Krystle Bascombe has been touring the world as a full-time musician for over 20 years, sharing the stage with local, regional and international acts the likes of Isaac Blackman and The Love Circle, Machel Montano, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Donnie McClurkin, and George Benson.
In 2015 she became a touring drummer and musical director with Cirque Du Soleil, a Montreal, Canada-based entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world. But to her, Trinidad and Tobago will always be home and the place to which she most wants to give back of the knowledge and experiences her musical career has afforded her.
On August 3, Bascombe launched Reform Generation (ReGen) a platform through which people ages five and up throughout TT can access training in what she knows best – music and arts.
“If you don’t, then who will? Everyone has a vision but the people who succeed are the ones who can take that vision and turn it into action. The realisation that our young people need more perspective on what their futures could look like sparked the concept of this initiative," Bascombe said.
She had been contemplating starting the programme for many years, but was never “home” long enough to do so. She used the downtime brought on by the covid19 pandemic to get things up and running. The virtual programme takes the form of music education in acoustic and bass guitar, drums, keyboard and music theory for people of all ages.
“In time we will add dance, drama and cirque acts,” she told WMN.
Bascombe, 37, said here in TT and during her travels she has seen the way in which people have made music and the arts work for them.
“I’ve seen the positive impact that music has on communities…I’ve seen a lot of artistes growing up from music groups on the block and what things like Best Village does to pull communities together. Government is usually more focused on sports and has put music on the back burner.”
[caption id="attachment_908749" align="alignnone" width="683"] Krystle Bascombe was a teaching music in United Arab Emirates when she was invited to audition for Cirque Du Soleil. She became a touring drummer and musical director for the Canada-based entertainment company. Photo courtesy Krystle Bascombe -[/caption]
But, she said, Re Gen is about building on the musical and creative talents of TT and she has pulled together a team of experienced musicians and artistes with a like-minded vision to bring the programme to its full potential.
Bascombe is the programme’s drumming instructor – an area in which she also has formal training. She holds a high diploma in popular music and drum performance from the Tech Music School, in London and has conducted drum workshops in Ghana, United Arab Emirates, and London. She also holds a master’s certificate in music business management from Berklee College of Music, and is currently pursuing an online degree in entertainment law at Harvard University.
How she ended up on the cirque circuit, Bascombe said, is nothing short of divine intervention. The Diego Marti
