Etienne Charles Photo/Instagram
Charles is redefining jazz, blending his Trinidadian heritage with a deep-rooted understanding of Afro-Caribbean musical traditions and a daringly global perspective on rhythm and improvisation. Currently an Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Michigan State University, Charles is celebrated for his lyrical improvisations. JazzTimes lauds him as “a daring improviser who delivers with heart-wrenching lyricism,” while Downbeat magazine notes his "elegance of a world-class ballet dancer" in performance, a fitting description of his seamless artistry across cultures and genres.
Charles' musical journey is as vibrant and layered as the Afro-Caribbean rhythms that infuse his compositions. His story begins in the heart of Trinidad in 1983, where a rich musical lineage runs four generations deep. From his great-grandfather Clément Monlouis, who brought the folk music of Martinique to Trinidad, to his grandfather Ralph Charles, a cuatro player whose style became a staple in classic folk and calypso recordings, Etienne’s heritage is woven with sounds, rhythms, and stories that would ultimately shape his own voice as a musician. By age 10, after receiving a trumpet from his uncle, Etienne began formal lessons that would mark the beginning of his journey into jazz.
He holds a master’s degree from The Juilliard School and a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. His ensemble, Creole Soul, is a testament to his multicultural approach, comprising musicians from across the Americas. “This band is my laboratory,” Charles shared with CommonNews, adding that his travels around the Caribbean allowed him to study and perform with local musicians, “illuminating musical connections between unexpected locales while celebrating their uniqueness.”
Through albums like Carnival and Creole Soul, Charles captures the soundscape of the Caribbean, drawing from what jazz legend Jelly Roll Morton once called “The Spanish Tinge.” His compositions are layered with Afro-Caribbean grooves and complex rhythms, celebrating the essence of the Creole culture while embracing modern jazz elements. Downbeat magazine recounts a 2022 performance at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall where Charles debuted San Juan Hill, a tribute to a culturally rich New York neighborhood displaced by gentrification. The composition fused Afro-Caribbean rhythms with jazz styles such as stride, disco, and funk, underscoring his ability to bridge past and present through music.
Etienne Charles Creole Soul from the Library of Congress, Washington DC
Beyond his own works, Charles collaborates on projects with a deep social conscience. In 2022, he worked with Trinidadian artists on the song “Born a Criminal,” written by a formerly incarcerated musician and reimagined as a reflection on social justice issues in Trinidad. The collaboration was born from a connection with Dr. Baz Dreisinger, founder of the Incarceration Nations Network. The track blends dancehall, jazz, and Afrobeats, merging musical genres to highlight themes of poverty and inequality.
Charles’ contributions extend globally, earning him numerous accolades, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Chamber Music America grant, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Millennial Swing Award. In 2022, he received a Creative Capital Award for his project Earth Tones, which documents life in vulnerable coastal communities affected by climate change. This multimedia endeavor showcases sounds, stories, and visuals from these regions, expanding his mission to bring lesser-known narratives into the spotlight.
With a bold musical vision and an unwavering dedication to cultural preservation and social change, Etienne Charles continues to carve a unique space in the jazz world. He brings an unmatched depth of knowledge and passion to the stage, creating a rhythmically and melodically rich experience that resonates across generations and continents. As he said in a recent performance at Dizzy’s Club, “This isn’t just jazz — it’s a celebration of the world’s grooves.”
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