U.S. Embassy Celebrates Its First Daniel Pearl World Music Day Concert

October 23, 2009

The Kreol Jazz Pioneers marching right into the audience, up and down the aisles, with the classic “Oh, When The Saints…” to the delight of the crowd

The Embassy held its first Daniel Pearl World Music Day Celebration at the Indira Gandhi Center for Indian Culture in Phoenix on Friday, October 23. Everything was all set for a memorable evening to pay tribute to American news reporter Daniel Pearl with first class local artists namely, Eric Triton, Black Men Bluez, Kreol Jazz Pioneers, Gina Jean Charles, La Foule and two painters/cartoonists. 

Before the concert started, master of ceremonies Ben Javed gave a short overview of who Daniel Pearl was. The Embassy’s Public Affairs Officer, Craig White, gave brief remarks, in French, followed by a short video clip on Pearl and how the Daniel Pearl Foundation was set up by his family and friends. Eric Triton, a gifted left-handed guitarist and bluesman launched the evening of music. He sent promising vibrations to the crowd until the second song. The power went off. With only dim emergency lights in the hall, many must have believed the concert was going to be called off. Some left their seats but the majority believed. To everyone’s astonishment, the artists, pushed by a more than enthusiastic audience, came on stage and performed in front of nearly 600 people with only acoustic instruments and their amazing voices. Two young painters/cartoonists challenged the darkness, and with the help of small flashlights and cell phones, gave birth to two fabulous paintings on the theme "Harmony for Humanity." The concert lasted for two hours, with power only restored for the final song ten minutes before the concert came to an end. As the audience was leaving, many observed that this premiere and unique concert in Mauritius was going to remain in people’s head for a very long time