some other race” on Census Forms being distributed next month.  The story has so far appeared on over 175 media outlets based on the AP syndication, including the New York Times and the LA Times, and also generated a CBS News interview.

Persaud, CEO of Hard Beat Communications, an ethnic advertising, PR and news agency, and who founded the organization in 2008 because of her frustration at being unable to tell the Caribbean American story in numbers, said the story could not come at a better time, since CaribID has been hard pressed financially to get the write in message to Caribbean nationals across the United States as Census 2010 approaches.
 
“Since 2008, we have been the lone voice speaking out on this issue.  We have utilized our own time and resources without a dime in funding to fight for this cause on behalf of the entire Caribbean community,” says Persaud.  “But we believe strongly that the Caribbean population in the U.S. cannot really move forward until we can accurately count ourselves, tell our spending power and determine our voting strength. Let us all take pride in our heritage by standing up and count.`

See full story at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-census-caribbean-identity,0,4000390.story
ABOUT CARIB ID

CaribID was founded by Persaud in 2008 to call for a Caribbean origins category on the U.S. Census form and to ensure an accurate count for Caribbean nationals living in the U.S.

The organization has several partners across the country – both in media and on the organizational level. Directors include Chris Chaplin and Ann Walters.

So far the organization has secured two bills in the U.S. House of Representatives, calling for the measure in 2009. The group is a national partner of the 2010 U.S. Census and is urging all Caribbean nationals to write in their country of origin on question 9 of the Census form, while filling in their race and en sure they mail it back as soon as they receive it in their mail boxes.

For more, see CaribID2010.com.

ABOUT FELICIA PERSAUD

Felicia Persaud is a Caribbean-born media entrepreneur who runs the only Caribbean-focused advertising, public relations and news agency in the U.S. – Hard Beat Communications (www.hardbeatcommunications.com) The company’s CaribPR Wire is part of the PR Newswire family and CaribWorldNews is the daily syndicated news service. Persaud is also a social activist, an immigration columnist and a radio host on WWRL 1600 AM.