The Gleaner Company's business development and marketing manager, Karin Cooper, speaks at the the launch of the 2010 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, held in the Gardens of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, new Kingston, on Monday night. The Gleaner Company is a sponsor of the event.
The sting was near the tail of the official mini-speech making at Monday night's launch of the 2010 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, held in the Gardens of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.
The festival has been extended to seven days and encompasses four communities, starting on Sunday, January 24, in Kingston and moving to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay for three days before settling into its main stage home for Thursday, January 28, to Saturday, January 30.
However, that main stage, as Turnkey Productions' Walter Elmore announced after the round of ringing sponsors' endorsements of the festival (including The Gleaner's Karin Cooper), will be in a different location and even parish from its usual home.
Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture Olivia 'Babsy' Grange assisted Elmore in removing the covering over a layout of the festival's final destination, the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium. Elmore explained the diagram, pointing to the orientation of the stage and various elements, such as the sky boxes.
Traffic jams
Elmore said that "we consider our audience", alluding to the traffic jams that have been the bane of many a staging of Jazz and Blues in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, St James.
He announced the venue change after a video presentation of many of the festival's more noted performers. There were cheers from the audience for "all-time favourite" Billy Ocean, as well as Machel Mantano. But the biggest response was reserved for Gladys Knight. The Whispers, Hall and Oates, Third World, Maxi Priest, Joss Stone, Robin Banks, Roy Ayers and The Queen Project.
Some may not recognise the name Marion Hall, but would certainly be familiar with Lady Saw.
Hosted by Paula-Anne Porter-Jones, Monday night's launch was a brisk affair. The Jamaica Tourist Board's (JTB) Jason Hall said that for past stagings, visitors to the island were 40 per cent of the audience and "we hope to surpass this figure." Air Jamaica's Bruce Nobles said Jamaica Jazz and Blues "is one more reason for us to encourage people to come to Jamaica" and, even if they did not fly with Air Jamaica this time, they may the next.
Sponsors
Heineken Country Manager Frederique Asberg said that while Heineken has been the official beer of Jamaica Jazz and Blues, the Diageo group will now be the exclusive alcoholic beverage sponsor. So Smirnoff Vodka, Baileys Irish Cream and Johnnie Walker whiskey will all be in the mix, as well as facilities to serve Heineken Premium Extra-Cold Draught Beer.
The Gleaner Company's business development and marketing manager, Karin Cooper, outlined the organisation's raft of print and electronic media outlets, saying that this "will ensure that patrons will have a multimedia experience long before the first note is heard."
Grange spoke after the new main venue was announced, saying that "the facilities are well kept" and pointing out that it is being used to host large and small events. And Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said while Jamaica Jazz and Blues has brought in US$2.7 million to the economy, he was asking Elmore to go for the US$3-million mark.
The launch ended with music from Seretse Small and Friends, who delivered Rockfort Rock, Smooth Operator, Redemption Song and Smooth Operator.
Turnkey Productions' Walter Elmore (right) and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Olivia 'Babsy' Grange with the layout of the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium for the 2010 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. - photos by Mel Cooke