April still Jazz month in Tobago (UPDATED)

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When life throws you lemons, make lemonade.

The cancellation/postponement of the fifth Plymouth Jazz Festival in Tobago sent shockwaves through the island, as the event has become such a signature on the Tobagonian festival calendar. Visitors book their accommodation and travel sometimes more than a year in advance, and the event is considered a significant revenue earner for the tourism and hospitality sector.

But in every crisis, there is opportunity. Every year, criticisms have been levelled at the festival for being a misnomer (as is the case with many a jazz festival), featuring headliners who were international rock, R&B or pop stars, with few if any jazz artists and a dearth of local musicians.

Not so this year. For myself at least, I am delighted at the shape jazz week in Tobago – dubbed the Tobago Jazz Experience – is taking. Together, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Division of Tourism and Transportation, Production One, Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA), Mt. Irvine Bay Hotel and Pan Trinbago have come together to offer an alternative week of jazz that locals and internationals alike can enjoy.

All acts and events are still being confirmed, but if all goes as planned, the week of sun, sea and jazz in Tobago this year may in many ways be even better than the lavish festivals of old. With performers, venues and times subject to confirmation, here is some of what we can look forward to:

Wednesday April 22:

• Pan Jazz in de Yard @ Redemption Sound Setters Pan Yard – Featuring Andy Narell, Liam Teague, Victor Provost, Len Boogsie Sharpe, Kersh Ramsey, Silver Stars Steel Orchestra

Thursday April 23:

• Pan Jazz in de Yard @ Redemption Sound Setters Pan Yard – Featuring Len Boogsie Sharpe, Rudy Smith, Mavis John, Caribbean Airlines Invaders, and the Kariwak Players
  

Friday April 24:

• Lunch Time Jazz @ the Scarborough Esplanade
• World Music Night @ Pigeon Point Heritage Park – Featuring Caribbean INXS, Princess Adanna, Guardian Knight, Fire Fusion, Shadow, 3canal, Calypso Rose, Ella Andall, Shurwayne Winchester & Y.O.U.

Saturday April 25:

• Street Beat @ Plymouth
  
• Jazz on de Beach @ Mt. Irvine
• Beach Jazz @ Speyside
• Latin Jazz Night @ Pigeon Point Heritage Park – Featuring Elan Parle, Michele Henderson (Dominica), CaneFire (Canada), Behita (Cuba), and Mungal Patassar

Sunday April 26:

• Jazz on de Beach @ Mt. Irvine
• Sun, Sea and Jazz @ Pigeon Point Heritage Park – Featuring the Kariwak Players, Caribbean INXS, Michael Boothman, Theron Shaw, Clive Zanda, David Rudder, and the Grammy Award-winning George Benson
  

Tickets go on sale from April 6th: the Pan Jazz in de Yard events cost TT$250 per night or TT$450 for both nights; World Music Night TT$150; Latin Jazz TT$250; Sun, Sea & Jazz TT$300; and the Jazz Caravan is free of charge.

In Trinidad, they will be available at Cleve's, Sanch Electronics, Crosby's and Stetchers. In Tobago, they will be available at all Penny Savers Supermarkets and Pirates' Boat Yard in Roxborough.

Stay tuned – we'll let you know when tickets go on sale and any changes to the line up as soon as we do!