Staff WriterThe Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival 2010 invites music-lovers to delight in a host of amazing artistic talent performing from January 24 – 30, 2010 in Montego Bay. Multiple-award winning singer and actress, Jennifer Hudson; “Empress of Soul” and Lifetime Diva, Gladys Knight; British vocalist, Joss Stone; the smooth and soulful Hall & Oates; Jamaican Reggae singer, Marion Hall; veteran Reggae band, Third World; and the melodic jazz icon, Monty Alexander are among the A-list acts.
Each year, Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival offers its 40,000 patrons an unforgettable musical experience with sounds and rhythms from Jazz, Blues, R&B, Gospel, World-Music, Latin, and Reggae – a mix which captivates the eclectic audience representing the United States, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. The experience grows even more alluring with the offerings of delectable Jamaican and international cuisine and crafts from artisans all over the island.
The 2010 festival will feature a lineup of exciting events. Small concerts with select artistes will warm up the festivities at various hotels on the North Coast including Sunset Jamaica Grande, Iberostar, RIU, Sunset Resort Montego Bay, and the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston from January 24 to 27. The main event will be hosted in the final three days from January 28 to 30. This musical experience is enhanced by its picturesque location at the “Aqueduct on Rose Hall” along the shores of Montego Bay.
JJ&B Band Quest – Search for Undiscovered Talent
The newest addition to the program is JJ&B Band Quest – an online audition of undiscovered talent vying for a chance to perform at the festival. Contestants must join the JJ&B Fan Zone and the JJ&B Band Quest Group at http://jamaicajazz.com to create a profile and upload a picture and video of their band or group. The number of votes and points from the online audience will determine who is chosen to audition live New York, Ft Lauderdale, Atlanta and Jamaica. A team of expert judges headed by TurnKey Productions will select the final three. The winners will be added to the line-up of the festival and their auditions as well as interviews, uploaded to the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival website. Interviews from the judges will also be available on the website.
As there can only be one true winner, the bands that make it to the Festival stage will be put through the ultimate test – the judgment of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival audience. Patrons will text to choose their favorite act and the band with the most points at the end of the voting period will be champion of the 2010 JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Band Quest. The winners will take home a flurry of prizes and secure a booking to perform on the main stage at the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival in 2011.
Attendees of the festival can also take advantage of the three, four and five star accommodations provided at discounted prices and conveniently located close to the festival stages. The hotels include Sunset Beach Resort, Sandals Inn, Riu Montego Bay, Iberostar and Half Moon Hotel & Golf Club. Complimentary shuttle service to the festival locations will also be available from various hotels in Montego Bay as well as Kingston.
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