On November 9th the tiny Caribbean Island of Anguilla (pronounced ang-GWILL-a) will host their annual Tranquillity Jazz Festival.
Anguilla is the northern most of the Leeward Islands and mainly consists of the main island and other smaller islands and cays. Anguilla is a tiny 39.4 square miles and its capital city has the unlikely – and laid back – name of The Valley. Originally settled by Amerindian tribes, the Europeans eventually found the tiny island around 1560.
It is now a British Overseas Territory and is primarily known as the birth place of the father of Rastafarianism and author of the The Holy Piby –- which is highly regarded by Rastas — Robert Athlyi Rogers. Now however it is a tourist haven with winter temperatures hovering in the 80’s, 33 white sand beaches and plenty of warm turquoise water to keep you calm and happy.
The fourth annual Tranquillity Jazz Festival runs November 9th thru the 12th and is billed as the only “straight-ahead” jazz festival in the Caribbean. It begins on Thursday with a concert by jazz songstress Nnenna Freelon. Friday sees a fantastic legend filled night with Grammy Award-winning Latin jazz legend pianist Eddie Palmieri, equally legendary saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders, and pianist Robert Glasper.
On Saturday the music returns with performances by the McCoy Tyner Trio and saxophonist Javon Jackson. Culminating on Sunday with the popular and lively “Jazz on the Beach” where The W.E.S. Group will entertain the masses. And of course throughout the festival there will be plenty of local and regional jazz artists on show.
A preview show of this year's event including highlights of last year's festival can be seen on BET J's Island Lime on Saturdays. Upcoming air dates are October 21 (1 p.m. and 7 p.m.), October 28 (8 a.m. and 6 p.m.), and November 4 (8 p.m. and 6 p.m.) (All telecast times are Eastern.)
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