THE EDITOR, Sir,
I WRITE to express my sincere disappointment with the recently held Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival. Whilst I understand that the committee members want to widen the basket and increase the numbers who attend, including entertainers who are as far removed from jazz or blues is certainly an insult to those who know better and have any sensibilities for music.
The committee members would be better served to rename the event the Air Jamaica Music Festival and as such not tread so close to the Fair Trading Commission. You cannot advertise a function as one thing and then have token jazz and blues performances.
Certainly Kenny Rogers and a tribute to Johnny Cash could have been stand-alone performances at a separate event. In fact, at US$45 per head all the wannabes who attended the 'Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival', would have had no difficulty on paying to see Kenny Rogers and the Cash Band.
The organisers would have capitalised twice on two different events. Further, if you want to honour Johnny Cash then do so respectfully, at a function held in his honour and not as a sidebar to the 'jazz fest'.
I must also comment on the calibre of the patrons, with no snob appeal attached. In days gone by events with the price tag of U$45 per head would have been prohibitive for all the 'wanna belongs'. Those who would have been able to shell out that kind of cash would be the ones with the appreciation and sensibilities for jazz and blues. What instead happens is that our covert economy provides income that holds no function exclusive. Consequently the event was nearly spoiled for some of the patrons when the wigged population advanced to the front of the stage and fence as soon as the evening's headliners were announced. Immed-iately blocking the view of several of the patrons who were sitting and enjoying the other performances. I daresay having witnessed the wigged populace move forward and totally disregarding the pleas of their fellow patrons to sit, ended the evening's high, at a low.
We are, etc.,
JOSE & ELAINE
OXAMENDI VICET
oxamendivicet@hotmail.com
Kenny Rogers performing at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival recently.
