The crowd goes wild for singer Beres Hammond. (Photo: Steve James)
THE Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival (its new official name) ended on Sunday on the island’s scenic Pigeon Island with performances by reggae legend Jimmy Cliff and American singer Robin Thicke.
The 11-day (April 30-May 10) event was a potpourri of music: local jazz, reggae and pop, interspersed with exhibitions showcasing Saint Lucia’s heritage.
Tracey Warner-Arnold, Saint Lucia’s deputy director of tourism, said the new look worked for the government-funded festival which was first held in 1991.
“Very positive. With a very mixed line-up, there was something that appealed to everyone. Attendance was strong with record numbers on the Caribbean Night on Friday (May 8),” said Warner-Arnold.
“Further, there are a number of additional activities: fringe and community shows as well as other artistic components such as performance poetry, arts exhibits, HOT Couture Fashion show, plus the whole party scene, inclusive of parties and open bars with jazz and other genres of music being performed that have enhanced the whole atmosphere of the Festival and the feeling of Jazz throughout the island,” she added.
Reggae was strongly represented by Cliff, Beres Hammond, Chronixx and Jah Cure. According to Arnold, Hammond, who appeared on Caribbean Night at Pigeon Island, was star of the festival.
“Beres, for almost all persons; (rapper) Flo Rida for the younger audience. Arturo (Tappin) was very well-received as well. Both Robin Thicke and Jimmy Cliff got great reviews,” she reported.
At 24, the (former) St Lucia Jazz Festival is the granddaddy of Caribbean jazz shows. The brainchild of Saint Lucian tourism guru Allen Chastanet, its primary objective is to boost the island’s tourism.
With tourists especially from the French Caribbean and United Kingdom attending in droves, Warner-Arnold believes the festival has more than achieved its objectives.
“It most certainly continues to benefit Saint Lucia. It continues to be a major marketing tool for the destination and in some markets has put Saint Lucia on the map,” she explained. “The PR value and gross impressions generated by the Festival for Saint Lucia is far beyond what we can afford to buy through standard advertising or other marketing mediums. Additionally, the foreign exchange earnings and the economic activity that is stimulated is tremendous.”