The annual BRAATA Christmas Grand Market and Relief Concert is set to bring festive Caribbean culture to New York next month, featuring a star-studded lineup of performers and a special humanitarian focus. Organizers have merged the previously scheduled Queens and Brooklyn dates into one major event in Manhattan, followed by a second staging in the Bronx.
Headlining the concert is Jamaican gospel powerhouse Jodian Pantry, who rose to national attention at age twelve with her breakout hit I’ll Give My Heart. Known for her emotional range and commanding stage presence, Pantry has toured internationally across the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, the United States and Cuba, sharing stages with global icons including Percy Sledge, The Chi-Lites, Marcia Griffiths and Freddie McGregor. Beyond her music career, she continues her work in spiritual outreach and community empowerment through her foundation and ministry.
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Also set to take the stage are the acclaimed Braata Singers, widely recognized as the leading ambassadors of Jamaican and Caribbean folk music in the United States. Renowned for their signature “choral theater” style, the group blends rich vocal arrangements with choreography, costume and dramatic presentation. Under the artistic direction of founder Andrew Clarke, the ensemble has earned international awards and widespread acclaim across major performance stages. Clarke, an award-winning actor and vocalist, established Braata Productions to create opportunities for Caribbean creatives across the diaspora.
Grenadian saxophonist Mystic Saxx will also bring his genre-blending instrumental flair to the event. Celebrated for his dynamic sound and improvisational style, he performs across a range of genres—from soca to jazz—and is a favorite at festivals, weddings and international cultural events.
The concert will additionally feature NANM, the Robenson Mathurin Dance Company, which uses traditional Haitian dance to explore themes of identity, migration, discrimination and social justice. The contemporary troupe is known for performances rooted in Haitian cultural expression and storytelling.
Organizers say the concert will support ongoing community relief efforts. “We invite everyone to celebrate Christmas with Braata and support our cause all in one night,” the organization noted. The Manhattan event on December 6 will be free for all CUNY students.
Event Schedule
Saturday, December 6
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Gerald W. Lynch Theater
524 W 59th Street, New York, NY 10019
Market opens at 7:00 pm
Concert begins at 8:00 pm
Sunday, December 7
Harry S. Truman High School
750 Baychester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10475
Market opens at 6:00 pm
Concert begins at 7:00 pm
