Born: March 12, 1974 Primary Instrument: Vocal
Since her debut in 2004, Vaughnette's rich, earthy jazz vocals have been making audiences sit up and take notice…and she's been developing quite a fan club, too! She is recognised for her haunting delivery of some of the most timeless jazz standards and confesses that when she discovered jazz, she knew she had found a “home”.
Hailing from South Trinidad, Vaughnette's professional entry onto the jazz circuit came at the 2004 Steelpan & Jazz Festival (formerly Pan Royale) as guest vocalist with Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and Phase II Pan Groove. For three consecutive years she graced the stage at the San Fernando Jazz Festival, appearing with Carlton Alexander's Coalpot Band. Also at that Festival, audiences would have been treated to her leading the chorus line for world-renowned Botwanan flugel horn player, Socca Moruakgomo.
Vaughnette has trained and continues to perfect her craft with some of the finest local and foreign vocal coaches and musicians. The list includes Cristiana Balbosa and Jessel Murray (Trinidad), Howard Rees (Toronto), jazz legend Dr. Barry Harris, Hank Jones and vocalist Sheila Jordan. Closer to home, Vaughnette has worked with some of Trinidad and Tobago's most celebrated jazz musicians: Carlton Zanda, Theron Shaw, Raf Robertson and Ray Holman. Topping her list of most noteworthy performances to date is her smoldering centre-stage solo act at the YWCA's “Sisters in Song” - a Caribbean jazz concert featuring local greats like Mavis John and Chantal Esdelle.
Vaughnette remains an active member of the US-based International Women in Jazz (www.internationalwomeninjazzz.com) .When she's not spinning her magic on stage, she can be found performing duties as an Occupational Safety and Health practitioner with a major oil company.
“Vaugnette Bigford-Griffith hijacked Ray Holman's set with a blues number and one of Ray's own compositions with her rich, earthy voice and Holman, always a laid back and uninvolved performer content to let his sticks do his talking, let her have it.” - Trinidad Guardian (October 10, 2007)
