The annual Jazz ‘n Creole Festival is back ‘in full swing’ this year and patrons are being encouraged to purchase their tickets for the main event carded for April 30 at the Cabrits National Park in Portsmouth.
Dominica’s Jazz ‘n Creole Festival is a festive fusion of Jazz Music with Creole music, food, and culture. First presented by Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) in 2010, the festival has been well received each year as patrons appreciate the inviting and casual ambience of one of Dominica’s major tourism attractions.
“The Jazz N Creole 12th Edition will be held in less than 3 weeks…,” Festival and Events Manager at DDA Nathalie Walsh said while addressing a press conference on Wednesday. “Something great, something big is taking place at Cabrits National Park.”
She continued, “Our tickets are available. We have VIP tickets available online and also hard copies right here at the DDA office.”
Walsh noted that the line-up will include local bands like Swingin Stars.
This year on the line-up we will have a number of bands to include, Swingin Stars and Signal Band, we also have the island Jazz Collective featuring Jussi Paavola , Haitian-American artiste, Phyllisia Ross, grammy=nominated Black Violin of Fort Lauderdale, and much more.
Persons are asked to visit www.dominicafestivals.
The dress code for the event is Rainforest Fantasy.
I know the festival committee has no control over the airlines and their ticket prices, but US$1300.00 and US$1700.00 round trip per person is simply ridiculous! The price of the ticket dissuades would be travelers to come to our shores for such events. Relative to our neighbors, Dominica is far too expensive. Two people can travel to neighboring a neighboring island for the price of one ticket to Dominica. There’s the pure natural beauty of Dominica and there’s the cold reality of the price per ticket. The numbers are just that, the numbers.
Respect others opinion just as you wish them to respect yours
You can rebrand etc but still be genuine, creative and appreciative
Thank you very much for your kind words about me Mr. Roger Burnet. Unfortunately I don’t think the majority of our people understand what Jazz is although it has been around for decades. It is timeless! There is no cut off age for singing Jazz and Blues. Jazz is an art .. you need to have a Jazz voice to sing it well. The Festival board obviously doesn’t think so. They need to sell tickets and hopefully they will. Soon they may realize that they should change the name of the Creole Festival and the Jazz and Creole Festival to April or May Festival and October Music Festival and mix the genres of music to suit everyone. I will continue to compose Jazz and
Creole songs, sing the ones I choose to sing and follow the advice of my beloved brother Alwin Bully…”Keep on with your music Babs!”
Thank you Barbara.
I have fond memories of the visit you made to my studio many years ago with Colin. Please continue to follow Alwin’s advice to keep on with your music.
I likewise remember Alwin’s advice to me when I was lamenting over the lack of interest in my work as a painter and sculptor here in Dominica: “Roger, they’re just not ready for it”.
The same applies to jazz
With each passing year, the Jazz ‘n Creole Festival strays further away from the genre of music it purports to promote.
With the exception of Jussi Paavola, this year’s lineup covers everything from bouyon to hip-hop, but jazz, and its relationship to creole, is absent.
I am left to wonder why Dominica’s own Barbara Bully – one of the Caribbean’s finest jazz vocalists – has never been invited to appear. For those who may not be familiar with this talented lady, here is a link to Barbara singing one of her own compositions, “Change My Mind”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD0J9881ffU
Because nobody want to listen to that boring music. same thing with creole festival. they have to bring bands that excite people so that they can sell tickets. If they want they can stick to pure jazz and creole music and then people like you will buy all their tickets lol
@Frontman….. I see your point BUT, why pretend it is a jazz festival if jazz is incidental to the music that is played? Seems like a bait and switch to me.
But on the assumption that: “nobody want to listen to that boring music”, why not change the name of both festivals ( Jazz ‘n Creole & World Creole) to better reflect the music they promote.
By doing that you will bring in all the more bands, excite all the more people, and sell all the more tickets.
Incidentally, jazz is an art form that those of African and Creole descent originated and shared with the world at large.
Who is “nobody”?