Wall Street Journal - June 29, 2012

Dion Parson and the 21st Century Band
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola
Broadway at 60th Street, (212) 258-9595
Through Sunday

This septet is becoming a very welcome summer institution at Dizzy's—something the club's namesake, Dizzy Gillespie, who recorded a breakthrough jazz calypso album in 1964, "Jambo Caribe," surely would have approved of. Where most bands include a rhythm section, three percussionists (Alioune Faye, steel pan wizard Victor Provost, and leader Dion Parson) are the heart and soul of this group, which also includes what could be called a melody section (trumpeter Marcus Printup, saxophonist Ron Blake) and a harmony section (pianist Carlton Holmes, bassist Reuben Rodgers). Their band's book juxtaposes Caribbean treatments of jazz classics (like "Seven Steps to Heaven," heard on their album, not coincidentally recorded live at Dizzy's) with jazz treatments of calypso ("St. Thomas") and reggae (Bob Marley's "Redemption Song"). Experienced through the band's bright rhythms and vivid tonal palette, the 21st century looks and sounds like the best time to live.

A version of this article appeared June 29, 2012, on page A20 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: The Sounds of American Independence.

New York, June 4, 2012: Dion Parson & 21st Century Band will be performing at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC, June 27-July 1, 2012 with Special Guest Marcus Printup on the trumpet. Sets are 7:30pm and 9:30pm with an extra set at 11:30pm on Friday and Saturday evening.

Breaking News: On Thursday, June 28, at 9:30pm EST, performances will be streamed live at www.jalc.org/live, courtesy of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Fans, friends, and family who are unable to attend in person are encouraged to tune in live.

Press Presentation/Panel Discussion: On Wednesday, June 27, at 6:30pm, Dion Parson & 21st Century Band, with special guest trumpeter Marcus Printup, will present their new CD, “Live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Vol. 2,” to the press and public. The entire band will be on hand to explain the origins of the group’s unique sound, which is inspired by their Caribbean-African cultural heritage and modern American jazz.

About the Band: Parson, who hails from St. Thomas, Virgin Island, and his band members have wowed audiences around the globe with their amazing musical style, which blends jazz, calypso, soca, reggae, mento, quelbe, rara, ska, zouk, steel pan, bouyon, gombay, salsa, chutney, compas, tambu, spouge, and merengue with a pinch of African and New Orleans rhythms. The eclectic sound harks back to 56 years ago, in 1956, when fellow Virgin Islander Sonny Rollins introduced the world to a new musical style with his groundbreaking song, “St. Thomas.” Now Dion Parson & 21st Century Band serve as the inheritors, innovators, and leaders of what has been dubbed “The Pan Caribbean-African Jazz Movement.” Fans and critics agree, “You have to hear it to believe it.” Visit www.dionparson.com

Band Members: Dion Parson, drums; Ron Blake, saxophone; Marcus Printup, trumpet; Reuben Rogers, bass; Carlton Holmes, piano; Victor Provost, steel pan; Alioune Faye, sabar/percussion.

Ticket Info: Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola is located in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, Time Warner Center, 5th Floor, New York City. For tickets or more info, call 212-258-9595 or visit www.jalc.org/dccc

St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands, May 17, 2012: Creating a Creative musical environment for the children of St. Thomas, St John and St. Croix USVI, by ‘giving them options and challenges’ by presenting and letting them experience an ‘alternative’.

Dion Parson presents; ‘Mentoring Through the Arts of Music’, a music education program especially created and directed by Dion Parson for the U.S. Virgin Islands and sponsored by the VI-Lottery, WICO and Banco Popular. The program had its successful premier in the fall of 2009.

Knowing that “it takes a village to raise a child”, Dion Parson, including the other world-class musicians the Virgin Islands has produced over the years, United Jazz International and the VI Sponsors of the program, decided that building a music education program that guides the young people of the Virgin Islands to their professional life is essential for the future development of the students and makes a distinguishable difference in becoming successful in life as well as in the Arts of Music.

May schedule of the program Dion Parson: There will be two free community concerts: 1. In collaboration with Sunset Jazz, on St. Croix, May 18, 2012; 6:00pm – 9:00pm and 2. In collaboration with Tavern on the Waterfront, on St. Thomas May 19, 2012: 7:00pm – 10:00pm. For more information visit the facebook site of ‘21st Century Band’

Education component: Dion Parson, involving the young collage students Jonte Samuel and Kai Richardson, will be visiting the following schools to give Master classes and Workshops: Friday May 18, 2012, Education Complex on St. Croix, 9:30 am -1:30pm. St. Thomas: Monday May 21,2012, Ivanna Eudora Kean H. S. 1:30pm – 6:00pm; Tuesday May 22,2012, Emanuel Benjamin Oliver School 7:30am- 10:30am; 1:30 pm - 5:30pm C. A. H. S.