The islands of the Caribbean Sea, sometimes referred to as the West Indies, are an extensive archipelago in the far west of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly strung between South and North America. The largest of these, known as the Greater Antilles, include the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. In addition there are dozens of small tropical islands arched between the north coast of South America and the larger islands, known as the Lesser Antilles, all offering year-round good weather, golden coral sand beaches, lush landscapes and calm turquoise waters.
As a result, the Caribbean has long been known as a resort vacation destination for honeymooners and retirees, but in recent years, a significant amount of visitors have been attracted by the many jazz festivals held in the region. These appeal to jazz aficionados of all levels, whether you’ve only just discovered the magic of Miles Davis’ seminal ‘Kind of Blue’ or whether you keep your iPod stocked with the latest releases from Blue Note.
The most popular of these is the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, held annually on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. Initially held in order to extend the tourist season into May, which had previously been a relatively quiet period, it soon attracted a sizeable audience thanks in no small part to coverage on the BET J television network. Today it is a well-established fixture on the jazz festival calendar, attracting international and local acts playing jazz, R&B and calypso. Past performers at the event include Herbie Hancock, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, George Benson, The Isley Brothers, Santana, UB40, Lauryn Hill, Luther Vandross, Smokey Robinson and Courtney Pine. Since its inception, the festival has grown from being merely a marketing tool into becoming a defining part of the island’s cultural calendar and was recently ranked the No. 1 Festival in the world by E! Entertainment.
Other major jazz festivals in the Caribbean include the St. Kitts Music Festival, held at the end of June, the Anguilla Jazz Fest at the beginning of November and the Cayman Islands Jazz festival, held in the first week of December.
Of course, those wishing to experience ’soft adventures’, such as snorkelling, hiking, and trail riding will find their desires more than catered for in the Caribbean, with St. Lucia even offering the world’s only drive-in Volcano.
So if you’re looking to take combine the breathtaking scenery, relaxed atmosphere and a love of jazz, R&B and calypso music, why not book a holiday in the Caribbean today?
By: Andrew Regan
Every year people fly into the tiny island of St Lucia to go to one of the premier events, the St Lucia Jazz Festival. This article will examine the history, purpose and future of this popular event.
Over the years, the St. Lucia Jazz has become of the must attend events during the year. It takes place in the month of May and it is during that time that the island and patrons are treated to an international flare of artists. The main reason for the creation of the festival was to increase the amount of people who came to the island during the low period in terms of tourist arrivals. Over the years it has gained popularity and it is now of the major events in that region.
The Jazz festival has many different types of artist with the focus on jazz and its offshoots, such as new age jazz and r & b (rhythm and blues). It is here you will find world renowned acts who hail from North America, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. Each artiste brings something unique to the festival, but they all serve one purpose and that is to bring joy and entertainment to the patrons.
The Jazz festival itself is financed by the St Lucia Tourist Board as well as the government of the island. With the added benefit that this event provides to the island, you will see the government relax fees and taxes during the time. The benefits are ten fold for the island as they are able to promote themselves, as well as leave a lasting impression on the patrons who will associate their memories of St Lucia, with something good.
Getting to the island for the festival is a fairly simple task, as there are many cheap flights to St Lucia available. Many people from North America or Europe have direct flights that go into the island, including charters. Savings can be made during that period if potential patrons book their flights online and compare prices between the different travel sites.
By: James Daltons