By Cayman Compass contributor Christopher Tobutt
They didn’t even start on the stage. Instead, a slow, mournful New Orleans funeral march drifted through the side door of Elmslie Memorial United Church and the audience turned as if someone had opened a window onto another world.
One by one, the musicians of the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass slipped into the sanctuary straight faced, solemn and trumpets raised. Three trumpeters led the way, followed by trombone and tuba, their sound swelling with each step. Only when they reached the front did the tempo suddenly triple, bursting into a jubilant celebration of life. The room laughed, startled and delighted. The evening had declared itself: playful, bold, and full of heart.
As the applause settled, the musicians took their places for this special CayMusicA concert. Rodney Marsalis, Terry Everson, Sophie Urban and Chloe Swindler were all on trumpet, Gregory Freeman was on trombone; Mitchell Brady on tuba; and Brian Cannady played drums.
They moved straight into Bach – but not the polite, string-soaked Bach one expects. This was Bach reimagined for brass. The trumpet lines gleamed like sunlight on water, the trombone phrases rolled in with warmth, and the tuba doing what tubas do. It shouldn’t have worked, but it did, beautifully.
Then came the fireworks. Terry Everson introduced the Harry James Trumpet Concerto, written by the legendary bandleader to show off every trick he had – classical staccato, ragtime sparkle, jazz swagger. “It’s so difficult,” Terry explained, “that nobody ever plays it … except for Rodney Masalis.” Then Rodney proved it, delivering a dazzling, breath-snatching performance.
“It’s been about six years since we were here,” Marsalis said, adding that he and the band have “made so many dear friends” in Cayman. He recalled being asked then whether he’d ever heard of a Caymanian tuba player Charity Putman – as she stepped forward for a playful performance of “The Trouble with the Tuba”, complete with CayMusicA’s co-founder and artistic director Glen Inanga’s nimble accompaniment on piano. The tuba sighed, grumbled, hurried,and danced. It was telling its own story, and the audience loved it.
The full band was back with tunes from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story”. They played “Tonight”, “Maria”, and “America” with warmth, feeling, and a sweep of resounding majesty.
A real treat came next – “When the Saints Go Marching In” – full New Orleans-style mixed with the “Hallelujah Chorus” – both played at the same time! Then a tender flugelhorn serenade of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” floated through the room. It was beautiful, with Marsalis’ notes improvising over the melody in myriad sentimental flutters, like a butterfly over a beautiful flower on a warm summer’s day. It was followed by the Spanish bullfight masterpiece, “La Virgen de la Macarena” – sombre, tense and darkly brooding.
Four young Caymanian musicians joined the group for “Bugler’s Holiday” – with Noah Hammad, Cameron Gilson and Brady Hayles on trumpets and Jadon Ebanks on trombone – and there was a joyful burst of Earth, Wind & Fire energy before Floyd Sandlin delivered a jaw‑dropping drum solo using sticks, hands, a tambourine and sheer audacity. Everybody got back on board for a rollicking version of “Rock Around the Clock”.
The night ended with a gentle surprise: Rodney’s nine‑year‑old daughter stepping forward for her first performance on the violin, supported by the whole ensemble. It was the perfect closing note to an evening full of joy, brilliance, soulfulness and fun.
Christopher Tobutt is a freelance journalist who has written for various publications in the Cayman Islands since 2003.
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