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Artist
Etienne Charles
12+ albums
jazztrumpetFusioninstrumentalcaribbean
about
Etienne Charles (b. July 24, 1983 Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago) comes from a rich legacy of folk musical tradition going back four generations. His great-grandfather, Clement Monlouis emigrated to Trinidad from Martinique and soon after formed his band in Mayaro. His grandfather, Ralph Charles' distinct cuatro style can be heard on the classic folk and calypso recordings of the Growling Tiger. His father, Francis Charles, was a member of Phase II Pan Groove, one of the world’s top steel bands and one that Etienne himself would later join. Music surrounded him as a child, emanating from his father’s vast record collection, the occasional jam session that would take place during the christmas season, the sounds of calypso, steel pan, and African Shango drumming. These formative years inspired Charles’s playing and are evident in his sound today. Etienne's musical journey began at home. Always a noisemaker, he would find himself drumming on desks, tables and whatever else he could get a sound from. His formal musical education began at Bishop Anstey Junior School where his music teacher, Mr. White taught students to read music, sing and play the recorder. Etienne began learning recorder when his older sister brought her own home from school. He took to the recorder like it was his own and began playing. He received his first trumpet at age 10 as a gift from his Uncle Peter and immediately began filling the house with noise, disturbing people near and far. On noticing his de
