Reginald is from the island of Dominica, began his musical career at age
12, at that time he chose the trombone as his tool of expression with the
goal of becoming a great trombone player.
To this end, he has studied at Interlochen where he was exposed to the
virtuoso trombonist Christian Lindberg. In 1993 Reginald began studying jazz
trombone at Berklee College of Music. During his time at Berklee Reginald
performed with well-known international artists.
Since that time, he has performed and/or recorded with world renowned
musicians/ poets which include Nasar Abadey, Wayne Andre, Amiri Baraka, Ron
Blake, Michael Bowie, Herman Burney, Marc Cary, Benito Gonzalez, Amin Gumbs,
Michael Hawkins, Buck Hill, Ron Jackson and Illinois Jacquet to name just a
few.
Reginald has released three albums. Fredom's Children: the Celebration
(2011), Love (2013) and Elements of Life (2014). He is currently leading The
Reginald Cyntje Group and working as a sideman in other jazz, Latin, and
Calypso groups.
BIOGRAPHY: Excerpt...
"Reginald Cyntje is a trombonist, educator, producer, and composer. The concept of his music ministry is to spread love, peace and social justice with each expression. Cyntje has “a deep-seated knowledge of Caribbean music and culture which has settled into his jazz trombone playing” (NPR Music). He has created and performed an eclectic range of music in his career. Growing up in the US Virgin Islands (USVI), he was steeped in the rich cultural music known as Quelbe (the official music of the USVI). Quelbe was Cyntje’s introduction to improvised music. To date, Cyntje has recorded eight albums of original music as a leader. His latest release, Mosaic (2025), is about creating a mosaic out of life’s ups and downs. Gentle Touch (2024) is about being vulnerable in love. To love with a gentle touch. To have empathy. To be gentle even when it’s difficult. The first single released from the album, Mirror Soul, stayed 8 weeks at #1 on the RMR Top 50 Jazz Chart. Healing (2020), "Lush with complex key changes and conversational attitude" (CapitalBop), combines artistic expression with an awareness of the environment. Rise of the Protester (2019) "Equal parts love and righteous force" (Capitalbop) sonically captures humanity’s need to thrive when faced with adversity."Cyntje is the author of Stepping Stones: 15 studies in improvisation.
The concept of his music ministry is to spread love, peace and social justice with each expression."
~ website bio
REVIEWS:
Mosaic (2025)
"Growing up in the US Virgin Islands, trombonist Reginald Cyntje was influenced by the the official music of the territory,
known as Quelbe. This musical form, like jazz, features improvisation. Forward to today, and you will hear calypso, reggae, and
other African influences in his eight CDs released as a leader. His latest release, titled Mosaic, is an album about "creating a
mosaic out of life’s ups and downs." Featured along with Mr. Cyntje are Imani-Grace Cooper (voice), Brian Settles (tenor saxophone),
Allyn Johnson (piano), Herman Burney (bass), and Lenny Robinson (drums)."
~ martyfriedmanjazz.com
Gentle Touch (2024)
"On this his seventh album, Reginald Cyntje — pronounced SIN-chee — continues his musical exploration
of emotional themes and the intangible through instrumental jazz. With his trombone as lead, this US
Virgin Islander explores in a quiet contemplative way the vulnerability of being in love. “Vulnerability
is key to authenticity,” he says. “Being vulnerable takes strength, courage, and emotional intelligence.
A gentle touch.” "
~jazzintt.blogspot.com
Rise of the Protester (2019)
"The remarkable thing about Reginald Cyntje’s Rise of the Protester is its thoughtfulness. The long
history of jazz as protest music has always trended toward overt displays of anger, sadness, and/or
bitterness—intensity, in a word. What’s more, Cyntje plays trombone, whose slide and big bore lend
themselves to violent outburst as much as the subject matter does."
~washingtoncitypaper.com
Elements of Life (2014)
"Trombonist Reginald Cyntje, a proud Virgin Islander, has become
gradually less overt in his use of Caribbean musical components. The
defining flavor of his first jazz album (2011's Freedom's Children: The
Celebration), they're now a subtle seasoning-one among many-in Elements of
Life, his third and finest. That's no small feat of restraint when three of
his seven band members are Islanders and one of them plays the steel drum."
~ Michael J. West - WashingtonCityPaper
ARTICLES:
Reginald Cyntje spreads the Love with a gentle message
"The trombonist and composer Reginald Cyntje isn’t against didacticism,
and he doesn’t have to be. Music creates rare opportunities to deliver serrated
messages with a cushion, and that demands conviction. Cyntje’s blog finds him
ministering from the pulpit of life, and he has insight. But you worry about
Love, a concept album that’s heavy on vocals and filled with abstract-noun
song titles (“Faith,” “Determination,” “Peace”)."
~ Giovanni Russonello - Capitalbop
VIDEOS:
Reginald Cyntje Group — 'Araminta'[with Brian Settles, Tarus Mateen, John Lamkin III]
Wind from 'Elements of Life' by Reginald Cyntje
