Musicians from different cultural backgrounds came together
Last Monday, the first-ever Sunset Jam Session took place on the SKAL plaza – a special evening where musicians gathered to perform, share knowledge, and connect with the Department of Art, Culture and Literature.
The evening was led by renowned Curaçaoan musician Gregory Colina. He formed a core band together with legendary Bonairean musician Boy Yanga, percussionist Garry Fransisco, and bassist Faisel Franciska.
The evening kicked off with a warm welcome from Culture Coach Segni Bernardina and acting head of SKAL, Timoteo Silberie. They explained that the main goal of this initiative is to bring musicians on Bonaire together, promote knowledge exchange, and encourage future collaborations. It also offers SKAL/OLB valuable insight into the current state of music on the island – what resources are available and what musicians need.
A short workshop on the art of improvisation followed. Gregory Colina explained the different types of clave rhythms, their origins, and how they influence Caribbean music. He also highlighted the educational aspects of rhythm and musical structure. Each musician demonstrated their connection to the clave using their preferred instrument: Boy Yanga on congas, Garry Fransisco on timbales, and Faisel Franciska on bass. This segment was highly engaging, with active participation and questions from the attending musicians.
After the workshop, everyone took to the SKAL stage, picked up their instruments, and joined the core band. The jam session began and quickly evolved into a dynamic fusion of styles, knowledge, and musical energy.
The atmosphere on stage was vibrant and heartwarming. During the session, several ideas surfaced: some musicians expressed their wish for weekly jam sessions instead of monthly ones, while others emphasized the need for deeper musical workshops, especially in the area of music education and theory.
Although the session was scheduled to end at 10:00 PM, the musicians continued playing until around 11:00 PM, fueled by the spirit of collaboration and joy. At the close, Segni Bernardina thanked everyone on behalf of SKAL and looked back on a highly successful evening. The team will evaluate internally, aiming to organize the next Sunset Jam Session on June 16th.
It was truly impressive to see musicians from different cultural backgrounds come together. Among the attendees were Bonairean, Cuban, Colombian, Brazilian, Curaçaoan, European Dutch, and American musicians.
