Izaline Calister "Krioyo" (a biography)

Izaline Calister is a highly talented singer, composer and lyricist with a distinctive personal musical style. A charismatic performer, she can be at times warm and intimate, then again expressive and extroverted, masterfully weaving together the traditional music of her native island, Curaçao (Dutch Caribbean), with Jazz. Izaline possesses the exceptional gift that makes all the difference for a soloist, as she sings in her mother tongue, Papamientu, with feeling and grace. She has this ability to remain true to her roots and successfully reach out and conquer audiences around the world singing in an unfamiliar language, while melding seamlessly the pulsating rhythms of Afro-Antilles music with Jazz.

Following her conservatory studies in voice and composition all the while gaining professional experience in various groups, in the year 2000 Izaline releases her first solo album on her own label. The title song, "Sono di un muhé" (One Woman's Dream), describes a dream come true. Though not yet very well known as a soloist, her CD launch concert in the well-known Amsterdam jazz temple, the BIM-Huis, sells out and she sets the place on fire! The Dutch newspaper "NRC Handelsblad" notes: "Izaline Calister writes history at the BIM-Huis".

The (Pop!) Music magazine "Muziekkrant Oor" observes: "Bare-foot and with closed eyes, as if living in her own dream world, you can touch the beauty of Antillean music". Another daily paper, "De Volkskrant", shares the enthusiasm for the album: "One of the most beautiful vocal records to have been released lately".

The recording is nominated in May 2001 for an Edison Foundation Award (prestigious Dutch award) in the Vocal Jazz category. Debutante Izaline performs at the 2001 North Sea Jazz Festival to an overflow crowd on the roof terrace, winning the hearts of the international audience. Papers headlines exclaim: "A satanically good band with an angel as a singer" and "Izaline thaws everybody"(Trouw), "The Queen of Antillean Jazz" (PZC).

With her second album release in 2002, "Mariposa", Izaline continues on the road where "Sono di un Muhé" left off. She reflectively states:

"Antillean jazz is still so young. I am grateful that it exists and that I am part of it. Now I can dedicate years of my life to explore and experiment inside this style of music. We are surveying borders is an intensive way; I am not even so sure that these borders do exist at all. I enjoy so much the expedition, the experiments and serendipity, -we still have a long way to go!"

Surrounded by her 'dream-team' of Antillean jazz musicians, Izaline keeps evolving. The band's growth through two years of extensive touring, sounds like magic and the musical ideas underscore the desire to fuse styles. Old and New, Jazz and World music, acoustic and electronic, traditional and modern, the new CD recording incorporates many different rhythms native to Curacao, such as Tumba, Seú, Antillian walz, Danza, Muzik di Zumbi and Tambú. Traditional Antillean music is rooted in Africa, and Izaline succeeded on this new CD in bringing forth a refreshing, sophisticated and modern rendering of African Diaspora music.
Her charismatic stage presence has made her a real star on the Caribbean island of Curaçao: she was chosen "Tumba" Queen in 2000 and the song "Sa Sa Na Awasa" became a number 1 hit.

The music on ''Mariposa" is written by Izaline Calister herself, together with pianist Randal Corsen and bass player Eric Calmes, who arranged most of the tracks. Izaline continues the tradition started with her first CD to "renew" traditional songs. The recording was released in November 2002. A CD launch concert was presented, with a lot of press attention, to a full house in Curaçao in November 2002. Already before that, the CD had climbed the charts on the Island! In 2003 Izaline Played at the Paul Acket Pavillioen at North Sea Jazz festival and the Folkest Festival and Rome Jazz festival in Italy and the Kilkenny festival in Ireland. The cd " Mariposa" is nominated for an Edison Award in 2003.

In 2004 Izaline releases her first album on the very respected world music label Network Medien, based in Germany. The cd is called "Krioyo" and shows her development towards original and traditional rhytms of the Caribbean culture. The cd sums up the ongoing process of creolization that has been a the heart of Caribbean society for centuries, that mixing, blending, reworking and making of new cultures of the old.
The cd has been released in more than 30 countries all over the world.
Followed by an extensive tour in the Netherlands, Germany and 3 weeks in Mexico.

Izaline is currently preparing her new album that will be released in early spring 2006 Worldwide by network Medien. Izaline is available for touring in 2006 summerfestivals and clubvenues etc in the wintertime.

Izaline Calister live is:
Izaline Calister vocals, Niata Augusta background vocals, Roël Calister drums, Reno Steba bass, Ed Verhoeff guitar, Rendel Rosalia percussion, José Lopretti piano.

Label info Network www.networkmedien.de
More general and tour info: www.izalinecalister.com
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