Avion Blackman

From the band Christafari comes Avion Blackman with a sound described as Sade meets Norah Jones with world music undertones.\ \"\""Swimming with alligators sounds a lot more dangerous than it really is:\""\"" said Avion (while twisting her dreads and describing her adventurous days as a tomboy living in a tropical rainforest with 17 brothers). Born in the bustling city of San Fernando: Trinidad: Avion lived in luxury as a daughter of the famous calypsonian: Lord Shorty. As a young dreadlocked child: she was very outgoing and began singing on stage in front of massive crowds at the tender age of four. That year: her life drastically changed when on a spiritual quest: her father transplanted his massive family to the jungle. She spent the next twenty years of her life living seven rugged miles from the remote Indian village of Piparo in a log cabin with no doors or windows: plumbing or electricity and few groceries--but plenty of music. She was home schooled with her brothers and sisters: and her family lived primarily off the land--growing virtually everything that they ate. Their days were filled with Bible studies: intense rehearsals: various tour dates and regular performances for visitors. As a child in this modern day Robinson Caruso-like family: Avion loved climbing trees: swinging from vines: fishing: and of course- swimming with alligators.Avion learned the art of harmony while touring and singing chorus for her father: who took on the name Ras Shorty I after his conversion to Christianity. He was the inventor of Soca and Jamoo music. She learned how to play a number of instruments from many of her 24 brothers and sisters. At the age of fourteen she began playing bass for their family band: \""\""The Love Circle\""\"". Her first solo studio recordings were \""\""Oh Why\""\"" and \""\""So Free\""\"": for The Love Circle\