The popular and much anticipated Jazz Fest is just around the corner, once again bringing an all star line-up of award-winning international performers to Cayman’s shores.
This year’s Jazz Fest is scheduled to start Thursday, 4 December with an intimate performance at the picturesque setting of Pedro St. James.
International artists at the event include Gerald Albright, Terrence Howard and Cassandra Wilson, which will have an elegantly casual dress code.
American Gerald Albright combines both Jazz and R&B and is among one of the most respected and sought after saxophonists.
Terrence Howard is an Academy award-nominated film and stage actor, singer and rapper. His debut pop album, Shine Through It, was released earlier this year and is heavily inspired by soul singers such as Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield.
American jazz musician, Cassandra Wilson, released her first solo album, Point of View, in 1986. Her 1996 album, New Moon Daughter, garnered the singer a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance.
Friday’s line-up at Pageant Beach will see artists Algebra, Angie Stone and Michael Bolton take to the stage.
Angie Stone is a Grammy award-winning R&B and soul singer-songwriter, keyboardist, record producer and occasional actress. Stone emerged on the music scene in the 1990s as part of the R&B trio Vertical Hold. Her solo debut album, Black Diamond, was released in 1999.
Multi-Grammy award winning Michael Bolton does not need much of an introduction. An American singer/songwriter, he began recording in 1975 and is best known for his soft rock ballads. During his illustrious career he has sold more than 53 million albums and has worked with artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Ray Charles and Bob Dylan, penned hits for Barbra Streissand and KISS, played guitar with B.B. King and been sampled on a track by hip-hop superstar Kanye West.
The festival concludes on Saturday, 6 December, with an all star line-up at Pageant Beach. International artists scheduled to perform are Norman Brown, R&B singer Robin Thicke, American jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding and the festival’s headline musician Anita Baker.
Grammy award-winning Norman Brown has released a slew of critically acclaimed albums, including his latest offering, Stay With Me, in 2007. The singer, described as an urban vocalist, fuses the musical genres of pop, R&B and jazz into one heady mix.
American Grammy Award winning R&B singer Robin Thicke released his debut single When I Get You Alone in 2002. His debut album, A Beautiful World followed shortly. In 2006 he released his successful follow-up album, The Evolution of Robin Thicke, which includes songs with Lil Wayne and Faith Evans.
Anita Baker was born in Toledo Ohio and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She began singing aged 12 in the church choir. Her album Rapture, released in 1986, sold over six million records worldwide and garnered the rising star two Grammy awards. Her follow-up album, Giving You The Best That I Got, was released in 1987 and scooped the singer a further three Grammies. Her third album, Compositions, had a heavier jazz influence and saw the artist pick up a further Grammy award for Best R&B Female Performance. In 1995, the multi-platinum rhythm and blues singer and songwriter was awarded her eighth Grammy for song Apologize.
There will also be input from local musicians, including KK Alese, Mainstream, Jonathon Ebanks, Stuart Wilson and Love Culture and Impulz Band.
TICKETS
Admission to all three events is US$190. Tickets for the two Pageant Beach concerts are US$110. Individual concert tickets are US$90 for Thursday, 4 December concert at Pedro St. James and US$60 each for the Pageant Beach events. Tickets are available to purchase online. Visit www.caymanislands.ky/jazzfest.
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