Vernon A.J. Chatlein

Vernon Chatlein is Curaçaoan percussionist with a background in Afro-Cuban, Latin Music and Jazz. In 2011 he was awarded the prize from “Stichting Jazz Talent Award” and that was in turn the start of his jazz group Vernon Chatlein’s Elements.

Growing up he used to play baseball for the neighbourhood team and never listened to any music. That was what he thought until he was 16 when he had his first conga lesson from Pedro Driggs, Cuban Percussionist and Teacher. ‘I still recall coming home after one of my first conga lessons and stumbling upon my father’s CD collection. The first CD I saw was ‘Tito Puente and his Golden Latin Jazz All-Stars – Live at the Village Gate’. I knew all the songs’. When he mentioned this to his father; his father reminded him that they would listen to this album everyday in the car on the way to school when he was young. In a short period of time Vernon has managed to acquire enough skill and musicianship which landed him 2 years later at the Curaçao Jazz Festival with the Youth Jazz Band of the Music Acadamy of his native Island Curaçao.

After finishing his University studies, where he majored in Information and Communication Technology, Vernon decided to make a career out of music. With support from his parents he moved to Havana, Cuba for 2 years where he did 1 year of formal studies at Conservatorio Amadeo Roldán and then 1 year traditional and folkloric Cuban music. There he studied with the likes Jose Luis Quintana “Changuito”, Yaroldi Abreu, Dreiser Duruthy Bombalé, and Damian “Cusito” Peñalver. After that he moved to Amsterdam where he attended the Conservatory of Amsterdam. There he focused on jazz, pop and improvised music.

He has performed and recorded with various artists and groups among them; Alex Brown (US), Luigino Rosaria (Curaçao/US), Randal Corsen(Curaçao), Tania Kross(Curaçao), Izaline Calister(Curaçao) Denise Jannah (NL), Marlon Titre (NL/DE), Malando Orkest (NL), Kuenta i Tambú (NL). Vernon’s performances has also landed him on international stages such as ‘Festival de Jazz NaguaNagua (Venezuela), the Baltimore-Washington Jazz Festival, Havana Cuba (Teatro Bellas Artes), Saulkrasti Jazz Festival (Latvia), North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam), “Jazz at the Lincoln Center” (Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola), Sunday Jazz Brunch at St. Peter’s Church (NY), Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival (Aruba). He has had numerous tours in the US with KiT and also in Japan and China with the Malando Orchestra.

Awards

Jong Jazz Award Amsterdam

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