Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tessanne Chin and Maxwell to perform at the St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival

Dee Dee Bridgewater

The 23^rd Annual Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival takes center stage in the Caribbean destination’s 2014 calendar with a diverse line-up of artistic culture and famed musical talent who have graced local, regional and international stages.  Among the internationally renowned performers is award winning, American singer-songwriter Maxwell and legendary American funk/soul band of Motown fame, The Commodores.

 The 12-day festival kicks off on April 30 and runs through May 11 featuring more than 65 musical performances and art showcases stretching across Saint Lucia. Locations span from Vieux Fort in the South, quaint and rustic village settings like Rudy John Beach Park in the southwest village of Laborie, to Saint Lucia’s iconic Pigeon Island National Park, where main stage events will unfold.

 “This year’s event is building on a resurgence of fresh artistic direction infused into the festival in 2013, thus providing the perfect opportunity for scores of local artisans, entertainers and cultural enthusiasts to command world attention at scenic vistas across the island,” remarked Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries Minister Lorne Theophilus.

 

Tessanne Chin

Performances get underway starting April 30 and conclude on May 11 with Grammy award-winning artist Maxwell, headlining the Festival.  The chart topping, arena-filling soul superstar, who is celebrated for his show-stopping performances, will feature his world renowned music which spans R&B, Funk, Jazz and Soul. Additionally, the famed American funk/soul band The Commodores, best known for hits like “Brick House” and ballads like “Three Times a Lady” will be in the spotlight. Also in the cards for Sunday May 11 is outstanding new artist Leela James and Jamaican reggae fusion recording artist, best known for winning Season 5 of the American reality TV singing competition “The Voice,” Tessanne Chin. Other musical powerhouses include Tony-Award and three-time Grammy winning actress Dee Dee Bridgewater; American R&B soul singer, songwriter and producerKem; Cuban composer, pianist, bandleader and Grammy nominee Omar Sosa Quintet; American-born Puerto Rican Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winning Merengue singer Elvis Crespo; and Nigerian R&B duo P-Square. Local and regional musical talents in the lineup include Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander; St. Lucian Expo that features the up and coming emerging talents of Michael Robinson and Anesha Antoine and funky jazz band Blue Mango featuring Emiline Michel and James Germain.

 Main stage activities will kick off at the Pigeon Island National Landmark on Friday, May 9. Dubbed “Caribbean night”, the evening will commence with performances from Trinidadian string band Alternative Quartet, Teddyson John featuring Alison Hinds and Jamaican reggae and dancehall legend Barrington Levy.

 The line-up for the opening night on April 30 of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival will be announced shortly.

The festival is presented by the Saint Lucia Tourist Board and is supported by Platinum sponsor Digicel along with other Gold, Bronze and Collateral sponsors. Over its two decade history the festival has attracted some of the most recognizable and sought after names in the music business.

 For more information on the full lineup for the 2014 Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival along with show dates, venues and ticket sales, log ontohttp://www.stluciajazz.org.  

 For more information about the island of Saint Lucia, call 1-800-456-3984, or 1-800 4STLUCIA or visit http://stlucianow.com.

 About Saint Lucia

One of the Windward Islands of the West Indies' Lesser Antilles, Saint Lucia (pronounced Saint LOO-sha) is nestled halfway down the Eastern Caribbean archipelago. The "Helen of the West Indies," Saint Lucia is known for its natural beauty and diverse attractions, including the signature Piton Mountains - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - a tropical rainforest and one of the world's few drive-in volcanoes. Culturally rich offerings include the bustling marketplace in the capital of Castries, quaint fishing villages along the coastline, and the annual Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival. Saint Lucia's wide range of accommodations includes world-class five-star resorts, all-inclusive resorts, intimate inns and value-oriented properties. Saint Lucia also is home to world class cruise and yachting facilities. The island is continually recognized as one of the Leading Wedding and Honeymoon destinations worldwide.