CaribPR Wire

NEW YORK, N.Y., Mon. Jan. 16, 2006: Rev. Al Green, soul diva Patti Labelle, reggae sensation Shaggy and hot new superstar John Legend, are the world-renowned stars ready to headline this year’s three-night Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival.
Shaggy, currently on tour in India, will be flying into Jamaica three days ahead of the festival to get ready for his opening night performance on January 26 at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The singer, who has popularized the phrase, ‘It Wasn’t Me’ from his smash hit by the same name, and achieved world class fame for hot tunes like ‘Angel,’ ‘Mr. Lover,’ and recently, ‘Wild 2 Nite,’ is sure to heat things up.
While Legend, the eight-time 2005 Grammy nominee and neo-soul singer and pianist, is also prepping for his historic duet with the reggae superstar. A duet is sure to leave the opening night crowd talking and only heighten the sense of excitement of what will follow during the rest of the festival.
Al Green, the man who brought the world ‘Tired of Being Alone,’ a song which became his first hit single in 1970, is all geared up to thrill jazz fans, who are sure to sing along to this musical legend on Friday night, Jan. 27.
The multiple Grammy winner has managed to successfully cross over from R&B to rock to gospel, and in the process, achieved a string of number one hits including ‘Let’s Stay Together,’ ‘I’m Still In Love With You,’ ‘Call Me,’ ‘Here I Am,’ ‘Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)’ and the gospel albums, ‘I Can’t Stop’ and ‘Everything’s OK.’
Al Green is sure to give true meaning to the festival’s tag line, ‘the art of music,’ bringing his own brand of gospel to festivalgoers.
Soul diva LaBelle headlines the Saturday, January 28 show and is sure to spin her magic on the finale night crowd. Afterall, she has a long list of top favorites to choose from, including the timeless, ‘On My Own,’ ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me,’ ‘Lady Marmalade,’ ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’ and ‘Over the Rainbow.’
Meanwhile, other performers set to rock the festival on opening night are flutist, Nestor Torres, Lyfe Jennings and reggae’s Morgan Heritage. Friday night brings the legendary group, Air Supply, Bo Diddley, Richie Stephens and newcomer Nicole Henry, to the festival and perform the same night as Al Green.
On the final night of the festival, reggae’s Maxi Priest, neo-soul newcomer KEM, crooner James Ingram and the Reunion Jazz Quartet, along with top calypso and reggae artists who will pay tribute to Caribbean musical icon, Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, will follow LaBelle’s magic . Set to laud Lee for his 50-year musical career are Calypso King of the World, the Mighty Sparrow; the Merry Men from Barbados, who will be reuniting on stage for the first time in years; Arrow of ‘Hot, Hot, Hot,’ fame, Marcia Griffiths, Ken Lazarus, Keith Lyn and Pluto.
Tickets are still available for the festival, which is now nine days away from today, and can be obtained through your favorite travel agent and at the venue. An event pass for the three-days costs US$160 while individual ticket prices range from US$50 for the Thursday night performance, $55 for Friday night and $60 for the final tribute night, Sat. Jan. 28.
Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival is a Turn Key Production and has been running continuously for the past ten years. Sponsors include Air Jamaica, The Jamaica Tourist Board, American Express, Digicel, NCB Bank of Jamaica, Half-Moon Resort, Coral Cliff Hotel, Holiday Inn, JAMPRO, BET Jazz, Ocean Spray, Heineken Beer, Wata, Supreme Ventures, AnBell and PanCaribbean. For JazzFest packages call Air Jamaica Vacations at 1-800-LOVEBIRD or for more information, log on to: www.airjamaicajazzandblues.com