More than 40,000 visitors are in Tobago for the island's biggest annual music event, the Tobago Jazz Experience, which got going yesterday and will continue until next Sunday.They will take part in a musical trek through Castara, Pigeon Point Heritage Park, Scarborough, Signal Hill and Speyside for concerts featuring local and international artistes.Grammy award winner John Legend, R&B singer, Brandy, singer-songwriter, Keyshia Cole and legendary soul group Earth, Wind & Fire are the international headline acts for this 6th edition of the event.Legend, whose hit singles include Ordinary People, Tonight and most recently, All of Me, will perform at the World Music Night concert on Friday where he will share the stage with s Brandy. Earth, Wind and Fire and Keyshia Cole will be featured at the grand finale Beach Jazz Fiesta concert next Sunday.
The first concert took place last night, Jazz in the East at the Speyside Recreational Grounds where the featured performers were Roy Cape All Stars featuring Blaxx, Tarrus Riley, Michael Boothman, Joel Phillip and Rhapsody Next GenerationThe Tobago Jazz Experience–originally called the Tobago Jazz Festival–used to go on for three days when it was first launched in 2005 and was held in Plymouth.The rebranded event focuses on local, regional, and "world music" artistes and draws on talent from several musical genres, including calypso, soca and chutney.International headliners at past editions include R&B star Chaka Khan, Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Mary J Blige, Sting, Diana Ross and George Benson.
Jazz around the Island
TODAY
5 pm: Hillside Jazz at Signal Hill Recreational Grounds
Oscar B, Kapri, Adam Alexander, Keylon Whitlook, Stephen John, Michael Nedd and Quacy Cooper, Keishaun Julien, Ravi Maharaj and Band, Leeandro Noray
APRIL 23
6 pm: Jazz on the Waterfront at the Milford Road Esplanade
Lynette Louis and Judy Balfour, Pedro Lezama, Lyrical Lounge, Jaime Ramsey, Jason Jones, Aniqua Grannum, Fayola, Darlon Fraser, David Frank,
APRIL 24
1 pm: Northside Jazz at Castara Beach
Entertainment begins at 5 pm.
JaMelody, Benjai, Ziggy Rankin, Orlando Octave, Cheva Alexander, N'kem Scotland, N. Kay, Leon de Murrell, Simon Williams, Trevor Hunte
APRIL 25
7.30 pm: World Music Night at Pigeon Point Heritage Park.
John Legend, Brandy, Dil e Nadan, Bunji, Fay-Ann and the Asylum Vikings
APRIL 26
11 am: Jazz on the Beach at Mt Irvine Bay
7.30 pm: Youthopia AT Pigeon Point Heritage Park
Tessanne Chin, R'Kardo Stevon, Erphaan Alves, Gerard Balfour, Olatunji, DJ Red, Journei, Krush
Private Ryan
APRIL 27
11 am: Jazz on the Beach at Mt. Irvine Bay
4 pm: Beach Jazz Fiesta at Pigeon Point Heritage Park
Keyshia Cole, Earth, Wind and Fire, Chrycee and the Soleil Band, Tony Paul, Geneieve