Dion Parson USVI Musical Heritage Showcase Will Honor the Memory of Netfa Romain
While showcasing the musical heritage of the territory during a two-day festival planned for Nov. 5 and 6 at Antilles School’s Prior-Jollek Hall, the Grammy award-winning 21st Century Band will also celebrate the life and work of Netfa Romain, who began documenting the band – and its members – nearly a decade ago as part of his effort to connect the world to the achievements of Virgin Islanders making a difference abroad.
2021-11-02 12:37:08 - VI News Staff
Romain, who died in August, had been working with 21st Century Band founder Dion Parson to expand opportunities for local youth in film and music. The concert was meant to launch an official partnership, which Parson’s wife and co-founder of the United Jazz Foundation Nicole Parson said is now is more important than ever.
“Netfa and Dion connected in 2013 when Netfa eventually began working for himself,” Nicole Parson said, referencing the evolution of Romain’s production company, JNR Media Solutions. “We were so impressed when Netfa explained how strongly he felt that the world needed to know more about what Dion was doing, and so, he asked if he could follow us around, putting Dion out there on the news and in the media as much as possible.”
What started as a professional relationship grew into a powerful friendship, despite what Nicole Parson said was a 10-year age gap between the two creative minds.
“What Netfa did for media and film, that’s what Dion does for music education, so they found each other in this space right away,” she added. “Because of Netfa, it was really amazing for us to see the younger generation begin to follow what Dion was doing and change their perception of him and jazz.”
Documenting the band also meant traveling with them and Romain was often seen documenting live performances at Lincoln Center and other venues across New York. In 2015, Romain won one of the first of several Telly Awards for his production of the band’s live performance at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola.
“And that’s also how the USVI Ambassadors came along,” Nicole Parson said, referencing Romain’s regionally syndicated television show, which was in the works for a fourth season. “Working with the band, members like Rashawn Ross inspired the idea of looking at more people from the Virgin Islands who are doing great things around the world.”