To The Foundation World Tour 2007-2008
Featuring Avion Blackman and Solomon Jabby
Artist Biography
From the band Christafari comes Avion Blackman with a sound described as "Sade meets Norah Jones with world music undertones." Acoustic guitar in hand, she ventures on a musical journey to glorify Jesus Christ through song. With stunning lyrical and vocal sincerity, Avion brings forth an emotional album steeped in ethnic textures pleasing to the ears and satisfying to the soul.
"Swimming with alligators sounds a lot more dangerous than it really is," said Avion (while twisting her dreads and describing her adventurous days as a tomboy living in a tropical rainforest with 17 brothers).
Born in the bustling city of San Fernando, Trinidad, Avion lived in luxury as a daughter of the famous calypsonian, Lord Shorty. As a young dreadlocked child, she was very outgoing and began singing on stage in front of massive crowds at the tender age of four. That year, her life drastically changed when on a spiritual quest, her father transplanted his massive family to the jungle.
She spent the next twenty years living seven rugged miles from the remote Indian village of Piparo in a log cabin with no doors or windows, plumbing or electricity and few groceries--but plenty of music. She was home schooled with her brothers and sisters, and her family lived primarily off the land--growing virtually everything that they ate. Their days were filled with Bible studies, intense rehearsals, various tour dates and regular performances for curious visitors. As a child in this modern day Robinson Caruso-like family, Avion loved climbing trees, swinging from vines, fishing, and of course; swimming (with alligators).
Avion learned the art of harmony while touring and singing chorus for her father, who took on the name Ras Shorty I after his conversion to Christianity. He was the inventor of Soca, (the pulse of Carnival) and Jamoo music. She learned how to play a number of instruments from many of her 24 brothers and sisters. At the age of fourteen she began playing bass for the family band, "The Love Circle". Her first solo studio recordings were "Oh Why" and "So Free", for The Love Circle's "Children of the Jamoo Journey" release. Years later, she recorded the initial versions of "Sweet Love" (for their "Homegrown" album) and "Heaven Above" (for Lion of Zion's "The Gathering" project).
In 2003, she moved to Los Angeles, CA, married Mark Mohr and joined Christafari as the bassist and a vocalist of the group. She became well- known internationally for her ethereal lead vocals on Christafari's "Hiding Place" and "My Sustenance" on the group's critically acclaimed Gravity release. All of the above set the stage perfectly for releasing her solo debut.
In January of 2005 the recording began for Blackman's first album "Onyinye" (pronounced owe-neen-yay). Thirteen smashing songs were produced by Mark Mohr (alongside co-producers Solomon Jabby and Avion Blackman). The music was performed by members of Christafari and an all-star cast of the best session players in Los Angeles, including live strings, acoustic guitar, Peruvian pan flute, horns, and even turntables.
On this heartwarming gospel release, Avion sings tender songs about her love for God and man. It was a family affair as Avion, her husband and other members of the family wrote the infectious tracks that make up this musical masterpiece. This is an intimate album that contains a blend of reggae, R&B, jazz, jamoo, Indian and African rhythms. "Onyinye" means "gift" in the Nigerian language Igbo. Live on stage Avion sings of the greatest gift of all--Life eternal.
The subtle world music influences from this native Trinidadian add spice to this uniquely flavored album. Her vocals caress a captivating blend of folk, jazz, reggae, African, Indian, soca, R&B, jamoo and jungle to craft a meditative musical masterpiece. Avion's songs are stripped back to their essential elements (voice, melody, and meticulously arranged instrumentation); resonating in the heart and in the head long after the last note has fallen silent.
In 2006 Avion Blackman took the top honor at the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards held in Nassau, Bahamas. She was nominated for a total of nine awards. The biggest upset of the night came in the Album of the Year category, which saw Avion from Trinidad winning the evening's highest award for her culturally sensitive masterpiece "Onyinye". Blackman won in a category that featured several heavy reggae and dancehall recordings like On the Shout by DJ Nicholas, Prophetic Fire by Mr. Lynx, His Way by Chevelle Franklyn and Kingdom Ambassador by Stitchie. Blackman was considered by many as the dark horse in the evening's top race as most thought for sure that the Album of the Year would once again go to Jamaica. Avion however proved them wrong, becoming the first non-Jamaican to win in this category. She also won the Marlin Award for Contemporary Female Vocal Performance of the Year for her soft melodic ballad "Marvelous Beauty" and picked up a third Marlin for Packaging of the Year for "Onyinye".
In 2005 Christafari released "Reggae Sunday School", an album that features Avion on lead vocals and bass. In 2007 Christafari bowed with"To The Foundation", the band’s bestselling release to date (on GospelReggae.com), Avion's angelic voice and infectious bass-lines are predominant throughout this project. Beyond the gospel reggae scene, Avion has lent her voice to an assortment of songs for network television. Her voice can be heard regularly on popular shows such as “General Hospital” and “One Life to Live” on the ABC network and other Disney owned channels.
In promotion of "Onyinye" and Christafari's "To The Foundation," Avion, Christafari and Solomon Jabby are currently touring the world and impacting lives through song one show at a time. They recently played at Erwin McManus’ Mosaic and Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Saddleback Church in Southern California--the two of the most influential churches in America (according to CNN). This summer you can catch them on tour in the United States, the UK, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark. They are playing in virtually every major festival including Notting Hill Carnival, Foundation Fest, Creation Fest, Greenbelt, Frizon, Gavle City Fest, Wildfire, Flevo Festival, Gouda Fest, Glow Fest and the Tara Festival.
Love your song, Yeshua. There is such an anointing on it. I sang one gospel reggae tune on my debut CD, Wildly Innocent that I'd like to share with you. It's called, "Walking the Line of Compromise." Blessings, Delilah Clark www.delilahclark.com
Sup Avion? I'm in Korea. I downloaded "I llove u Father," even though I have the CD. I left my CD though back home in the States. Keeping blessing us with your sweet voice.
Hey Avion, just wanted to show some love from overseas and let you know that I really love your new album 'Sweet Life' - I've enjoyed your first project so much and was hoping to hear your wonderful voice once again. 'Yeshua' and 'Longing For That Day' are definitely my favorite tracks & I can't wait to be part of Christafari's Tour this summer.
Avion, you didnt sing my cut "i love u father" lol jk , y'all blessed me, first time I seen you minister live, good work ! And your Sister Jennifer can sing ! PrAISE GOD keep doin ur thang for the mostHigh ! ONe luv ONe God !! Sol J
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your songs~ Especially "like a song"~ Take care Monica
