Anuschka Wright during her Father's Day "Jazz in Bloom Inspire" performance. (Photo: Torrell Glinton)
Performing is akin to breathing to Anuschka Wright.
She has performance in her blood.
To quench her "thirst", Anuschka and took her turn in the spotlight early and often, singing in church and school choirs, and was even a member of The Bahamas National
Choir, and a Gospel ensemble Christian Music Association.
After leaving the children's choir as a junior school, she took a break from organized groups, but emerged professionally in 2009 as a soloist, joining the country's top jazz band "Jazz Etc." led by bassist Adrian D'Aguilar.
Anuschka says she fell in love instantly with the new musical environment provided by the band and became more and more taken by the intimacy and intricacy that lay within the concept and construct of jazz music.
It's this jazz butterfly that has created the popular known as "Jazz in Bloom" which she started in 2013 as a Father's Day weekend treat, and as an avenue to pay for her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with a in jazz studies at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Anuschka completed her degree this year.
This year's JIB Inspire was about remembering and honoring individuals that help to spark inspiration, and was just as magical an experience as her fans have come to expect from her productions.
The band behind the magic consisted, as usual, of an eclectic mix of both international and local musicians -- Adrian D'Aguilar (bass) and Ralph Munnings (alto sax) who are both regulars of the concert series.
Newly featured were members of Adrian D'Aguilar's group "The Jazz Cats" -- Giveson Gelin (drums) and Giveton Gelin (trumpet).
Her guest artists this year were both connected to Anuschka by way of Concordia University -- Dave Turner (alto sax) is a Concordia professor and leader of the Big Band and Chris Tauchner (piano)is a Concordia alumni and accompanist for the Concordia Jazz Choir.
As usual, Anuschka shone brightly on stage -- literally and figuratively -- performing this year without any other featured singers for the first time. She commanded the stage, and kept her audience enrapt.
She glided effortlessly through her sets, as she drew the audience into the story she set with style, grace and a charming sense of humor.
People smiled, tapped their feet and swayed to the classic jazz standards such at "Teach Me Tonight," "Tea For Two" and "Love For Sale" -- but there was also groove to be had with Anuschka's rendition of a funked out version of "Small Day Tomorrow."
She even took her audience to the world of musical theater with a performance of "Losing My Mind" from the play "the Follies" with just voice and piano.
Anuschka showed grit and grime when she sunk her vocal chops into a soulful rendition of "I Put A Spell On You." After her final number "Black Nile", the vocalist and her band received a standing ovation. Anuschka and her band gave them more to show their gratitude for their outpouring of love, with a performance of "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)" and left the band to groove the audience out of the room with "Fungii Mama" -- a fun calypso jazz song.
With a mix of the young and not so young, local and international talents Wright prepared a dynamic show for her supporters to once again share her vision of jazz, but also to reveal the growth and knowledge she's attained over her years of study abroad.
Having chosen to fully pursue her love of music, jazz and singing, Anuschka is realizing her dreams with degree in
hand, and an adoring fan base that supports her.
JIB's mission is to consistently present a high quality of jazz music to the Bahamian public showcasing both local and international jazz artists and musicians. In to honor fathers, JIB is an ongoing celebration of life, music and the creative spirit of all.
Shavaughn Moss, Guardian Lifestyles Editor
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