* En anglais uniquement
Jean Toussaint's claim to fame is his period (1982-1986) with
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. After playing calypso locally in St. Thomas, he attended the Berklee College of Music, toured with an R&B band in 1979, and formed a quintet with
Wallace Roney. He was with
Blakey during the same period as
Terence Blanchard and
Donald Harrison. After leaving the Jazz Messengers,
Toussaint began teaching in London and has been based in London, mostly playing with English musicians although also gigging with
Wynton Marsalis,
McCoy Tyner, and
the Gil Evans Orchestra. Influenced by
Wayne Shorter and
Joe Henderson,
Jean Toussaint's potential so far outweighs his accomplishments. ~ Scott Yanow