Jazz Fest to be tweaked next year

Mark Titus, Staff Reporter

While the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival 2012 offered patrons almost three perfect days of musical excitement, attendant problems, including major traffic congestion on the night mega-star Celine Dion performed, have highlighted the need for some tweaking.

In responding to the concerns about the traffic congestion, Walter Elmore, chairman of Art of Music Productions, organiser of the 16-year-old event, said a shuttle system, which was optional this year, would be made compulsory next year.

"Only cars with VIP stickers will be allowed to park at the venue next year," Elmore told Western Focus. "Satellite parking will be provided at various locations and patrons will be shuttled to the venue."

In fact, Elmore is well advanced in his planning, noting that the Richmond Estate in St Ann and the Dump-Up Beach in Montego Bay are among locations being looked at.

Avoiding bottleneck

"It is the first time this stadium has had any crowd of this magnitude, so the reality of it is that we will have to shuttle our patrons," said Elmore. "This has to be done far enough from the stadium that a bottleneck is not created as it did this year."

In looking back at this year's problem, Elmore said the organisers were not caught off guard as in anticipation of a large turnout, a shuttle service - which featured some 400 regular buses, 400 taxis, plus Knutsford Express and Jamaica Urban Transit Company buses - was put in place but was not utilised.

While Senior Superintendent Devon Watkis, the Jamaica Constabulary Force's ground commander for the event, was unwilling to offer a comment on the woeful traffic situation, Karl Angell, the director of communications in the office of the commissioner of police, said a review of the situation is to be done.

Great performances

With regard to concerns about the supporting acts booked to support the main acts, Elmore flatly rejected the view that they were not up to standard.

"I totally disagree with that," said Elmore. "Everybody on that stage did a good job. If there is any disappointment, it would be in Cee-Lo Green's performance because he did not connect with the crowd, but all the other performers were amazing."

Elmore also disagreed with the recommendation that the Talent Stage be given more prominence, possibly getting featured on the big screens around the venue.

"What I don't want to do is destroy the intimacy that is created between the patrons and the performers on the Talent Stage," said Elmore. "That is why the stage was built the way it was - so that they can have that direct contact with the audience."