Barbados Jazz Festival... Great Artist, Great Jazz and Great Venues
Over the last 15 years this festival, which takes place in mid January, has been recognized as being the premier jazz festival of the Caribbean.
... And with world acclaim international jazz artist like Kenny G, George Benson, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Ray Charles, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack and Erykah Badu, having headlined the show over the last fifthteen years you can see why.
Jazz
On The Hill...
But along with great artist, great jazz needs great venues and the Barbados Jazz Festival has been fortunate to have so many ideal, yet different venues to choose from. So let me take a look at three perfect but yet so different venues for Barbados jazz...
The
historic Sunbury House is a 300-year-old plantation house located in
southern Barbados.
This sugar plantation great house has long been recognized as an ideal venue for weddings and other special functions.
We love this venue. The spacious wooded grounds are extensively landscape with lush tropical plant varieties. Sunbury also features an impressive collection of antiques, which includes china, silver, old carts and old prints of an era long past.
It is this fascinating and historic setting that has made Sunbury Plantation House the ideal backdrop for the Barbados Jazz festival.
The
Crane Resort and Residence is the Caribbean’s oldest premier
hotel having first opened its doors in 1887. This 120 year hotel which
have a naturally spectacular landscape form to the back drop of
sparkling, clear waters.
And spectacular soft sand which has earned the Crane Beach the distinction as one of the top ten beaches by life styles of the Rich and Famous.
But there is more to the Crane than its highly rated beach… World class amenities set in lush tropical gardens include gourmet restaurants like the Zen and L’Azure which are both rated by Zagat in the top twenty of all Barbados restaurants.
It is this luxurious and spectacular setting back by centuries of tradition that has made the world-famous Crane Resort the ideal backdrop for the dinner set of the Caribbean's top Jazz Festival.
My personal favourite among the venues available for the Barbados Jazz Festival is the historic Farley Hill National Park.
Located in northern Barbados Farley Hill is a wonderful venue for jazz... Not only because of its ideal location and the high quality line-up of performers, that has performed on the hill over the last 15 year.
The Picturesque Farley Hill Park
...But mainly because of the atmosphere created by the towering mature trees and the spectacular view over the rolling hills of St. Andrew. There are picnic tables and a children’s play ground with swings and slides to add to the family feel of the park.
Every year people from all over the world attend this much anticipated segment of the festival. They bring their drink coolers, food baskets and blankets to stretch out on the shaded slope or in the shadow of the majestic ruins of the old great house as they watch the show.
So whether it is Anita Baker, Herbie Hancock, Alicia Keys or any other top international or regional performer these are the Barbados Jazz Festival venues that are bound to excite you.