Maagix – Iguane Xtet, 2005

And that’s where it all began. At the turn of the year 2000, KaruJazz became Iguane Xtet. The Bananier Bleu website was created in 2001 to introduce the group, before expanding to cover the whole of jazz life in Guadeloupe, and then to encompass the wider Creole jazz and afro-jazz movement as it came together. In 2004, the group recruited the young Jonathan Jurion on keyboards. He joins Alain Joséphine (sax), Marc Chillet (g), Josy Michineau (b), Joby Julienne (ka & perc) and Eric Danquin (dms) in this Caribbean jazz/ka/fusion project, which also features rock and funk influences. The Maagix album came out in 2005, with contributions from Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Bruno Jofa and Emil Spanyi. Following this, Iguane Xtet took part in the Défense jazz festival and performed at the Pointe-à-Pitre jazz festival.