Greg Truman (left), head of marketing for the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, raps with sponsors George DeMercado (centre) of Air Jamaica, and David Shields of the Jamaica Tourist Board.

The Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, one of the premier entertainment events in the region, will mark its 10th year in 2007. To accommodate the large numbers supporting the festival, the producers have made some significant adjustments and improvements.

Turnkey Productions' chief Walter Elmore outlined these changes at a briefing in New York on Tuesday.

"The event is being moved to a new location in Montego Bay," Elmore advised, "to a new, larger seaside venue with more space and amenities for increased comfort." He added, "The festival has been extended to one week from Sunday to Saturday, with the main concert nights still Thursday to Saturday. We'll have satellite concerts at various locations in MoBay early in the week."

Talent competitions

The talent competitions initiated last year have been expanded to Air Jamaica gateways in the United States. Elmore further mentioned that the Art of Music line-up for this year's event will be announced soon, and emphasised that its composition will be in keeping with the world-class standards of previous editions of the festival.

The festival started in October 1996 on the lawns of the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, with some 3,000 persons attending. Over 40,000 persons reportedly attended over the period of the festival last year. International acts that have been featured over the 10-year span include: George Benson, Air Supply, Patti Labelle, Al Jarreau, Alicia Keys, Kenny Rogers, Mary J Blige, James Ingram and Nancy Wilson.

And, at next year's festival, Sandals Resorts International's Gordon 'Butch' Stewart and hotelier Michelle Rollins will receive awards for their role in the prestigious event. The festival will take place from January 21-27, 2007.

Visit www.airjamaicajazzandblues.com/ for travel packages, venue images and more details.