Anthea McGibbon

From the cooler side of Kingston, Jamaica, four women reflect on this year’s staging of Art of Music, once known as Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues. They are ‘parring p(s)’ (Jamaican slang for lyming)’ friends, and, without regrets, are at ease in Punters Paradise, New Kingston sipping wine as they excitedly reminisce on that week in Trelawny. Its almost two full months since the event, but they remain enthusiastic as they travel memory lane.
Almost every year, they travel down to the Jazz Festival together, sometimes with other friends joining. Already they have at least two others committing to join in the fun for next year.
Below are some of the thoughts shared by Ann Lowe, Beverley Kawass, Veenal Vaswani and Leila Younis, almost three months later.
At first, the four were asked about the event’s renaming and the new venue. All four agree that the renaming, and hence rebranding of the event has made it into perhaps the best ever, although they have an appreciation for jazz and blues. The event is now definitely timeless says Ann Lowe, backed up by Beverley Kawass, while the others join in explaining that an entire variety of performers and art forms can now be rotated.

SIMON THOMPSON photo: From left are Kawass, Younis, Vaswani and Lowe travelling on memory lane to Trelawny, for Art of Music 2010.

The Greenfield in Trelawny venue was discussed with different reactions. In one quick response Lowe who has attended the annual event eight of its nine years of staging, vowed her love for the new venue. “I really loved it, it was big, parking space was fantastic, and there was no confusion to get in or out,” she said. On the other hand Leila Younis response was that the Aqueduct and Rose Hall locations being were better, with a superior atmosphere. Being smaller, she felt the energies of the artistes and patrons worked better together, although she admitted that she was not one to love repeats herself.
Agreeing with her, Vaswani said the new spot was a bit too secluded from everywhere, almost snobbish, and she for one was disappointed. The group entered into a tug-o-war discussion on the length of time it took some patrons to travel from places such as Lucea hotels, and even from Negril. It didn’t matter that there were shuttle buses for those opposing the venue. However, this could be a hint to developers to focus more attention on this area fast becoming the spotlight with athletes such as Usain Bolt, and the ports being built.

A concern was over the lack of a main headliner, or according to Lowe and Younis a “headliner of headliners.” The four while appreciating being on most if not all guest lists of skybox owners, and the efforts made, preferred the interaction in the other tents. Especially the Smirnoff tent, which was a must spot for them as they scurried nightly to partake of what the other tents offered, and during the breaks in particular.
This tent, they chimed throughout the discussions, did well in filling any order of fun, although the DJ of their beats, DJ Venum from Blue Beat was missing.
At one point, there was a crescendo of highlights as each tried to outdo the other about the welcomed select entertainment segments in the different tents, during the breaks that is while headliners on the main stage changed bands.
High praises again resounded for the sponsors of the Smirnoff tent which catered to their every need, some of them newly-inspired by the ever attentive and energetic Smirnoff team. It was the spot for lyming, dancing, meeting warmhearted persons who were just focused on clean upbeat fun, ongoing, and all too happy to teach the latest dance moves from all genres of Jamaica music.
About the main stage offering, Thursday night was the best they felt. What they felt was lacking to attract the needed numbers at such an event was an overall headliner.
Once again, in sharp response, almost reprimanding the organizers, the group proposed a number of persons they thought would have been ideal. Among them, the famed Jimmy Cliff, who was recently inducted in the Hall of Fame for the Harder They come, and as a Caribbean National.
The strong highlights overall were of course the energies of Montana, and was openly spoken and reiterated by Kawass. The subtle calls of Billy Ocean complimenting the attempt to keep the event timeless with the wide variety of music forms and genres although welcomed, appeared a year too often. Lowe said “Babyface was the hit of all hits,” and the friends agreed in remembering how wild the crowd went over him.

Still they, having grown accustomed to Jazz and Blues, and with only Lowe being a committed Jazz and Blues lover, felt there was too little jazz, and a lack of Blues. On the other hand the other three were far more facilitating of the added variety of music forms.

Latin heart throb, with training in Jazz, Jon Secada presented the element of surprise that turned more than heads, along with British songbird Joss Stone. Third World, as a reggae band, was a welcome finale performance, although the group had a list of others they thought should have made the A-List.
The friends were not impressed by the eccentric Badu who ‘changed’ her tune fans were yearning to hear and that her segment was additionally seemingly almost if not the longest. Creating their own hype however, they were filled and overflowing with gratitude as they agreed the offerings were just short of entertainers for the price paid, even with the complimenting visual arts area and mini stage.
Souvenirs from an event, where one’s feelings can never be recorded is just all they can cling to remind them of that joy-filled week together with, as they anticipate going next year with more friends yet.

READ MORE:
Jazzing Walter Elmore Style
Third world celebrates 37 years
Arts in harmony in Jamaica
Hanging with Billy Ocean
Questions for Jon Secada
[En espanol] Una Charla con Jon Secada
Saturday night was the night to remember
What loyal patrons say
Art of music now a timeless event

See the Gleaner’s Art Section, Jazz Report(Cdn), Street Hype(NY), The Gleaner’s Children’s Own for more.

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air jamaica jazz and blues, art of music, Greenfield Stadium, trelawny