MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Seats on Air Jamaica are booking fast as fans of the 2007 Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival rush to ensure they catch the Grammy-winning line-up from January 23rd to the 27th in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The Festival, now celebrating its tenth anniversary, has become the biggest and best live music event in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
With just a few days to go before the festival, fans can still book their travel on Air Jamaica. “We still have seats available,” says George deMercado, Air Jamaica’s Vice President, Sales. “However, we encourage everyone to book now as the seats are selling very fast.”
Fans who are still looking for hotel accommodations will find rooms within easy reach of the Jazz Festival. “The early birds secured accommodations in Montego Bay,” deMercado continued. “The late bookers will now have to look for rooms in Ocho Rios and Negril. Anyone still looking for rooms can call Air Jamaica Vacations at 1-800-LOVEBIRD.”
Fans, both near and far, are bubbling over with enthusiasm and excitement for the 2007 Festival. Executive Producer of the Festival and TurnKey Productions President, Walter Elmore, says “Tickets to the five day event are going like hot cakes across the island as local fans join their international counterparts in counting down the days until the appearance of musical icons like Earth Wind and Fire, the Jamaica debut of Michael Bolton and the return of Country Music legend, Kenny Rogers.”
This year, the festival will be held for the first time at the scenic Aqueduct on Rose Hall; on the main road, near the Rose Hall Resort & Country Club, in Montego Bay. It is a venue that has Elmore glowing with pride as he reveals that employees are hard at work putting the final touches to enhance the natural beauty of the setting.
“Fans will catch the vibe of the 17th century Aqueduct as soon as they enter the new venue. There is more room and more space for everyone to spread out under the stars on the green grass while breathing in the fresh sea air blowing in from the Caribbean.”
He adds “That’s the way we planned it, so that everyone who attends gets caressed by ocean breezes while soaking in the rhythms that are live on stage.” In addition, parking will be easier than ever with more spacious parking lots.
Other all-star performers set to thrill fans are Grammy winners Christopher Cross and Shaggy as well as musical superstars like jazz legends Roy Ayers, Chuck Mangione, and Pieces of a Dream, music greats Russell Tompkins Jr., and The New Stylistics and a very special performance by ABBA-The Tribute. The Blues are well represented with The Robert Cray Band, and Jamaica’s own world renowned pianist Monty Alexander, along with rising neo-soul star Anthony Hamilton insure that there is something for everyone, every night.
Festival producers are also proud to introduce a special “Art of Reggae” night to the event. In the land where reggae evolved, reggae/dancehall all- stars and Apollo Lifetime Achievement winner Freddie McGregor, dancehall ‘cool ruler’ Wayne Wonder, crooner Sanchez and mega DJ Shaggy are set to keep the spirit of the genre alive and deliver power house performances that rival their international counterparts live on stage in Jamaica.
2007 JAZZFEST CONTEST
Delaware resident Robert Vrana was announced as the official winner of the 10th Annual Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues contest. Vrana’s entry was pulled from a pile of 627 correct respondents by Robert Dale, Air Jamaica Sales Manger in New York at an official drawing held at the airline’s Queens office on January 17th, 2007. The drawing of the Turn Key Promotions promotion was observed and authenticated by a notary public of the State of New York, accountant Lance Clarke.
Air Jamaica Area Sales Manager for New York, Robert Dale, l, draws the winning entry of the 2007 Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues contest on Jan. 17, 2007. Looking on are, 2nd from l. to r., Felicia Persaud of Hard Beat Communications, Lance Clarke of Lance Clarke & Associates and Tamika Smith of CaribPR.
(Photo: Roland Hyde/CaribPR)
Contest organizers received over 2,500 entries but surprisingly only 627 entrants responded with the correct answer to the question, “What Is The New Location For The 2007 Jazz & Blues Festival?” The answer, easily found on the www.airjamaicajazzandblues.com website, is the Aqueduct on Rose Hall in Montego Bay.
Entries to the contest were received from states and cities all across the US and many international countries as well. “We were exceptionally pleased that we were able to promote Jamaica, Air Jamaica and the Festival through this multi-media promotion, which included radio, print and web access,” said Walter Elmore.
The contest, which launched on December 15, 2006 and was promoted across a multitude of portals and websites across the Internet and in New York and South Florida on radio & TV through deejays like Winsome ‘Lady C’ Charlton of WAVS; Dahved Levy of WBLS in New York and The Whatz Up TV crew of CIN Channel 73, was only open to US residents.
