Issue #50
Last Update March 24, 2007
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Arts Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival by Gert Innsry September 29, 2006 This January, the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Renamed The Art of Music Festival to acknowledge the broadening of the musical spectrum presented at the Festival, the three-day event will take place January 25th, 26th and 27th , 2007 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Artists scheduled to appear include Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bolton, Kenny Rogers, Christopher Cross, Pieces of a Dream, Juan Areco, and an extensive lineup of Reggae artists. To accommodate the crowds expected, the venue has been changed to a new seaside location.
An unusual feature of this year's festival is the talent search that will select regional winners across the US. The winning performers will be flown to Jamaica for the Festival and will perform in satellite concerts in Montego Bay in the days preceding the Festival. Jazz and blues musicians of all genres are invited to compete. The talent competitions will take place Wednesday, November 1 at Legends Cafe in Hollywood, FL; Friday, November 3 at Crossroads in Bladensburg, MD (outside of Washington, DC); Wednesday, November 8 at the Harlem Grill in New York City and an event to still be scheduled in Atlanta, GA. A panel of music industry and celebrity judges will critique each group and select the winners.
Reggae is the musical form most central to Jamaica's identity, and this year's Festival will place special emphasis on it. A special “Art of Reggae” performance featuring major reggae performers such as Shaggy, Luciano, Freddie MacGregor, and Wayne Wonder will join together with an all-star band to perform all of their greatest hits.
Tickets to the festival may be obtained online or at ticket outlets in Jamaica, or call 1-800-lovebird. A three day event pass can be purchased for $180. Individual days cost $60-$70, depending on the day. Special travel, hotel and ticket packages are available through Air Jamaica, the Festival's sponsor.
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