Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
Nicole Miller and Fuzion perform 'Time To Go' at The Deck on December 21, 2005, at the Kingston leg of the auditions for the Ocean Spray Stage at next weekend's Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. - CONTRIBUTED
EVOLUCIAN, MARCUS I and the Revolutionaries, Nicole Miller and Fuzion, Airplai and PACE are the five bands which will perform on the Ocean Spray Stage at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival.
Auditions were held on December 18 and 21, 2005, at Coral Cliff, Montego Bay, and The Deck, Trafalgar Road, New Kingston, The festival will run from January 26-28 at Cinnamon Hill, Wyndham Rose Hall, Montego Bay.
The Wisynco Group, under the Ocean Spray brand, has sprayed a significant sum in sponsorship on the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival's 'small stage', making it the Ocean Spray Stage for the first time in the festival's history.
The artistes that create the biggest impression on The Ocean Spray Stage will then be invited back to perform on the main stage of the 2007 festival. The small stage picks up when there is a break in the action from the main stage.
In fact, it may not really be a 'small stage' anymore. According to Zachary Harding, group marketing director at Wisynco, which distributes the Ocean Spray brand in Jamaica, Ocean Spray has commissioned a professionally-built stage with professional lighting to replace what was once called the 'small stage' at the Jazz and Blues Festival.
"This is an enormous achievement for us. We feel absolutely overwhelmed. It now gives us a chance to show our music ability and express ourselves. We're looking forward to a lovely performance and exposure, being that it will be the first time for us at a performance like this," said Andrew Marsh from Evolucian.
"I'm very glad that we were among the five chosen bands. The competition was very tough. The festival should be fun. It's gonna be good exposure," said Diamara Neil from Airplai.
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS
The bands will join professional performers such as Peter Stoddart, Dr. Kathy Brown and Live Wyya, which won the first Jamaican leg of the Global Battle of the Bands last year, on the Ocean Spray Stage. Dr. Kathy Brown will play on the Ocean Spray Stage on Friday, January 27, and will be also playing for Richie Stephens on the main stage on the same day. Peter Stoddart will be accompanied by Desi Jones and Rupert Bent on the Ocean Spray Stage, also on Friday.
Marcus I and the Revolution-aries is scheduled to start the weekend on Thursday with a 10:00 p.m. performance.
Airplai will follow on Friday at 12:25 a.m. and will leave the night stage vacant for Evolucian, who will grace the stage at 8:00 p.m. when the festival starts again that day, while Nicole Miller and Fuzion will perform early Saturday at 12:25 a.m. PACE is also set for Saturday, at 10:55 p.m. when the final night should be in full swing.
