myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

This weekend is the finale of the Tobago Jazz Experience, Tobago's revamped version of the Tobago Jazz Festival. Due to budget constriction the Jazz Experience is a slimmed down and more locally oriented version of the Jazz Festival which, marketing considerations aside, is a good thing in my opinion. This year the festival is jazzier and a showcase for very talented local artists who need the exposure. Here at Mt. Irvine the Jazz On De Beach stages are going up and the sound systems and culinary preparations are in full swing. My quartet will kick things off on Saturday at about 11 AM - it would be nice to meet anyone who hangs out in mytobago. There is a "jam session" in the afternoon after the concerts on both Saturday and Sunday and admission both days is free. In addition I'll have a few CDs for anyone who wants them.

See you there?

I just came back from Tobago and i can tell allyuh it was GREAT !!
Even my wife, who is not a Jazz lover told me last night, that she is getting used to that kind of music step by step
(She stopped complaining some time ago about riding in my van and having to listen to WMJX 100.5 )

We only came up from Trini on Saturday night (due to other appointments ) and went more or less straight to Pigeon Point to enjoy the show. "Cane Fire" (Canada), "Bellita y Jazz Tumbata" (Cuba) and Mugal Patasar (Trinidad) all were great, we missed the first act as we made a detour to "La Cantina".

Sunday was great too, my favourites of the afternoon part, not surprising, was Michael Boothman and Clive Zanda.

The evening show started on a different stage with David Rudder and his band, great performance here too.
Rudder was just the right heating up act for the climax to come, GEORGE BENSON.

What can i tell allyuh, the old man didn't forget how to play the guitar and sing along. He brought out all his older and newer world hits and when he finished with "Broadway", the whole of Pigeon Point was a big George Benson Dance Party

Thanks a million to THA and all other sponsors; i think this year's "emergency" Jazz fest in Tobago was a success and i
sincerely hope they will keep it up. I didn't miss any of the "big" acts of the years before plus the fees were much more reasonable. For TT$ 250.- on Saturday and TT$ 300.- on Sunday we got PLENTY of very good music.

The setup on Pigeon Point was very professional, good sound systems (which we did not have here all the time), good food and drinks, food a bit pricy but ok.

There is always room for improvement, of course.
- I had to come back twice to an outlet for tickets as they were distributed later than advertised.
- If i buy a ticket for TT$ 300.-, i don't want to pay another TT$ 20.- to have a chair to sit on.
- There should be a comprehensive information flyer with ALL activities, including those in the pan yards, and not a variety of flyers all over the place so that one gets confused.
Only some newspapers came out with something sometime after.

Jerry, i didn't get a chance to check you in Mt. Irvine due to my tight schedule but i hope you had a good time
performing in T'go and enjoyed coming here.

Greetings from Trinidad,

Andy

I heard varying reports about the other venues that took part last weekend in this years Jazz Experience in Tobago but I can personally that confirm that Jazz On De Beach at Mt Irvine was an unqualified success. Standout performers Arturo Tappin from Barbados and Boo Hinkson from St Lucia transported the crowd with their virtuosity and the sound system and production was very professional. My guys didn't do so badly either. Entrance to the festivities at Mt. Irvine was free the entire weekend and the weather was perfect for a jazzy day at the beach. The sponsor has already started planning for next year's event and a more ambitious marketing approach is being formulated.

There was continuous video shot this year of both days at Mt Irvine and I will post highlights either on http://www.myspace.com/jerrytilitz or on my website at http://www.jerry-tilitz.de as soon as it is edited. Thanks to everyone who showed up to support the bands and I look forward to "swinging you all into bad health" ( a wonderful old expression) at the same time next year.