Augustin Duplessis Saxophonist from New York City, NY

Augustin 'Jab' Duplessis began his career in music at the age of 15 when he joined the Royal St. Lucia Police Band as a junior bandsman. His first instrument was the clarinet but later he developed a love for his second instrument, the saxophone. Jab has performed with almost every group on the island of St. Lucia as well as the West Indies Jazz Band, which toured Europe and the Caribbean over a periof od three years. He has performed on two CD's for the WIJB. After this, he formed his own group, 'Third Eye.' The group performed at numberous jazz festivals, both in St. Lucia. As a soloist, he was selected to perform at the 'St. Lucia All Star Jazz Ensemble.' Jab has studied at a number of master classes with renowned musicians such as Bobby Watson from the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz and Bob Berg and the Wynton Marsalis Band. In 2002 Jab produced a music video featuring an original piece from the band's first CD, 'Awakening' entitled 'Ojisten' which is the Creole form of his name 'Augustin.' The video incorporates shots with local school children and tells the story of musicianship as it spans the generations and is carried on from mentor to pupil. A vision he holds dear to his heart for his birthplace St. Lucia. In 2003'Third Eye' performed in the 12th Annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival. They performed with other well known musicians such as the Bernard Brothers, Four Play, and Earth Wind and Fire. Recently, Jab finished a performance tour of New Jersey and New York where he was also featured on a popular television station giving an hour long interview about his life and music. Today Jab has decided upon using his imaginative arrangements in fusing Caribbean and traditional jazz together. He has earned the reputation of being one of the most talented musicians of the Caribbean, rivaled only by his mentor, Luther Francios. Jab is currently working on his next album of songs and the jazz/Caribbean community cannot wait to hear what is next!