Anguilla Announces Performers For Tranquility Jazz Festival 2009
ANGUILLA – Anguilla, the serene island paradise in the Caribbean, is just perhaps the perfect setting for a jazz festival. The tranquil island character of Anguilla offers the perfect blend of setting and atmosphere to bring travelers a rich, passionate jazz festival experience.
The Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival now enters its seventh year, and has come to offer music lovers a one-of-a-kind experience: An idyllic setting for jazz. Powder-white sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear turquoise water. Peaceful, wafting trade winds. … The music becomes richer as the listeners relax and unwind in the calming atmosphere. The blue notes and colorful harmonies of jazz mix with the background symphony of sun, sand, sea and sailboats.
The Anguilla Tourist Board and BET Event Productions are this year excited to be building on the rich tradition of the festival and have now announced the headliners for 2009, an eclectic lineup of world-renowned and regionally popular performers.
The seventh annual Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival will take place November 12-15, 2009. The star-studded lineup will feature: Dianne Reeves, the distinguished four-time Grammy award winning vocalist who is widely regarded as one of jazz’s pre-eminent artists; Ahmad Jamal, the influential jazz pianist whose legendary career has spanned more than 50 years; Rachelle Ferrell, the one-of-a-kind vocalist who has drawn praise and an ardent following in both jazz and pop music; Elio Villafranca, the esteemed Cuban pianist, composer and bandleader who has collaborated with numerous leading jazz and Latin jazz artists; Jaine Rogers, the Anguillian based, British born vocalist has become highly regarded for her velvet smooth, enchanting vocals, reminiscent of the jazz vocalists of yesteryear, wrapped in modern flair; and British Dependency, a local West Indies trio with a homegrown musical attitude that is all their own.
The festival headliners will be joined by a host of young, talented Anguillian musicians, ready to make their mark in the jazz world.
The festivities get underway on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the CuisinArt Resort & Spa with dinner and an intimate evening with Rachelle Ferrell. Friday, Nov. 13, the music continues in the evening again under the stars at CuisinArt Resort & Spa featuring The Ahmad Jamal Group and local jazz vocalist Jaine Rogers. On Saturday, Nov. 14, the festival proudly features four-time Grammy winning vocalist Dianne Reeves. Joining the evening bill will be The Elio Villafranca Quintet and local Caribbean trio British Dependency. Sunday, Nov. 15, provides the perfect close to the weekend as the action takes to the beach at Sandy Ground for a festival finale performance by the local Caribbean jazz trio British Dependency.