Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2018 | Page 682

EDDIE BULLEN
shared with Mélange . . .
About the types of music he was
interested in when he was growing up
I was interested in several different genres of music:
calypso, reggae, Latin and of course, jazz. However,
most of the time I would be searching for any genre
that has overtones of jazz influences.
About the start of his musical career
My musical career started around the age of six
years old when my Dad decided to send me for
music lessons, however, it really kicked into high
gear at about 13 years old. Reason for that is my
Dad sold a Hammond organ and on recesses, I
would be allowed to play the organ. That’s when
I found out how impressed my friends were that I
knew popular songs that were playing on the radio
at the time.
About his most rewarding experience
in his musical career Well, they are many
rewarding experiences, however, three that top the
list are performing in nine cities in China, having
dinner with Harry Belafonte and performing on
stage with my son Quincy Bullen.
About whether his Caribbean
background has influenced the style
of his musical compositions Yes, definitely.
Growing up in the Caribbean and spending most of
my teenage years there, has certainly dictated the
trajectory of my music.
About his Thunder Dome Sounds/
QDB Music and the high school co-op
program I have been mentoring high school
students who show an interest in the music/
entertainment industry for the past 25 years,
some of whom have gone on to be leaders in the
industry. This venture was underwritten by the
School Board of Ontario to assist young people in
trying to figure out what path they may take in life.
About some of the artists he’s worked
with over the years I’ve worked with artists
from several different genres for example:
CALYPSO/SOCA: - Machel Montano, Mighty
Sparrow, Anslem Douglas, Byron Lee, David Rudder
REGGAE:- Leroy Sbyls, Frankie Paul, Toots and the
Maytals, Nana Mclean, Glen Ricketts, R&B Melba
Moore, Carvin Winon, Liberty Silver, Deborah Cox
JAZZ: Dee Dee Bridgewater Salome Bey, Lornell
Lewis
About the albums he has produced, to
date On Eddie Bullen, I have produced six albums.
Eddie Bullen as a producer, I have produced
approximately180 albums/CDs.
About the Caribbean Jazz Collective
I and percussionist Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo, have
brought together a group of premier musicians of
Caribbean descent to form the collective CJC - a
touch of Caribbean Jazz to the North American
scene. Not that it hasn’t been done before but it’s a
new twist on interpreting Caribbean music and jazz
music.