CASTRIES – The 24th edition of Jazz on the Square kicked off this afternoon in the Derek Walcott Square to the usual large crowd.
The young and old, tourists and lots of school children were entertained by the stylings of Kenson Hoppolyte and Sole 2 Sole, Zouk and the Gang and the legendary Steelpanist Ken Professor Philmore.
Popular local MC Solange Stanislas of Rogers Radio Caribbean and solangerocks.com, who took a backseat from emceeing this year to get an audience perspective, said the Festival had shown tremendous growth from its inception 24 years ago.
“St Lucians love music and they respond to it,” she said. “Whether you’re a small band, a trio or even a solo act, St Lucians respond to that, they are just natural rhythmic people.”
She said the growth of the festival could also be seen in the calibre of artistes it had attracted over the years, from Santana and Miriam Makeba, to Teddyson John, Toni Braxton, Diana Ross and many more.
“I’m proud that we’ve managed to sustain the Festival and to have so many visitors come to our island,” she said. “some of them even plan it as a holiday event … and we’re lucky, we’re happy, we’re proud to be on our way to 25 years of beautiful, pulsating rhythms in St Lucia.”
The action will shift to the Main Stage tonight at Pigeon Island. (SM)