Kidjo to feature at Jazz 'n Creole 2014
Grammy award winning artiste, Angelique Kidjo to headline Dominica's Jazz 'n Creole 2014
Beninese born, Grammy-Award-winning singer and songwriter Angelique Kidjo is to be the main attraction of Dominica's Jazz 'n Creole in June 2014.
Director of Tourism, Colin Piper made the announcement at the media launch of the event at the Evergreen Hotel this morning.
A release from the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) stated that Kidjo is expected to delight the crowds with her "rich rhythmically powerful expressions of female empowerment", on Sunday June 8th at Fort Shirley in the Cabrits National Park.
"Her expansive career is marked as much by extraordinary musical achievement as passionate advocacy for her homeland of Africa and this is evermore present in her recently released album Eve, named for her own mother as well as the mythical 'mother of all living,'" the release stated.
"Kidjo, whose star-studded 2008 recording Djin Djin won a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album and whose last studio recording "Oyo" was nominated in the same category, has enjoyed a long history of crossover collaborations with greats from the Jazz and Pop worlds—including Carlos Santana, Josh Groban, Peter Gabriel, Branford Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove and Alicia Keys", DDA stated.
It said that Dominica's Jazz 'n Creole now includes a dynamic private sector aspect.
"The Jazz 'n Creole Fringe, which faithful patrons look forward to each year continues in 2014 with The Evergreen Hotel on June 4, Anchorage Hotel & Dive Centre on June 5, The Fort Young Hotel on June 6, and RiverStone Bar & Grill on June 7.
Due to growing interest from local businesses, Piper also indicated that pre-fringe activities may begin as early as June 1. Another element of the festival is DHTA's Hike & Jazz designed to complement the week's activities; starting June 1 – Hike & Jazz gives hikers, both visiting and local, the opportunity to hike in the day and attend Jazz activities at night.
Promotion of Dominica's Jazz 'n Creole will be predominantly regional, targeting in particular markets with same day access such as Antigua, St. Maarten, Barbados, St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe as well as the markets to which the hiking element would appeal – hashers and hiking clubs in Antigua, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Another aspect of marketing and promotions of Jazz 'n Creole will be to the yachting sector, because of the appeal of docking in Prince Rupert's Bay so close to the Fort Shirley venue.
Tickets are priced EC$75 at the gate for adults. Ticket specials on advance purchases of adult tickets will be announced. This year, tickets for children between 12 and 18 will be available at EC$25, and as in previous years, children under 12 years will enter free. Keeping true to the Jazz 'n Creole format, the main stage will run from 2:00pm to 9:00pm and will feature, in addition to Angelique Kidjo, other names from the local and regional Jazz and Creole musical genres.
Dominica's Jazz 'n Creole was first presented in 2010 and has attracted the interest of both local and regional audiences with growing attendance each year, passing 1,500 in 2013.