Scarborough, Tobago – Music lovers from around the world are invited to the second annual Tobago Jazz Experience, April 22-25, 2010. This year, the four-day festival features headline performances from Grammy® award-winning Queen of Funk Soul, Chaka Khan and First Lady of Neo Soul, Erykah Badu.
With a unique fusion of culture and smooth tunes the event will also give visitors and residents the chance to listen and groove to some of the island’s talented jazz musicians as they perform and show their skills on a range of instruments that include the steelpan, drums, saxophone and the guitar. Key events for the second staging of the festival are Jazz on de Waterfront, World Music Night, Jazz on de Beach, Jazz in de East, Pan Jazz in de Park and Beach Jazz Fiesta.
Erykah Badu
Starting at 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, April 22, jazz enthusiasts can attend Jazz on de Waterfront, held at the Milford Road Esplanade.
The event will feature local musical acts and will be free to the public. On Friday, April 23 beginning at 7:30 p.m., Pigeon Point Heritage Park plays host to World Music Night with performances from Shurwayne Winchester and the big band You, Lord Nelson, 3 Canal, Mavis John, Dil-E-Nadan, Ziggy Rankin, Fire Empress and the night’s top billing, R&B diva, Erykah Badu. Tickets for this event are approximately $50 USD.
Events held on Saturday, April 24 include Street Beat—a cultural procession and street theatre that begins at 5 a.m. in Plymouth, followed by Jazz on de Beach—a music event that features Caribbean jazz rhythms held at Mt. Irvine Bay and Jazz in de East—a caravan that rolls into the scenic town of Speyside, offering a mix of musical entertainment on the beach facility grounds. These shows are all free to the public.
The final event for the day will be Pan Jazz in de Park, held at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park. Beginning at 5 p.m., patrons of jazz and lovers of pan will be able to experience the versatility of the national instrument, the steelpan, with performances from WITCO Desperados and Phase II Pan Groove, steel orchestras from Trinidad, as well as two top bands from Tobago. Tickets for Pan Jazz in de Park are approximately $35 USD.
The experience culminates with Beach Jazz Fiesta on Sunday, April 25. The audience will be treated to the musical styling of the legendary, international recording sensation Chaka Khan. Those in attendance can jam to hits such as Through the Fire, I Feel for You, and the women’s anthem, I’m Every Woman. Other scheduled performers include Élan Parle, the Alternative Quartet, the Sean Thomas Quartet, Clive Zanda and Kay Alleyne. Tickets for this show are approximately $50 USD.
