Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival launched

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

After much publicity in recent weeks, there was not a lot of new information to be revealed at the local launch of Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival that was held at The Wyndham Kingston hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday.

Walter Elmore, chairman of Art of Music Production that organises the festival, was the first to speak at the launch, after a mini performance by Cameal Davis and video clips of previous stagings. The chairman said he was happy to have Celine Dion as one of the acts for his 16-year-old show. He said there are many things that money can be spent on but a Celine Dion performance is one that patrons will not forget.

"You come and you see this beautiful lady. You will take that memory with you forever," he said, while boasting that hotel rooms and airlines are already booked for the event that will be staged from January 26 to 28 at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium in Greenfield.

Elmore also commended his team for their work and communications company Flow for helping to get the festival featured on HBO.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett also lauded Elmore for accepting his challenge by giving him a line-up of artistes that will be a fitting start to the celebration of Jamaica's 50th year of Independence. In addition, he said he hopes the festival will continue to be a "significant income-generating activity in Jamaica".

Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, minister of youth, sports and culture, added: "I am pleased to be here tonight. This is another occasion to reflect on the achievements of Jamaica and our people." She also noted that she is happy the festival has found a home at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

Michelle English, president and COO at Flow, said her company is developing a feature around the festival and next year's Independence celebration. On the nights of the event, she said wifi will be available at the stadium.

With most of the names already announced, the majority of performers for the first night of the festival were also disclosed. The night that will be celebrating Jamaica's music will have acts like Shaggy, Half Pint, Yellowman, Marcia Griffiths, Chris Martin, Pluto Shervington, AJ Brown, The Dragonaires, Etana, Luciano, George Nooks, Freddie McGregor, John Holt, Michael Rose and Lloyd Parkes & We The People Band.

The biggest newly announced name for the following nights was Cee-Lo Green. Other acts are Jully Black, Richie Stephens, Heads of State, Destra, Earl Klugh, Tami Chynn, Tessanne Chin, The Temptations Review, Nicole Henry, and Celine Dion.

As the launch neared its close, Richie Stephens did Live Your Life that is a collaboration with Gentleman. Global Battle of the Bands winner, Dubtonic Kru, later entertained the audience with the eclectic style of reggae.