Air Jamaica Jazz Festival for Mo-Bay Jan.25-27

The 2007 Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival will be held in Montego Bay from January 25 to 27, and according to Air Jamaica’s Senior Executive, George deMercado, this could be the best ever festival. Mr. deMercado hosted members of the international press last week in New York, to announce the event and the artistes who would be performing.
Arturo Tappin, Christopher Cross, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Michael Bolton, Monty Alexander, Pieces of a Dream, and an all-star reggae line-up, including Freddie McGregor, Luciano, Shaggy and Wayne Wonder have confirmed so far, Festival Producer, Walter Elmore of Turnkey Productions, told the press.
“It is going to blow everybody’s mind … those of you who’ve been, know what I’m talking about; those of you who haven’t been, have no idea what you’re missing,” said Mr. deMercado. He said Air Jamaica was delighted to continue to be the title sponsor of the festival, which attracted more than 40,000 persons last year. “It was eminently successful. We had more people than we could handle.
This year we have a magnificent new venue at Rose Hall, which will be transformed into a truly amazing stage and I have no doubt that the success that we’ve been able to achieve over the years, is going to be surpassed in 2007,” he added.
David Shields, Jamaica’s Deputy Director of Tourism, added that over the past 10 years, the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival has contributed to the cultural fabric of Jamaica. He observed that 52 per cent of those surveyed at this year’s event were repeat attendees and 92 per cent indicated that they would like to return. He thanked Turnkey Productions for their professionalism, and tour operators for their contribution to Jamaica’s growth in visitor arrivals this year.
In addition to the music, Sandals Resorts Chairman, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart and Michele Rollins of Rose Hall Developments Limited, will be honoured during next year’s festival.