Some of the Bay Area’s top Caribbean musicians will come together in a celebration of Kweyol Karnaval as portrayed in the English and Kweyol-speaking islands of the Caribbean. The show will be held February 22, 9pm at the Ashkenaz Dance and Cultural Center in Berkeley. The group will include guitarist Bernard George, drummer Clayton Hazel, keyboardist Dilly George, all hailing from Dominica. Joining them will be Harry Best of St. Lucia and Andrew Charles of Barbados.
The group has previously appeared at Ashkenaz as ‘Koudmen’ in support of Hurricane Relief efforts for Dominica and St. Lucia. This time they celebrate the Kweyol Carnaval culture as observed in the English and Franco-influenced islands of the Caribbean; a festive atmosphere with songs, music, food, and beverages.
Attendees can expect to be moved and delighted by the group’s renditions of infectious ‘Zouk’ music that is indigenous to the French Kweyol speaking islands such as Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique, Haiti, Guadeloupe, St. Marten and Cayenne.
The evening will open with a set from popular Trinidadian Calypsonian and entertainer Asheba, a Bay Area staple. Asheba is an engaging musical storyteller who has specialized in family entertainment since1998. Born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, he was influenced by its spectacular festival, Carnival and the folkloric oral tradition, calypso. Today, he is a renowned world musician who playfully blends calypso, reggae, neo-folk and more.
Come dance and celebrate the Kweyol Karnaval!
