Click images above to enlarge.

When you compare the photograph (above left) with the photographs below it is difficult to believe they were taken just a couple of days apart. There was an initial fear that the 18th annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival would be rained off.

I arrived on the island on 30 April… it rained every day for the first seven days. I thought we would have to start building an ark and guiding locals, visitors and musicians (Not necessarily in that order) onto the ark two-by-two. The first of the four outdoor shows featuring Kassav, Angélique Kidjo and the Original Wailers was cancelled due to poor conditions at Pigeon Island. Thankfully, Mother Nature, Pigeon Island management and staff worked miracles - The next day, Pigeon Island was habitable.

Of course the strange (but predicted) behaviour of that well known British export ‘Ms Winehouse’, was on everybody’s mind, but it didn’t take long for patrons to move on. This festival is bigger than one bad performance. It was not long before we were getting down with KC and the Sunshine Band and soaking up the sounds of zouk from the re-scheduled ‘klass’ group Kassav.

Spectacular performances and encouraging words by the magical Monty Alexander at the Gaiety, the ever-reliable sax from Rob ‘Zi’ Taylor at Jazz on the Beach, smiles from the effervescent Chaka Khan, sweet soul (and flying shoes) from Patti Labelle and ‘rub me down’ party reggae from a bouncy Beres Hammond at Pigeon Island secured the success of this year’s festival.

There is ‘just something’ about St. Lucia, its people, and of course the festival that keeps me coming back every year. St. Lucia has a magic that is unrivalled and addictive…
Just ask Amy Winehouse, I’m sure she will agree!

Robin Francis
© Michael Valentine Studio Ltd.

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