The Theron Shaw Project

By Lisa Allen-Agostini
Guitarist Theron Shaw has a gentle fire that burns magnificently on his new instrumental CD, The Sojourn.
The work is dedicated to the memory of his late sister, Lisa Hernandez. Wherever she is, her spirit must be well pleased. The ten songs on the CD are all beautifully arranged and Shaw’s six originals glow with wit and mastery of his instrument.
Shaw’s an accomplished musician, probably best known for his work in Andre Tanker’s band, One World Contraband. The Sojourn, which straddles blues, kaiso and folk, is his first solo work.
On it, he covers “Endless Vibrations,” a song Ras Shorty I wrote when he was still the satin-jumpsuit-wearing Lord Shorty. Shaw brings out the sensuality in the piece, caressing the opening riff and coaxing it to open up into a laid-back Latin swing. He also rediscovers the East Indian flavour of the song, working in a couple of chords that sound like tassa while guest percussionist Tamba Gwindi introduces a tiny dhantal chime into the music.
On Shaw’s cover of “Morning Loving,” a 1980s soca hit written by Francis Escayg for Fireflight, Shaw welcomes a supporting cast that includes Albert Bushe Jr on bass, Neil Bernard on drums, Etienne Charles on trumpet, and Gail McLean and Nadia Batson on vocals. Co-producer of the album Michael “Ming” Low Chew Tung plays keyboards.
The song goes through a mellow, smooth introduction before it plunges into a rousing, feverish place where Batson’s kaiso-blues ring with joy under Shaw’s gasping guitar.
The heart of the collection is “The Sojourner”, which Shaw wrote for his sister. Jazz drummer Sean Thomas brushes the drum kit with the softest of strokes, underpinning a lyrical (but wordless) arrangement that is achingly sad even while it sparkles with love.
The Sojourn also features Richard Joseph, Gillian Moor, Douglas Redon and Curtis Lewis. The CD was launched at Martin’s on the Boulevard on April 10.
Friday 25 April 2003
©2003-2004 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

- Trinidad Publishing Co Ltd

THE HILL WAS ALIVE,,,,,San Fernando Jazz Festival review
By Terry Joseph
Tuesday, November 16th 2004, Express

Not surprisingly, Shaw's aggregation presented similar fare to the élan
parle agenda, setting himself apart only through deft fingering on the fret
board, as best evidenced in his interpretation of Kitchener's "Pan in
Harmony".

- Trinidad Express

The Caribbean Beat
Issue #63 September/October

Another calypso number from the élan archives is guitarist Theron Shaw’s deft rendition of Ras Shorty I’s Endless Vibrations, which first appeared on Kindred Spirits, and is now one of the pillars of Shaw’s solo outing The Sojourn. An interesting but less assured calypso reworking is Shaw’s version of David Rudder’s Adrenalin City. The nicest surprise on this album of solid jazz-fusion numbers, however, is Morning Loving — yes, the Francis Escayg/Fireflight number from way back when — which features a rich musical bed, including trumpet by Etienne Charles, sexy background vocals, and Shaw’s soaring guitar, which flies freely from jazz to rock riffs and back again.

Georgia Popplewell

- Caribbean Beat

Trinidad and Tobago Guardian
Friday 3rd October, 2008

Mr Muzik
I’m always thrilled when a compact disc is well-produced and presented, and the newly-minted Theron Shaw Right Here, Right Now falls into these categories.
For those who came in late, Theron “Terry” Shaw is local as callaloo and crab, and his awesome talent on the guitar is well-known in jazz circles. He is distinguished by his height and exquisite guitar-playing in the band of the late Andre Tanker, Contraband, and lends his talent to other gigs.
This Berklee-trained, secondary school music teacher is a highly-rated guitarist, and Right Here, Right Now follows an earlier production called Sojourn.

- Trinidad Publishing Co Ltd