Barbara Cadet

Clearly, Barbara Cadet has launched into a deeper conversation in her upcoming
2011 CD “Define This!” - Coming from a full decade of paying back dues,
arranging intricate musicals, birthing or nurturing new talent and contributing to
the documentation of music from St. Lucia’s folk theatre archive, Define This! Is
strictly Barbara about her own business. Jazz rich, lyrically explosive and
singularly authentic, the 13 track Collection gives a powerful testimony of her
stylistic diversity.
This new conversation draws deeply on pure, undiluted Jazz rhythms. Steeped
however, in her effortless poetic lyricism, raw emotion and a voice that seduces
like the slow spreading heat of Tequila; this new compilation is hardly provincial.
It’s for the universal stage that has known the smoky, expansive signature of a
Cassandra Wilson, or the vulnerable, but sophisticated styling of Jill Scott.
In between the crisp, impatient “ The Definitive” title track and the languid
tribute “That’s All”, there is a delightful unveiling of the
accomplished arranger, the avant garde musician / songstress and the
definitive Barbara Cadet.
A former head of the woodwind department at the St. Lucia School of Music,
Barbara studied music in England where she was born and lived for some time.
With her roots in Saint Lucia, and clearly destined to music , Barbara in an
undisputed heavyweight in the industry in the Caribbean. She has lectured
on Caribbean Music at the University of Miami and her musical
callaborationsand experimentations are several and legendary. She has performed
throughout the Caribbean Jazz circuit- Martinique,
Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Grendad, Barbados, Guadeloupe,
Cayenne and Jamaica, and has opened for Tanya Maria, Patti La Belle,
Anita Baker, and Spro Gyra, among several others over the 20 year span
of St. Lucia Jazz. In February 2004, Barbara was awarded the St. Lucia Medal
of Merit (Gold) for her long and meritoriuos service in the field of music
Her work with Poetry, Theatre and Dance Productions are also worth
noting.. Supported by the Cultural Development Foundation and the
St. Lucia Heritage Tourism Programme, she collaborated with the
original composer of the musicals of one of the regions most acclaimed playwrights
to score, arrange and produce “Songs from the musicals of Roderick Walcott
( twin brother to Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott) for the mass
market. The project spans various genres from indigenous Folk to Latin, from Jazz
to Country and Western. She worked with ST. Lucian award winning
writer/poet Adrian Augier to produce Soundtracks for Theatre Productions
, for the St. Lucia’s 25th & 30th Independence Celebrations
“Anthem” & “Esperance” and several Dance Production Soundtracks for local dance
companies. Barbara was also commissioned by the St Lucia Air and Sea
Ports Authority to produce the Soundtrack for the St. Lucia Animation
Centre featuring a twenty-five minute multi-faceted presentation of the History
of the Land of St. Lucia.
Her musical collaborations and expimentations are legendary as are her
innovative musical projects. Barbara was instrumental in the establishment of
award winning All-Female Steel Orchestra “Allegro Pan Groove”
as well as the All Female group “Sisterhood” who performed Main Stage
St. Lucia Jazz Festival 1999.
In 1992 Barbara was invited to perform for the 28th Birthday Party of the Prince
of Morocco at the Royal Palace, Rabat.
In 2008 Barbara launched her Jazz/Folk Cd “Indigenously Yours” on Main
Stage, St Lucia Jazz.
In May 2009 Barbara headlined alongside Moroccan born Paris based Virtuoso
Percussionist Khalid Kouhen, Main Stage act for the Festival.
Barbara Cadet was featured as the face of the 2009 “Lime” St. Lucia Telephone
Directory and over the over the years made many local Newspaper Covers.
Her unique vocal attributes have impressed no less than Ellis Marsalis, and
she has had the honr of exchanging notes with the likes of McCoy Tyner,
Michael Brecker and the Legendary Denis Chambers.
Currently commissioned by the St. Lucia Tourist Board, Barbara is Producing
and Directing “The St. Lucia Collective” a collaboration of the island’s
Music icons, to perform Main Stage, St Lucia Jazz 2011. The Group
opens for Richard Bona, Mike stern, chuck brown and
John Legend..
Her third full lenght upcoming commercial CD, Define This! is one for genuine
aficionados and collectors of the genre, more so as the Caribbeans’s few
successful and recognized Female Jazz Apostles.