Moon Over the Caribbean Sea - Jazz Adventure in Barbados 2014

CRAIG HOLIDAY HAYNES(USA) was named after jazz legendary singer Billie Holiday. He studied the accordion, piano, and guitar, before playing the French horn in elementary school in St. Albans (Queens) NY. Craig began his professional music career playing tenor saxophone at the age of 14. Having majored in music starting in junior high school, then playing in dance and R&B/pop bands of the day, behind groups like The Toys, Brook Benton and Bo Diddley, with the Fabulous Uniques, even doing some soul and R&B music recording sessions. His first sideman session wound up on the radio as a top 10 R&B single. Later, at 20 years old, he felt a calling to play the drums. He did a successful tour as a drummer with a top 40 band (Gary Toms Empire) within the same year. He soon felt another calling of a more somewhat spiritual nature. He felt the need to preserve what seemed to be an almost dying art form, an art form based on feeling tradition and culture. (Swing, Bebop and real JAZZ!). Craig soon began studying and performing (on drums and percussion) with masters such as Chief Bey and later, Sun Ra and bebopper Barry Harris, even turning down an offer to work with R&B great James Brown. He ran the Art Blakey Breakfast Jam session for 5 years, from 1982-1987 at the Jazz Culture Theater in NYC, and has since been called to play with jazz greats such as Gloria Lynne, George Benson, Jimmy Heath, Donald Byrd, Tony Bennett, Lionel Hampton, Geri Allen, Clark Terry, Stanley Jordan, Onaje Allen Gumbs, Tony O (of the Legendary Blues Band), Marcus Miller, John Hicks, Lalah Hathaway, Gladys Knight and many, many more. “The drummer Craig Haynes is the son of Roy and the equal of his patrimony” – The Philadelphia Inquirer Performance: Moon Over the Caribbean Sea, Friday 17th January, Sea Rocks Dome, Barbados Beach Club, 8pm

NIKITA is a vision of Caribbean beauty and her voice will take you on an escape, to a world of soul, expression and richness that grips her every fibre as a Caribbean woman! Her sound is eclectic, with Caribbean rhythm at its base and fused with sounds of other genres, ultimately enveloping your ears with a sound that croons and sooths your soul.As destiny would have it, Nikita was born into a family of great singers and song competition winners, names synonymous with music in Barbados. It is no wonder that from age 4, she dominated the stage! That first performance at her pre-school graduation led to performances at school, church and family gatherings creating the foundation that has ultimately resulted in Nikita performing on almost every major stage in Barbados and dominating competitions along her path! In 2007, Nikita shared the stage with the Queen of Soul herself, Patti Labelle, at the Hilton Barbados; an opportunity that is revered by singers across the globe! Nikita has established a deep-seated presence in the hearts of Barbadians. For the last three years has serenaded tourists to the islands’ shores as the guest singer at the 5 star hotel, The Sandy Lane Hotel Barbados, known as the premier address of the region, hosting royalty, celebrities and the rich with the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods. Nikita is intent on sharing her Barbadian voice and expression with the rest of world, warming hearts, provoking smiles and being the messenger of inspiration for her listeners. We invite you on this mystical ride to “feel good” music! Get to know her! Performance: Moon Over the Caribbean Sea, Friday 17th January, Sea Rocks Dome, Barbados Beach Club, 8pm