Greatest Jazz Stars

Each year, St Lucia hosts a massive jazz festival over eight venues on the island. The main venue is on Pigeon Island which has history dating back to pre-Columbian times; hence the slogan: Amidst the Ruins. There are also venues on The Landings’ Beach, at St Lucia Golf Club, at the Pointe Seraphine Duty Free Shopping Complex and Derek Walcott Square among others. Some events require tickets while others are free. Check out the official website for more information.

This year the festival was held from April 30^th to May 8^th. It included artists such as Ledisi, Sixun, Morgan Heritage, Trey Sonz and John Legend. John Legend is a worldwide musical sensation from Ohio. Although Legend’s songs are not jazz heavy he often is featured in international jazz festivals.

If you want to attend the jazz festival next year I recommend staying at a St Lucia resort such as Capmaison or LeSport. Capmaison is situated in the most northern part of the island, very close to two of the jazz venues. LeSport is in the capital city called Castries where three venues are hosting jazz. LeSport is also near George Charles Airport which has direct flights to mainland America and other parts of the Caribbean.

Louisiana is deemed to be the birthplace of jazz, producing over 200 famous jazz musicians and acts. Louisiana has given the world an unparalleled collection of jazz and blues talent, including Louis Armstrong, Joe “King” Oliver, Ed Garland, Willie Humphrey and Punch Miller.

Storyville, or “The District” as locals called it, in New Orleans was the red-light district that operated for 20 years from 1897. It was set up to limit prostitution to one area in the city to imitate the success of German and Dutch red-light districts. Jazz flourished in Storyville and became just as big an attraction as prostitution was to people coming in from other towns. Musicians associated with Storyville’s jazz scene include Tony Jackson, Pops Foster, Buddy Bolden and Louis Armstrong.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates the music from Louisiana. Since 1970, it has put on a large showcase of local jazz, blues, rap and gospel music among others. When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the festival merged its famous Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage, named after one of the founders, with the Lagniappe stage. This year the festival will be headlined by Arcade Fire, Bon Jove and Kid Rock to name a few.

Watching jazz may be something you have not considered for a while. Are you one of those people who say they do not like jazz but when it is playing in the background finds themselves enjoying it immensely. Well when you finally get yourself down to a jazz club where the blinds are drawn and the music is funky, you will wonder why you have not been for so long – honestly!

There are some fabulous jazz clubs in central London to choose from.

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club is near Tottenham Court Road’s underground tube. Since 1959, Ronnie Scott’s has hosted live jazz every night of the week. Tickets quickly sell out so be quick to get yours. Becoming a member sets you back £175 a year but with that you get 2 free tickets a year, 20% off all tickets for you and your guests and free entry to particular events.

Jazz After Dark is a club famous for its intimate gigs. It boasts to have hosted a stage for Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty. Closed on Mondays, get into see jazz and blues for £5 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday and Saturday tickets start at £10 and reservations are essential, especially for diners!

There is no doubt about it, jazz has given us some of the world’s most famous musicians.

Joe “King” Oliver was born in 1885 and died in 1938 aged 52. From Louisiana, he played the cornet, a brass instrument similar to a trumpet, and wrote his music. Some of his most famous music included “Dipper Mouth Blues,” “Sweet Like This” and “Canal Street Blues.” He died after struggling through the Great Depression, the collapse of his band and poverty. His tombstone labels him as a Jazz Pioneer.

Louis Armstrong is probably the most famous jazz musician in the world. Also from Louisiana, Armstrong played the trumpet and sang with a deep voice that is extremely recognisable still to this day. He was charismatic on stage, blending improve with scat singing. He died of a heart attack a month before his 70^th birthday.

From Illinois but living in New York City, Benny Goodman’s life was full of music. He not only played clarinet but he was a song writer and bandleader of one of the first racially-integrated musical groups , which challenged segregation in society at the time. Later in life he was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in (1957) 30 years before dying of a heart attack.

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