TurnKey Productions took over the production of the Festival from Air Jamaica and BET just over 6 years ago, and In the beginning the event was much smaller and focused more on Jazz and Blues bands in contrast to the melting pot of musical genres which are now one of the hallmarks of the Festival, a feature which TurnKey has summed up in the slogan “The Art of Music”. With that slogan, came the inception of a second stage, TurnKey created an opportunity for new talent to be showcased between the major acts and get international exposure as artistes, and has seen the likes of Tessanne Chin and Rootz Underground.
It is the job of TurnKey’s Executive Producer Walter Elmore to bring all the different elements of producing and marketing the Festival together.
Work on the Festival, starting with sourcing sponsorship and the selection of a line-up begins up to 8 months before the Festival date. Landscaping, transportation, marketing, security, hotel accommodations, food and drinks, ticketing and stage production are some of the many areas that have to come together to breathe life into what is now The JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival. Though each element may come from separate entities, and as complicated as it seems to bring those all together, leave it to TurnKey Productions to manage the logistics of the Festival and ensure that everything is coordinated and runs smoothly.
In 2007 the Festival, having outgrown its home at the Cinnamon Hill golf course, moved to a much larger space in Rose Hall. The site was ‘built’ by TurnKey Productions from the ground up to become a temporary new home, for the event. While its ambiance is quite different from the beloved Cinnamon Hill, the new venue has its own charm, bounded by the historic Aqueduct as its backdrop, and with the Caribbean Sea and the carefully manicured Rose Hall golf courses to its sides.
The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival is now a world-class, three-day event, featuring star-studded line-ups, showcasing fantastic musical talent from Jamaica and musical legends from around the world. The show not only features artistes who perform in the area of Jazz and Blues but crosses over into a variety of genres including Reggae, R&B, Gospel, Latin, and Country among others. The JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival is now a phenomenal musical experience.
The JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival 2009 has a lot to offer fans and guarantees value for money.This year’s staging features Lionel Richie, Estelle, Robin Thicke, The Chicagos, The Ojays, Atlantic Starr, Randy Crawford and Joe Sample, Nikki Yanofsky and many more Ticket prices range from US$80 per night, US$155(Weekend Friday and Saturday) and US$235 (Season passes). VIP upgrades costing US$20 (Thursday), US$40 (Friday & Saturday) or US$60 (Season) are also available and this allows you access closer to the stage area with the option to purchase beverages from an exclusive bar and food prepared by Lorraine Fung. Tickets are available at the following locations: Acropolis Gaming & Entertainment Centre, Coral Cliff Entertainment Limited, El Paso Records, Fairview Texaco, Fontana Pharmacy, Paymaster Outlets, Rorys Texaco, Villagio Gaming & Entertainment Centre and also online at www.jamaicajazzandblues.com.
