SUMMERSIDE – A cabaret night with the Count and the Cuban Cocktail is set for Saturday, March 23, from 8 to 10 p.m. at Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside.
This free event is being presented by La Coopérative d’intégration francophone (CIF) in partnership with Le Centre Belle-Alliance.
This cool band promises to send your heart and soul on a holiday – a Cuban holiday, that is. Performing a veritable cocktail of both Cuban and pop sounds, this group will make you glad you stopped by.
The Count is Eduardo Mendoza (director, lead vocals, guitar), and the Cocktail is made up of Jonathan Holmes (drums), Mark Carr-Rollitt (percussion), Jack Wedge (bass), Jessica Willis (saxophone), Jon White (trumpet), Jenna MacDonald (back-up vocals), and Tamara Gough (back-up vocals).
Before settling to Canada, Eduardo Mendoza – the Count – was a professional musician in Cuba where he was born. A singer, composer and arranger, Mendoza travelled all over Cuba performing as the lead singer in several bands for 15 years. He’s written over 60 songs and has made appearances on the radio and television as well as recording CDs.
Carr-Rollitt, who studied classical and flamenco guitar as well as African, Latin, Baltic, and Gypsy rhythms. Prior to adding a little picante spice to the Cuban Cocktail, Carr-Rollitt was a member of the group, The Knot, and has played with Tanya Davis and Scott Parsons.
Holmes is one of the hardest working, most versatile drummers on P.E.I. When he’s not laying down the rhythms and adding the Afro-Cuban beat to the Count and the Cuban Cocktail, he's rocking it out with other local bands.
Willis has been playing saxophone for more than 10 years. Her background lies with jazz and funk and she has received various awards across Canada for outstanding soloist.
MacDonald is a long-time music lover who has always sung as if no one were listening. She brings a pretty voice and a lot of fun to the Cuban Cocktail.
Gough adds another sweet voice. She majored in music in university and has played in a few Island bands like Groove Gurus and Fugato.
Wedge plays bass, guitar, piano and drums and has been playing and composing music for more than 10 years.
White grew up playing trumpet in Charlottetown and studied Jazz in university. A music teacher, White also plays trumpet with the military, allowing him to play in front of thousands of people across Canada and Europe.
In Cuban style, this group is likely to make you want to dance on your chair so they invite all to join them on the dance floor.
The Cuban Cabaret night will be held at the Centre Belle-Alliance, 5 Ave Maris Stella in Summerside. This event is for adults only and will offer some Cuban flavoured snacks as well as bar service.
