Jean Toussaint's claim to fame is his period (1982-1986) with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. After playing calypso locally in St. Thomas, he attended the Berklee College of Music, toured with an R&B band in 1979, and formed a quintet with Wallace Roney. He was with Blakey during the same period as Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison. After leaving the Jazz Messengers, Toussaint began teaching in London and has been based in London, mostly playing with English musicians although also gigging with Wynton Marsalis, McCoy Tyner, and the Gil Evans Orchestra. Influenced by Wayne Shorter and Joe Henderson, Jean Toussaint's potential so far outweighs his accomplishments. ~ Scott Yanow