MONTEGO BAY – Grammy winners and 2008 Grammy nominees are set to rub shoulders and thrill music fans in Montego Bay, Jamaica next month.
Three of the 2008 artists set to perform at January 24- 26th Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica have just picked up nominations for next year’s 50th Grammy awards. While two others on the bill already hold the prestigious statuettes.
Grammy winner Jill Scott, newcomer Ryan Shaw and Spyro Gyra all been nominated for next year’s 50th Grammy Awards, set for Feb. 10, 2008, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Scott, who already holds two Grammy’s, has been nominated three times for the 2008 awards. She’s up for ‘Best Female R&B Vocal Performance,’ for ‘Hate On Me,’ ‘Best Urban/Alternative Performance,’ for her collaboration with Lupe Fiasco on ‘Daydreamin’ and ‘Best R&B Album’ for the ‘The Real Thing.’
Shaw has received his first nomination in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for ‘I Am Your Man,’ while Spyro Gyra has gotten the nod in the Best Pop Instrumental Performance category for ‘Good To Go’ off the album, ‘Simple Pleasure’ as well as for Best Pop Instrumental Album of the year.
Shaw is a 26-year-old singer/songwriter from Decatur, Georgia who recently launched his debut album, ‘This Is Ryan Shaw’ on the One Haven/Columbia label. Working with player/producers Jimmy Bralower and Johnny Gale, Shaw gave overlooked classics by obscure artists like the Combo Kings and the Sharpees along with more familiar songs made famous by Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, and Bobby Womack, a new life.
While his original tunes – “Nobody” (the first single), “We Got Love,” and “Over and Done” – build on the old-school values of strong melodies and meaningful lyrics. We Got Love” was prominently featured in January 2007 promos for the ABC network television series “Brothers and Sisters.”
Spyro Gyra was originally formed in the early 1970s in Buffalo, NY. With over 25 albums released and 10 million copies sold, they are among the most prolific as well as commercially successful groups of the scene. Among their most successful hit singles are “Shaker Song” and “Morning Dance,” which received significant play on popular music radio stations, and is still frequently heard nearly 30 years later on jazz and easy listening stations.
The 2008 nominees and two-time winner will be joined at the prestigious festival by eight-time Grammy Award winner, Anita Baker.
The line-up also includes Legendary singer, Diana Ross; revered ‘Caribbean Queen’ singer, Billy Ocean JT Taylor of “Kool of the Gang,” Mary Mary, Chalice, Lou Gramm of ” Foreigner,” Jessica Yap; Yerba Buena, Taj Mahall, pianist Marjorie Whylie, AJ Brown, Dwight Stephenson and 13-year-old powerhouse Nikki.
Meanwhile, history was made on Monday, Dec. 10 when for the very first time in the 11 years of the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, tickets began selling on the Internet at the event’s home page: http://www.airjamaicajazzandblues.com/08/.
Walter Elmore of Turn Key Productions, executive producer of the Caribbean’s hottest festival, says the decision was taken given the overwhelming request by overseas fans for tickets to the festival.
But the executive producer is reminding fans that tickets will only be sold for a limited time to the January 24-26, 2008 event and is urging all to ensure they snap up tickets early.
Only a restricted number of tickets will be sold for the venue at the Aqueduct in Montego Bay this year, added Elmore, while insisting he is more concerned about the comfort level of jazz fest patrons than simply selling tickets.
