Bahamian jazz trumpeter Giveton Gelin is celebrating his homeland with the release of his sophomore album, “Island Dreamer: III of III,” arriving July 10 to coincide with Bahamas Independence Day. The 17-track project blends jazz, Caribbean influences and deeply personal storytelling while featuring Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste and heartfelt voice-note interludes from legendary mentors Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, and the late Adrian D’Aguilar.
The Juilliard graduate describes the album as more than a jazz record. Instead, he hopes it speaks to anyone who has faced hardship and found the strength to overcome it.
“‘Island Dreamer’ is not just for jazz lovers, nor is it only for those from the Caribbean,” Gelin said. “It is for everyone willing to open themselves to a story that speaks to adversity and the act of overcoming it.”
One of the album’s centerpiece tracks, “I Solemnly Swear to Live,” features five-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste on piano. Gelin calls the song a reflection on resilience and choosing hope through life’s struggles.
The album also includes “When You Cry I Cry,” a jazz reinterpretation of Jamaican dancehall group T.O.K.’s 2005 hit “Footprints.” The emotional arrangement revisits the story of a grieving mother while blending Caribbean rhythms with Gelin’s expressive trumpet work.
Another standout is “Take a Bow,” an instrumental tribute to Barbadian superstar Rihanna. Gelin transforms the pop singer’s global hit into a soaring jazz performance that has become the signature finale at many of his live shows.
His Bahamian heritage is front and center throughout the project. The song “Blue Hole” pays tribute to the country’s famous underwater sinkholes, using layered percussion and atmospheric trumpet passages to recreate the feeling of descending beneath the ocean’s surface.
Alongside the album, Gelin has released “Island Dreamer Songbook,” a 145-page companion book available through Amazon. The collection features sheet music for 31 compositions, rare personal photographs and notes detailing his journey from performing in his father’s church in Nassau to studying at Juilliard and touring internationally.
The ambitious project has also helped support the next generation of artists. Gelin raised $176,000 after selling two exclusive collector’s editions of his forthcoming five-piece vinyl box set to an anonymous buyer. The proceeds funded production of the album while providing financial support for his Island Dreamer Academy, a mentorship program serving young artists in the Bahamas.
“Island Dreamer: III of III” follows Gelin’s acclaimed 2020 debut, “True Design,” and continues his mission of blending Caribbean culture with modern jazz while creating opportunities for future generations of musicians.
Latest Posts:
- SoHo Gets a Healthy Makeover as Lifeway Brings Free Kefir Pop-Up to NYC
- Great South Bay Music Festival Returns to Long Island With Sublime, My Morning Jacket and Four Days of Waterfront Fun
- These Summer Wipes Can Handle Bug Bites, Scrapes and Sticky Messes Without Slowing You Down
- Get Vacation-Ready Hair in Minutes With SLAYYY Hair’s Lightweight Braids and Ponytail Extensions
- New Travel Gadget Aims to Beat Jet Lag, Reduce Stress and Improve Sleep in Just Two Minutes