Jazz Music the Father of all Black Music was quickly dying in Guyana and in 2013 Mr. Bonny Alves CEO of SSignal Productions decided that an act of resuscitation was necessary. In August 2013 the 1st SSignal Productions Annual Emancipation Jazz & Soul was held at the Umana Yana which was a welcome return for Jazz fans who were starved for this genre of music. In honor of our Emancipation, songs performed were composed or covered by Black international artistes.
By the 2nd year overseas acts began to be added to the cast which started with US based Guyanese Saxophonist Berklee Graduate Courtney Fadlin for 6 years. Jamaican/American Trumpeter and Singer Sean Taylor was added at the 3rd year which was held at the Georgetown Club.
Back at the Umana Yana for our 5th year we welcomed London based Guyanese Flautist, Keith Waithe, African American Guitarist Kevin Ikenpi and the Southern Caribbean Saxophone Quartet were welcomed to our stage which saw the patrons coming out in their hundreds and had us bursting at the seams trying to map out accommodation for them. The 6th & 7th year we introduced Trinidadian Trumpeter Rellon Brown at the
Police Officers Mess and the Umana Yana respectively. Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic there was no production of the Emancipation Jazz & Soul 2020 – but in 2021 there was a Virtual presentation comprising of our local acts. In 2022 we were happy to be back in the public domain, but with a smaller cast and no overseas acts which was still pretty much appreciated by the crowd who attended.
Gracing our stage in 2023 for the celebration of our 10th year, will be Guyanese Saxophonist of the Ninja Band of New York KING SOU FLANTIS, Guyanese International Flautist and Music Teacher Keith Waithe, Trinidadian Trumpeter Mr. Rellon Brown with his Calypso Jazz Band
Dominant Seventh, together with our top Guyanese resident acts Charmaine Blackman, Bonny Alves, Sean Bhola, Steel Pan Soloist Michael Smith, EGO, Devon Denny, Dawn Edwards and Jolyon Harry all backed by the Fame Band featuring the legendary Jazz Pianist Trevor John and Young Elmer Ganishdin.
This year we would like to thank our sponsors Mings Products & Services Ltd (MPS), Sankar Auto Works, Janico Industrial Engineering Company Ltd, Sandys Funeral Home, Colours Boutique, Readymix Concrete Inc., Jai Signs & Auto Designs, Sagacity, Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, Digicel, BK Group of Companies, The Tourism Authority of Guyana, DJ Brian Sanchez – North Carolina, Noble House Seafoods and for the Trinidadian Band Dominant Seventh – Creative Caribbean, with implementing partners Unesco, Caricom, European Union and the Support of the Organisation of ACP States.
