Jazz ‘n Creole carded for May 19

A scene from Creole 'n Jazz last year
A scene from Creole ‘n Jazz last year

Director of Tourism Collin Piper, has stated that the annual Jazz ‘n Creole Festival has showed a significant increase in patrons over the years, growing in popularity from 600 patrons to over 1,200 in 2012.

This year the event is slated for May 19 and will see talents such as Haitian Jazz artiste, Beteau Obateau, performing.

According to Piper, the event was initiated to increase visitor arrival to the island during the month of May.

“The objectives of the event are to develop and stage an event which becomes a marquee festival tourism product and also generates economic activity and drives destination branding and increase visitor arrivals,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.

He said one of the main challenges facing the festival is other Jazz activities taking place in Martinique, Marie-galante and St Lucia.

However, Piper pointed out that the creole aspect of Dominica will be used to make Jazz ‘n Creole different in the hope of attracting more visitors.

He also noted that the event will be marketed and advertised in the French and other nearby countries to encourage more regional patrons.

Meanwhile, vice president of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association, Maxine Alleyne-Esprit, said that the duration of the event was increased this year to give local talents and opportunity to display their skills and perform.

According to her, fringe Jazz events will run from May 15 to 18 and will showcase various aspects and areas of Dominica.

“This year we will begin with a cocktail type event at the Evergreen Hotel … on Thursday evening at the Anchorage hotel we have the Weekly Word Sound and Power Event which will be beefed up with guest artistes and on Friday the Happy Hour at the Fort Young event will be made more exciting with Jazz. On Saturday afternoon we will have a riverside Jazz event at the Riverside Bar and Grill,” Esprit noted.

Esprit also revealed that a workshop for local artistes may be incorporated as part of the fringe events for the festival.  “We are also hoping to incorporate a workshop for the local musicians where one of the visitng artistes will be able to do a master class and will also feature as a guest artistes for one of the fringe events,” she said.

The Jazz ‘n Creole festival will take place at the Cabrits National Park.

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26 Comments

  1. Patriot
    March 2, 2013

    Presently until we pick up some fame, we cant compete with St.Lucia Festival. Mr. Piper can never have this event simultaneously with the Lucia and Martinique event.

    His best choice in May is to sell our event after or before these other countries which will serve the purpose as a Caribbean trip instead of enabling patrons to pay monies to revisit the Caribbean.

    As stated before, the Ross students will not be on summer vacation in May, however the festival should also not coincide with any important yearly local activities.

  2. Anonymous
    March 1, 2013

    Dummy Nicans again! There are killing their own selves. Dominica is know for its beautiful flowers. That is a great event for visitors also, so why schedule the Creole Jazz festival on the same day. Does that make any economical sense. You are basically killing two very important events that visitors would be interested in attending. Mr. Piper re-think what you are doing. You have to plant a firm foundation for both events so that there is no conflict. I am a frequent visitor and would love to go to both events, but that will be an effort to go from one part of the island to another within a few hours. Maybe I’ll just go to St. Lucia!

    • May Day!!
      March 1, 2013

      Be real and reasonable. This Flow Show was dead for the past 8 years, you heard the organizers said it. The Creole n Jazz has been on for 4 years consecutively, Why can’t the FLower Show Orgaizers rethink their dates. Do not change the date for the Jazz I have been to all and really loving it.
      Don’t criticize unecessarily, thy are trying to revive this thing they need to do their homework to find out what has been happening within this same period.

    • Anonymous
      March 2, 2013

      and going to St. Lucia will do what exactly you are the dummy!

  3. Nikkei
    March 1, 2013

    Gods Willing I will be at Fort Shirley!!!!!!!

  4. justsaying
    March 1, 2013

    If mr. Piper is aware of the other activities in the other caribbean islands in May, which were in existence long before the jazz n creole then why was that month chosen. Why not change the month

    • Jay
      March 1, 2013

      Maybe he did that to ensure the patronage of Ross university students for the main event at the Cabrits, who would still be on island in May , rather than in June the original timing of this wonderful festival.

      • rivernican
        March 1, 2013

        Discover Dominica has done this festival on Pentecost weekend for the past 4 years. That has been standard. It might be worth changing because of the MarieGalante festival, but from what I heard him say on the other news, they will be not be targetting the French so much (because of MarieGalante festival) but will more target ENGLISH speaking Caribbean – Antigua, St Maarten, Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad. He also said they would consider changing the date if this one does not work. most of the English speaking Caribbean does not know anything about MarieGalante blues fest.

      • Lovely
        March 3, 2013

        From since the commencement of this event, it was never staged in June since I’ve always attended this event and look forward to it each year. Secondly, The Ross Students are never on break in June. This is not primary school. Get your facts straight. As a matter of fact May is when the semester actually begins this year. I hate when people speak without actually knowing the facts. Seek clarification before posting your comments my friend.

  5. deesseafricane
    February 28, 2013

    this makes no sense

  6. jax
    February 28, 2013

    Seeing that Mr Piper is aware that our Jazz fest will be competeing with Martinique and St Lucia Jazz fest plus the Giraudel flower show, why o why did he agree to stage our Jazz fest on that week.? This is going to take some real ADVERTISING to get people from other islands here.
    Martinique has direct flights from France and St Lucia has direct flights from the U K and Europe. We have Liat and island hopping. Where does the logic come in to try and compete with these 2 islands.

    • get informed
      March 1, 2013

      what date and venue is the Giraudel Flower Show carded for?

      • get informed
        March 1, 2013

        Also, do they have a facebook page for more infor?

      • jax
        March 1, 2013

        The flower show is for, wait for it, MAY 19th.
        Only info I have seen so far is here on DNO. Scroll down on main page.

  7. Anthony Ismael
    February 28, 2013

    So why not stage the event at a differnt date, so that it does not conflict with other Jazz Festivals in the OECS? I love the Creole aspect of it though.
    Hope to see this event grow steadily.

    • ti nom
      March 1, 2013

      the same reason why we dont change our carnival because triniad and brazil have one…who want to come will come, and changing the date wont do much because regardless most people can only afford 1 or 2 vacations per year…if anything it may benefit the festival if they are at the same time as the others because tourists can island hop to different festivals

      • Anthony P. Ismael
        March 2, 2013

        Neat idea. I totally agree with you.

  8. lolz
    February 28, 2013

    So why May 19th? Giraudel Flower Show is same day. why Piper fighting the poor people nuh???

    • Creole!!
      March 1, 2013

      Ignorant comment Jeeeeezzzzzzzzzz!!

  9. budman
    February 28, 2013

    perhaps April or June might be better. May as the article says clashes with St. Lucia Jazz which is the biggest Jazz festival in the OECS. in fact, when I go there I see loads of DA peeps.

  10. Big Apple
    February 28, 2013

    i love Jazz, am already booking my ticket so i will be home around that time. i hope the bring a friend promotion still on. i have some friends i want to show my beautiful island

  11. Tempi
    February 28, 2013

    The problem with alot of Dominican tourism and event management is that they cannibalise the events they are supposed to manage.

    Conflict of interest does not exist in this world.

    Anyway…c’est la vie

    • ZANDOLI
      February 28, 2013

      you meant to say conflict of interest exist, Right?

  12. Dca Possie
    February 28, 2013

    Doesn’t Piper of all people that he of all people can’t be the reason for a failed flower show?

  13. Anonymous
    February 28, 2013

    I glad for all you. When people going home.

    • Big Apple
      February 28, 2013

      one set of ppl it have man

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