Born: October 5 Primary Instrument: Guitar
Guitarist composer and arranger Theron Terry Shaw consistently creates his music through persistent hard work and dedication. He has tapped into his own unique method of mastery, and through his stylistic adaptability, can play several genres of music.
Shaw’s career as a guitarist began at an early age. At eleven years old, he began the study of the instrument that has become his lifelong dedication, only to be rivaled by his passion for the fine art’s, of which acrylic, watercolour and pastels are his favourites.
Upon completion of his early studies, he went on to attend Howard University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy Cum Laude in 1994. Additionally, he also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from The University of The West Indies, St Augustine.
Today, Terry is on of the more accomplished and in demand players on the local music scene. His credits include performances and recordings with Lord Pretender, and The Roaring Lion throughout England in the summer of 1991, to arranging and performing with the Kaiso Jazz Workshop with Michael Tobas throughout the Caribbean. Recording credits include French vocalist Philippe Lavil, and pannist Liam Teague.
As an accompanist, Theron has shared the stage with The Mighty Sparrow, Cubans Bobby Carcasses and Ernan Lopez Nussa, Jeff Haynes, Tony Mason, Arturo Tappin, David Rudder, Andy Narell, Andre Tanker, Len Boogsie Sharpe, Ella Andel, Mavis John, The Noble Douglas Dance Company, and The Trinidad Theatre Workshop.
On his debut CD release The Sojourn, Terry used the death of his sister to cancer as a catalyst for the compositions and arrangements. With local compositions by Lord Shorty (Garfield Blackman), and David Rudder, Theron’s arrangements reinterpreted and redefined boundaries of local compositions. Reviewing for The Trinidad Express on April 14th 2003, columnist Terry Joseph enthuses that ‘for Adrenalin City Shaw relieves the piece of all its inherent hyperactive suggestion, bringing a punch a crème’ black cake sweetness to the work.’
As a leader, Theron has been featured at the 2002 edition of Pan Ramajay, The 2003 edition of Caribbean Jazz Waves in New York and Washington D.C., The We Beat Festival 2004, Jazz on the Hill 2004, and Jazz on the Greens 2005.
At present, Theron is busy mixing and editing his second CD project for release by August 2008.
For contact and bookings, theronmshaw@gmail.com.
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”. ,,,,,San Fernando Jazz Festival review By Terry Joseph Tuesday, November 16th 2004, Trinidad Express
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...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,
The Caribbean Beat Issue #63 September/October
Accompanied by Terry Shaw on guitar, she evoked quite a bit of emotion with the interpretation of the song. Shaw did an excellent job of weaving through the complex harmonic progressions of the tune and the eventual outcome of the duet, later joined by Reid’s bass, showed a high level of musicality on the part of both Andall and Shaw.
A review by Orville Wright Trinidad Guardian, Wednesday March 15th, 2006
