“EL duende” is a Spanish term for a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity, or having soul, especially relating to Latin music performed on the Spanish guitar.
For jazz artist and creator of Jazz en Jèrri Adria Godfrey, it is something that “comes from inside as a physical/emotional response to music”.
“It is what gives you chills, makes you smile or cry as a bodily reaction to a particularly expressive artistic performance,” she said.
Jazz is Ms Godfrey’s passion. She created Jazz en Jèrri to bring music for all audiences in Jersey to enjoy and appreciate. It covers the full spectrum of jazz music offering live performances and education, and provides opportunities for resident and visiting musicians.
In October, Jazz en Jèrri produced a concert at JCG with up-and-coming jazz pianist star Joe Webb and trio. Mr Webb also conducted the first-ever jazz piano workshop in the Island at the Jersey Academy of Music.
“We had nearly 200 people attend the concert. Many of the audience were curious to see this rising star who had played recently with Jools Holland. It was brilliant – and the audience loved it,” said Ms Godfrey.
A concert titled El Duende is due to take place at Hamptonne in January. Tickets have already sold out for the event, at which Ms Godfrey will be performing a collection of songs from Latin America and Spain.
On 12 March, at the Jersey Arts Centre, there will be a concert by the James Owston Quartet. James is a highly regarded double bassist from the UK with a technical fluidity on his instrument and strong connection to various forms of improvised music. This will be a celebration of the Great American Songbook repertoire.
A further concert – date still to be announced – will be with prize-winning French jazz pianist Thomas Mayeras and trio, with whom Ms Godfrey will be performing in Brittany and Jersey. This series of concerts represent a new collaboration between the music scenes in France and Jersey.
Ms Godfrey said: “We envision a community where everyone can experience the joy of music in a comfortable atmosphere conductive to creative expression, as well as connections between musicians and audiences promoting understanding across cultures.
“You don’t have to know anything about jazz; it’s more about the music and the stories that the singers and, indeed, the instrumentalists tell. Jazz is a very complex word. It is a kind of music in which improvisation is typically an important part and it requires considerable skill by those who play it.
“As a singer, when I listen to a standard song, I think about how I would interpret that particular story, make it my own to tell to the audience. When I think about interpretation, I want it to be authentic to me, and feel that I’ve given the audience something with which to connect.”
Ms Godfrey has lived in Jersey for over 28 years and is an active member of the local music scene. She has sung jazz at various local musical festivals and created a series of salon concerts at Government House and at other private properties.
But although there may be plenty of Islanders who enjoy listening to jazz, it is hard, she says, to find a concert venue for such concerts.
“I realised there wasn’t really a jazz scene in the Island. I met some of the people who organised the Jersey jazz festivals of the past, when there seemed to be more events of different sorts taking place than there are nowadays. I thought it would be interesting to try to put Jersey back on the jazz map, by inviting some international performers, hence I set up Jazz en Jèrri.
“Ultimately, it would be great to have our own home, which could be a centre for jazz in Jersey, even, perhaps, offering opportunities such as having an artist in residence. In short, we are aiming to develop a regular membership, who could support us by buying tickets for regular concerts, workshops and talks, and experience jazz as do visitors to jazz clubs around the world.”
When Ms Godfrey visits and performs in jazz festivals in France, she says she finds the atmosphere relaxed but well organised, with audiences of all ages catered for. The important aspect, she stresses, is that people come together to listen to the artists.
“I want jazz to be accessible to everybody in Jersey who wants to listen to it, and to have events that promote live music,” she said.
Ms Godfrey has a strong musical connection with Cuba, having been part of the Buena Vista Social Club project. She has also performed at exclusive venues such as Ronnie Scott’s and the Jazz Café in London.
Asked what had triggered her interested in the genre, she said: “I grew up listening to music. I come from the Caribbean coastal area of Colombia, where music and dancing are a very important part of the culture. I listened at home to a lot of Latin big bands, music from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, but my real love for jazz started in Switzerland, where I was studying.
“When I was a university student, a tutor and his wife invited me out to a jazz club, and I came away from that realising that I wanted to sing that genre of music. I joined a jazz trio. Throughout my studies in languages and economics, my love was really singing.”
With so many types of jazz to choose from, what was her favourite?
“My message is always: ‘Jazz is music. Come and enjoy it as music. If you don’t know about it… come and discover it.’
“I particularly enjoy singing bolero, which is part of the Latin American sentimental song, with a strong lyrical character deeply rooted in Cuba.
“This is a very poetic and romantic form of music. In many ways, this genre opened up early conversations about how I would approach a song and about what influences me.
“For me, the opening line of a song should mean ‘now, I’m going to tell you a story’. Listening to this music changed my ideas on the role of a vocalist and how many different options there are available to interpret a particular song. It brings to mind one of my favourite singers, called Olga Guillot. I learned a lot listening to her way of connecting with the band, her arrangements, rhythmic changes, dynamics, tempo – this was all early jazz music training in disguise.”
Ms Godfrey mentioned some of her favourite jazz musicians: Carmen MacRae, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Oscar Peterson, Miles Davies and Ahmad Jamal.
She added a quote from Plato: “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”
“That about sums up my own philosophy of life and music,” she said. “Music is a very important and powerful tool in our lives. It has a unique way of bringing people together. It is a way of life as much as an art form.”
Further details about Jazz en Jèrri can be found at jazzenjerri.com and adria.je
Saturday Interview by Alasdair Crosby
