The prestigious Naniki Caribbean Jazz Safari Legends Award will be presented to St Vincent and the Grenadines’ best-known composer and multi-award winner, the arranger and international recording artiste Franklyn “Maestro” McIntosh, at {{more}}the inaugural Naniki Caribbean Jazz Safari concert this evening, at the Calliaqua Tennis Courts.

The presentation will be made by Cecil McKie, Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture.

Franklyn “Maestro” McIntosh, aka Frankie McIntosh, has helped to elevate calypso to great prominence by arranging and composing music for artistes such as the Calypso King of the World Mighty Sparrow, Beckett, Scorcher, Chalkdust, Shadow, Explainer and a host of other outstanding musicians. In addition to B.A. and M.A. degrees in Music from Brooklyn College and New York University respectively, Franklyn received several citations and honours from various organizations and record companies and also won the Arranger of the Year award at the 1990 Caribbean Grammy Music Awards. When asked about the future of calypso music, the “Maestro” says he believes that “Calypso-Jazz is the wave of the future and this innovative style of music is gaining momentum throughout the Caribbean”.

The first Naniki Caribbean Jazz Legends Award was presented in Barbados to Trinidad born and Barbados based pianist Ebe Gilkes. Antigua and Barbuda’s Winston Anthony Bailey received the second Jazz Legends Award for his contribution to jazz and in June the third award was presented to Grenadian composer and arranger James Clarkson, in recognition of his contribution to the music and cultural life of Grenada and the Caribbean diaspora.