The 450 room Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort and the Isle of Capri Casino at Lucaya will host over four hundred visitors arriving via three AirTran Airways non-stop charter jets from La Guardia, New York, Baltimore, Maryland and other schedule carriers, to Grand Bahama Island, specifically for the First Annual Grand Bahama Island Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Festival to be held October 14 – 17, 2004. ﾠ
Produced by Bill Lockett’s Festivals and Travel, Inc., the First Annual Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Festival will feature a premier line up of celebrated musicians and recording artists, such as Grammy Award winner ‘Peabo Bryson’; contemporary jazz recording artist, ‘Najee’; legendary performers, ‘The Impressions’; and the eclectic style of Jon Lucien, featuring trombonist Wayne Henderson of the Jazz Crusaders. ﾠ
The international performances will be pleasantly flavoured by local jazz and rhythm and blues specialists: ﾠThe Edwin ‘Apple’ Elliot Quartet, Ambasah Jazz/Caribbean Band, and the Late Night Jazz and Jazz on the Beach events will highlight the soulful sounds of Matrixx.
The destination’s tourism planners are determined to signal a quick return to the international tourism marketplace, and jumpstart the local economy by hosting this signature event. ﾠPatrons of the festival are also booked to stay at the Pelican Bay Hotel and Suites and the Port Lucaya Resort and Yacht Club.
The Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Festival will offer visitors and locals four indoor concerts, three open air performances and a late night session in the casino.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and The Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, the festival is co-sponsored by the The Westin and Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort, The Isle of Capri Casino at Lucaya; Discovery Cruise Line; H. Forbes Charter Services; Bahamas Telecommunications Company; Bahamasair; AirTran Airways; and media sponsor Jazziz Magazine.
Concert ticket and T-shirts will go on sale in Nassau and Freeport on Tuesday, October 12. ﾠPackage priced at $50.00 for three concerts, tickets may be purchased at the Ministry of Tourism’s office located on West St., or call 242 356-6963/242 356-6967. ﾠOr, at one of the information booths, located in Port Lucaya and the International Bazaar in Freeport, Grand Bahama. ﾠ
Tickets may also be purchased at the festival desk in the Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort, or Pelican Bay Hotel and Suites at Lucaya, from Thursday afternoon, October 14, 2004.
