Barbara Cadet & Friends
@ Pigeon Island, St. Lucia Jazz Festival
10 May 2008

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Biography

A former head of the woodwind department at the St. Lucia School of Music,
Barbara Cadet studied music in England where she was born and lived for some time.

With her roots in Saint Lucia, and clearly destined to music, Cadet in an
undisputed heavyweight in the industry in the Caribbean. She has lectured on Caribbean Music at the University of Miami and her musical collaborations and experimentations are several and legendary. She has performed throughout the Caribbean Jazz circuit- Martinique, Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Grendada, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Cayenne,Dominica and Jamaica, and has opened for Tanya Maria, Patti La Belle, Anita Baker, and Spro Gyra, among several others over the 20 year span of St. Lucia Jazz. In February 2004, Cadet was awarded the St. Lucia Medal of Merit (Gold) for her long and meritorious service in the field of music. Her work with Poetry, Theatre and Dance Productions are also worth noting. Supported by the Cultural Development Foundation and the St. Lucia Heritage Tourism Programme, she collaborated with the original composer of the musicals of one of the regions most acclaimed playwrights to score, arrange and produce “Songs from the musicals of Roderick Walcott (twin brother to Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott) for the mass market. The project spans various genres from indigenous Folk to Latin, from Jazz to Country and Western. She worked with St. Lucian award winning writer/poet Adrian Augier to produce Soundtracks for Theatre Productions, for the St. Lucia’s 25th & 30th independence Celebrations “Anthem” & “Esperance” and several Dance Production Soundtracks for local dance companies. Cadet was also commissioned by the St Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority to produce the Soundtrack for the St. Lucia Animation Centre featuring a twenty-five minute multi-faceted presentation of the History of the Land of St. Lucia.

Cadet’s musical collaborations and experimentations are legendary as are her
innovative musical projects. Barbara was instrumental in the establishment of
award winning All-Female Steel Orchestra “Allegro Pan Groove” as well as the All Female group “Sisterhood” who performed Main Stage St. Lucia Jazz Festival 1999.

In 1992, Cadet was invited to perform for the 28th Birthday Party of the Prince
of Morocco at the Royal Palace, Rabat.

In 2008 Cadet launched her Jazz/Folk Cd “Indigenously Yours” on Main
Stage, St Lucia Jazz.

In May 2009 Cadet headlined alongside Moroccan born Paris based Virtuoso
Percussionist Khalid Kouhen, Main Stage act for the Festival.

Barbara Cadet was featured as the face of the 2009 “Lime” St. Lucia Telephone
Directory and over the over the years made many local Newspaper Covers.
Her unique vocal attributes have impressed no less than Ellis Marsalis, and
she has had the honour of exchanging notes with the likes of McCoy Tyner,
Michael Brecker and the Legendary Denis Chambers.