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Elan Trotman
Elan Trotman is a virtuoso Jazz Saxophonist, philanthropist and an unpaid Barbados tourism ambassador.
In the first week of September, he presented the Head Start Music programme in Barbados with BD$20 000, inclusive of a $12 000 cheque to the first scholarship winner, Daniel Harvey to undertake a five-week programme at the Berklee School of Music Aspire Summer Music Intensive. The Head Start Programme tutors children between eight and 11. It also provides instruments and backpacks to students in the programme.
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The money came from Trotman’s Never Lose Your Drive Foundation, which was funded by proceeds from the golf tournament and silent auctions of the Barbados Jazz Excursion and Golf Weekend, conceptualized by Elan. The seven-year old event is an all-immersive experience that attracts some of the world’s top artists such as Jeff Lober and Jeffrey Osborne and, on average, 300 visitors.
The Boston-based instrumentalist, composer and music teacher received a Barbados National Development Scholarship in 1997 to study at Berklee.
The former Harrisonian, who holds a degree in Music Education, taught music for more than 10 years in the Cambridge, Revere and Boston public schools. In 2002, he became a touring jazz saxophonist and has recorded and performed with some of world’s top musicians, including Michael McDonald, Roberta Flack, Jonathan Butler and Peabo Bryson.
A huge sports fan, he has performed the US National Anthem on numerous occasions for top sports teams and has provided entertainment for many celebrities and their events.
Elan, who has gained plaudits for his blending of Caribbean rhythms and incorporation of steel pan in his wide repertoire, has topped the Billboard Radio Charts more than ten times as a solo artist with songs like Heaven in Your Eyes feat. Brian Simpson, Tradewinds feat. Peter White, Master Blaster, and As feat. Lin Rountree.
His CDs include Memories: The Debut, Let’s Have a Good Time, A Reggae Christmas, Love and Sax, Tropicality, Live and Uncut, Double Take, Brighter Days Ahead, Electro Sax and Christmas in Rio.
